I'm 75 today and I've been working on my 'final arrangements' just to make it easier on those left if death comes sooner than I hope. After arranging my mother's funeral where she was transported from one State to a neighboring State, I saw the expense and complications of it. I have been thinking of cremation for myself to make it easier on those I leave. The transfer from FL to my plot in WV would be so much easier if my ashes are in a box, urn, or whatever. My Pastor has no objections to this and has had funerals for those cremated. The only Bible verse I can find is this: "Abraham answered, “Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes." (Gen 18:27, NRSV) I admit, I enjoy the words of the following:
"Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take unto himself the soul of our dear brother here departed, we therefore commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be like unto his glorious body, according to the mighty working, whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself." 1662 Book of Common Prayer
Of course the 1662 Book of Common Prayer also has the long gone phrase for the bride at the ceremony "...for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish,
and to obey, till death us do part..."
Anyway, viewpoints or comments on cremation for the Christian? I had no question much until a few days ago I read an article by the Southern Baptist theologian R. Albert Mohler, Jr., who opposed cremation for the believer.
