Articles
The Body of the Deceased (Part 1)
The Body of the Deceased (Part 1)
And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. (Matt 14:12)
According to the Cremation Association of North America, the choice of cremation increased from 3.56 percent in 1960 to 42 percent in 2012. By 2025 they predict 55 percent will opt for cremation, numbering 1.7 million cremations per year. Cremation is quickly becoming the preferred method for the final disposition of the body.
The practice has been opposed in former generations on religious grounds. Why the change? We in the church are following the same trends.
One reason is that cremation can cost less than burial, although it is safe to say that supply and demand along with the fuel prices will drive up future costs.
A second reason may be that to some, cremation seems more selfless. No ostentatious monument is required and valuable land resources are conserved. The encroachment upon the earth-space of the living and future generations and the reduction of precious habitat seems wasteful to many in our time. The green movement ideology appears to be looking for opportunities here as well. A company in Seattle received legislative approval to begin providing services for a process they call “natural organic reduction”. The Popular Mechanics article reporting this explained the service as “human composting” and as being “environmentally friendly”. The phrase ‘pushing up daisies’ is not a figure of speech anymore.
A third and more troubling reason may be that society is increasingly attracted to the notion of non-existence. The concept is reinforced when there is no body or burial place. With no memorial there is no place to visit for remembrance or reflection. For relatives and visiting strangers alike, the grave stone and burial place perpetuates the memory of the dead for generations.
But the hope of the unbeliever is to cease to exist at death. There can be no judgment to come if death terminates existence. The thought of one’s ashes, indistinguishable from the dust of the earth, supports their aspiration to attain blissful annihilation, safe from a God before whom we would otherwise stand in judgement. Could it be that the leaven of atheistic and humanistic thinking has changed our sense of propriety as well?
Despite our declining culture, ‘traditional’ burial of the body remains a strong proclamation of concepts which are still a part of our Christian and national culture. The proclamation is that we believe in the resurrection. A survey of only a few headstones shows this Christian hope expressed either by words or a cross etched in stone. Perhaps even these Christian expressions will be next on the list of things considered offensive to our sacred multiculturalism.
Even for Christians who plan for burial, the issue of cremation may seem unimportant or irrelevant. And maybe it is. An elderly member of the church named three or four of her Christian friends who plan to be cremated. The sister said she supposed that her friend’s wishes were ok, since the body returns to dust and our heavenly bodies will be spiritual, not fleshly (1 Cor 15). Of course she is right about this. But she also seemed troubled with the thought.
In all issues of choice it is our duty as Christians to ask whether God is pleased, displeased or indifferent. The intent of the articles which follow is to encourage us to first consider God’s view of the body of the deceased rather than to simply accept what has become acceptable in society. Then make our decision, having sought God’s view in this matter as we do in life’s other decisions. God made us. So why would it seem unusual to seek His will, even when planning for the time when the spirit departs from the body?
Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him. (2Cor 5:9)
Ron
