CREMATION
The Greeks and Romans practiced cremation, but the early Christians, Jews, Arabs, and Egyptians did not. Though there is not a direct prohibition against it in the Bible, there are a few times when a body was dug up and burned and then the ashes scattered as an act of contempt for the life of the person (1 Kings 13:2, 2 Kings 23:15–18). A person’s salvation is determined before one dies and has nothing to do with how his dead body is treated.
Though I believe it is only in a few cases, I have heard that some people have wanted their ashes sprinkled over the sea in the hopes of missing out on the judgment of God. But God will have no problem retrieving what is left of man at the bottom of the seas. For at the judgment of the “great white throne,” we are told, “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it” (Revelation 20:13). Nor do the ashes of the deceased become one with nature, but await the judgment (see SOUL SLEEP).
CROSS
Christ was crucified on a cross, and some have argued about what sort of cross it was that Christ died on, but that is missing the point, which is that he died for us, a sacrifice for our sins. The basic form is not what is important, but that Christ died as a substitute for our sins in our place (Romans 5:8). Some teach that we are to worship or trust in the cross for our salvation. Again, this is missing the point, which is that we are to worship and trust Christ who died in our place to redeem us. Colossians 1:20 says, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross…” It was not the wood or the shape of the cross that “made peace” with God (saves), but what happened on the cross, that Christ shed His “blood” for our forgiveness (see SALVATION; see BLOOD). Most of the times the cross is mentioned in the Bible, it does not speak of the “blood” of Christ, being understood by the word “cross.” No one in the Bible made any special sign of the cross or any hand movement to bring about a blessing, etc. The cross itself has no special powers and should be used only as a symbol of Christianity.
CROWNS
The Bible tells us of five crowns that the Christian can win, and they are received when he gets to heaven. There is the “incorruptible” crown for those who bring their bodies into subjection (1 Corinthians 9:25–27), the “crown of rejoicing” for wining souls to Christ (Philippians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:19–20), the “crown of righteousness” for those who look for the Lord’s return (2 Timothy 4:8), “the crown of life” for those that endure temptations (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10), and the “crown of glory” for those who oversee the flock of God (1 Peter 5:1–4). It is possible to win more than one crown, as Christ is said to have “many crowns.” Perhaps some artifacts of each will be taken to make one crown (Revelation 19:12). Some believe these crowns to be only figurative and not real; however, the 24 elders in heaven have real crowns, and they cast them in front of the throne of heaven every time the four beasts cry out “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty” (Revelation 4:8–10).
There is a song written about this by Charles Carroll Luther in 1877:
“Must I go, and empty-handed,”
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?
https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/930
The Greeks and Romans practiced cremation, but the early Christians, Jews, Arabs, and Egyptians did not. Though there is not a direct prohibition against it in the Bible, there are a few times when a body was dug up and burned and then the ashes scattered as an act of contempt for the life of the person (1 Kings 13:2, 2 Kings 23:15–18). A person’s salvation is determined before one dies and has nothing to do with how his dead body is treated.
Though I believe it is only in a few cases, I have heard that some people have wanted their ashes sprinkled over the sea in the hopes of missing out on the judgment of God. But God will have no problem retrieving what is left of man at the bottom of the seas. For at the judgment of the “great white throne,” we are told, “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it” (Revelation 20:13). Nor do the ashes of the deceased become one with nature, but await the judgment (see SOUL SLEEP).
CROSS
Christ was crucified on a cross, and some have argued about what sort of cross it was that Christ died on, but that is missing the point, which is that he died for us, a sacrifice for our sins. The basic form is not what is important, but that Christ died as a substitute for our sins in our place (Romans 5:8). Some teach that we are to worship or trust in the cross for our salvation. Again, this is missing the point, which is that we are to worship and trust Christ who died in our place to redeem us. Colossians 1:20 says, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross…” It was not the wood or the shape of the cross that “made peace” with God (saves), but what happened on the cross, that Christ shed His “blood” for our forgiveness (see SALVATION; see BLOOD). Most of the times the cross is mentioned in the Bible, it does not speak of the “blood” of Christ, being understood by the word “cross.” No one in the Bible made any special sign of the cross or any hand movement to bring about a blessing, etc. The cross itself has no special powers and should be used only as a symbol of Christianity.
CROWNS
The Bible tells us of five crowns that the Christian can win, and they are received when he gets to heaven. There is the “incorruptible” crown for those who bring their bodies into subjection (1 Corinthians 9:25–27), the “crown of rejoicing” for wining souls to Christ (Philippians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:19–20), the “crown of righteousness” for those who look for the Lord’s return (2 Timothy 4:8), “the crown of life” for those that endure temptations (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10), and the “crown of glory” for those who oversee the flock of God (1 Peter 5:1–4). It is possible to win more than one crown, as Christ is said to have “many crowns.” Perhaps some artifacts of each will be taken to make one crown (Revelation 19:12). Some believe these crowns to be only figurative and not real; however, the 24 elders in heaven have real crowns, and they cast them in front of the throne of heaven every time the four beasts cry out “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty” (Revelation 4:8–10).
There is a song written about this by Charles Carroll Luther in 1877:
“Must I go, and empty-handed,”
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?
https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/930
