Yesterday Jacob (my ministry partner) and I went to a funeral over in the old part of Dallas. It is a pretty cemetery that sits among beautiful live oaks.
As we were leaving, I asked him what he thought about cremation. I don't mean to get morbid on you, but I have thought some about it. For one reason (and those of you who know me will understand this): It's cheaper than a burial.
Obviously if the Lord doesn't return for a while, all of us are going to end up being ashes anyway. So why do we have a hangup with cremation? I'm not sure, but for some reason I do. From a theological standpoint, I don't think there is anything wrong with it. My guess is that I am just so culturally conditioned a certain way -- it just doesn't sit well with me.
So, any thoughts?
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7 comments:
J.D. Bales published a study on cremation. He, himself, was cremated (he did the study first). Dianne and I have already decided that we are going to be cremated.
(1) If Dianne outlives me, I do not want her to feel obligated to stay wherever I am buried. She should go on with her life.
The next two you already touched on:
(2) Cost effectiveness
(3) If the Lord's return is still a long way off, we will return to the earth anyway.
I have only met a few people who oppose cremation. Their argument is usually along the lines of "pagan roots". I don't think the argument holds water. There are some heroes in scripture whose bodies were burned. Is the Lord going to refuse them?
I am all about space planning and organization and I think that we should conserve space wherever we can, and who couldn't use the few bucks you save to spruce up whoever is left to look great for the wake! HA!
I've told Kelly I would be happy to be cremated and have my ashes spread in the Rio Grande river headwaters in Colorado. I don't want to take up space and riding the river one more time seems like a blast. Seeing that I'll be dead, it will pretty much be up to her I guess. The bagpiper is the bigger concern for me.
Rick, please excuse the sidebar.
Hey Jeff. How 'bout Fontana? JJ all the way!
I'm only in my late 30's but my wife and I have already talked about it just for conversation.
My thoughts are "fire up the grill boys."
Most of my family members (that have died) have been cremated. I myself want to be, but I find that I get a wierd response when I tell people that. I told Mark that I want to be sprinkled in the mountains in Colorado, so I guess Jeff and I have something in common! I don't want to be buried in Texas, so I guess cremation is the way to go! Thanks for coming to the funeral. It was nice to have some friends there.
I'm uneasy with burial. Interjecting personal feeling here: I have a hard time building a memorial to myself with a stone slab when I'm not there. Taking up 6 feet of real estate ;). I'm all for cremation.
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