I. THE WORD OF GOD AND CREMATION

Joshua 7:15 & 25; Cremation was a sign of judgment.

I Samuel 31:12; Saul and his sons were cremated following their being dishonor.

II Kings 23:20; Josiah's restoration of true worship included killing of false priests and cremation of their bodies.

Amos 2:1; A judgment of God was on Moab for cremation of the king of Edom.

Amos 6:10; Cremation was a judgment of God.

II. INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPEDIA

A. Cremation is defined in two ways;

1) Burn the body and bury the bones which are left. This is the most ancient.

2) Burn all completely including bones until nothing is left.

B. Ancient Cultures;

Egypt; Embalming was the ancient tradition. As a result cremation was avoided.

Persians; Following the Zoroastrian religious practices, bodies were exposed for all to see, thus decaying quickly.

Greeks; Burial was the early custom. The Greeks used cremation during plagues and during times of war to avoid having opposing armies disinterring and dishonoring their dead.

Romans; Burial was the earliest custom inherited from the Greeks. Later in the Roman empire cremation became widely accepted and used.

Hebrews; Burial was the standard custom. Cremation was the exception and seen as appropriate for only serious offenders.

III. LUTHERAN THEOLOGY IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

A. The Lutheran Pastor, 1902. (Gerberding)

In reference to cremation the following statements are made.

1) Not Biblical or Christians mode of burial.

2) Cremation is purely heathenish - Greeks, Romans, Hindus.

3) Cremation is dishonoring to the body which is intended to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.

4) Cremation is an insidious denial of the hope of the resurrection.

5) The Christian consciousness shrinks from it and shudders at the thought.

6) The Christian minister must warn and protest against the use of cremation.

7) The Christian minister cannot officiate at a cremation.

B. Pastoral Theology, 1945. (Fritz)

In reference to cremation the following statements are made.

1) Cremation is not in itself wrong.

2) It does not matter how the body returns to dust. Slow decay or cremation, the end result is the same.

3) Cremation is necessary in times of epidemic or overcrowding.

4) Christian church has never approved of cremation because it is not the customary way of burial and it is a heathenistic custom.

5) Many unbelievers desire cremation due to unbelief and denial of the resurrection.

C. Pastoral Theology, 1990. (Krause, Mueller)

In reference to cremation the following statements are made.

1) Not long ago the church views cremation in a negative way.

2) Reason for negative view was due to general public association with the practice of heathen religions and/or the denial of the resurrection.

3) Cremation has no Theological significance and may be used in good conscience.

IV. THE CASE FOR BURIAL INSTEAD OF CREMATION

A. Burial is the preferred means of caring for the dead in the Scripture.

1) Deut. 21:22-23, Burial is commanded.

2) Old Testament Saints buried their dead. Genesis 23:19, 49:29, 50:7, II Chronicles 9:31.

3) God buried Moses, Genesis Deut. 34:5-6.

4) Christians view death in terms of being asleep only for a time. It is not a permanent state. Matt. 9:24, John 11:11, I Corinthians 15:6, 15:20

5) In the early persecutions when martyrs were burned the Christians would, if possible, take the bones and/or ashes and bury them.

6) It is how the body of our Lord was treated, thus we seek to be as Him.

V. LAWS REGARDING CREMATION

A. Cremation is permitted without embalming only if the cremation is preformed within 16-18 hours following the persons death.

B. A casket must be purchased even if a person is cremated. (Crematories require the body to be in a casket)

C. The cost is minimal. Embalming 3D $245.00

Cemetery plot 3D 50.00/75.00

Casket & Urn must be purchased

Sometimes Urns are buried. Must purchase cemetery plot.