Bible Questions Blog

Cremation’s Rise in Popularity

12/31/2024

Introduction. Since the 1960's, attitudes toward cremation in the United States have changed drastically. In 1960, cremation made up about 3.5% of all funerals in the US. This year (2024) it has increased to 61% and is projected to be over 80% by 2045. In Nevada, Oregon and Washington, cremation is over 80% of all funerals. That is an amazing change in attitude over a very short time.

Reasons cited are lower costs, less impact on the environment, and a movement away from religion. Religion doesn’t appear to be a true reason though, since the Catholic church removed its prohibition against cremation in 1963, although they still demand the ashes be buried. The general view of most “religious people” in America is that this is a personal decision left to each family to decide. So a movement away from religion may only be wishful thinking.

What do the Scriptures actually say? There are strong feelings and opinions, but what has God revealed about His feelings and His will toward this practice? Does the custom of burial and thus our feelings about it arise from a “manner of life handed down from your fathers” or is it a tradition which came from Scripture? Should Christians oppose, preach against, or discourage cremation? Should they be told to accept it and even begin practicing it? The key to this discussion hinges on the body at death. Since God defined and explained it at the very beginning, we must start there.

The Ten Promises

12/2/2024

Introduction. Some people view Christianity and the Bible as a collection of restrictive “Thou shalt” and “Thou shalt not” commands. Unfortunately, that too often reflects a somewhat prideful or even rebellious attitude of “I know what’s best for me.” or “I don’t need anyone telling me what to do!”

But what if we viewed these commands from the perspective of a loving, creator God who wants what is best for us, like any concerned parent would? For example, what if the Ten Commandments in the Law of Moses (Ex. 20) were the kindest, most protective and caring thing God could tell the Israelites? How might that change our attitude toward New Testament commands for us and the loving God who wants us to obey Him for our own good?

Background. When God spoke the Ten Commandments to the nation of Israel (Ex. 20:22; Deut. 4:36; Neh. 9:13), they had left captivity in the land of Egypt and miraculously crossed the Red Sea only a few months prior (Ex.10:1). And yet they had already lost patience and trust in Moses (and by implication God), accusing him with misleading and mistreating them (Ex. 15:24; 16:2-3, 19-20, 27-28; 17:3,7). In that setting, here’s what God told them…

If it is God’s Will

11/2/2024

Introduction. Sometimes while making plans for the future, we initially think only of our own needs. Then we remember James’ warning that when considering future plans, we ought to say “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” (Jas. 4:15). We say these words to remind ourselves that we are never in control. God is the only one who can know for certain what will happen tomorrow. We are only “a vapor” that can “vanish away” at any moment and “after this the judgment.” (Heb. 9:27). With faith and trust in “if the Lord wills”, we acknowledge Him as sovereign ruler over all. In Him “we live and move and have our being” because “He gives to all life, breath and all things.” (Acts 17:25-28). Only by His will can we plan and accomplish anything.

Yet there is far more to “if God wills.” After we say these words, what comes next? If all works out as planned, do we conclude it was the Lord’s will and if things fall apart, was it not God’s will? While some live their lives seeking God’s will by the way their life unfolds, the Scriptures nowhere teach this. God never promised His people that He would intervene in their lives to the degree where every outcome would be brought about by Him. Often our own decisions whether wise or foolish have an impact on the outcome. Not only do “time and chance happen to all” but “there is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous.” (Ecc. 9:11; 8:14). So trying to understand God’s will from the outcome of our plans is not only unwise, but is dangerous.

Understanding God

10/1/2024

Introduction. Among the most important elements of our service and worship to God is our ability to see Him clearly. The better we understand God’s righteousness, holiness, love, forgiveness, mercy, and compassion the more honor and devotion we can create within ourselves and offer to Him. Yet, if we are not careful, misunderstandings can develop that will hinder the response in our own heart of love, joy, hope, and peace. As we consider all the harsh judgments in the Old Testament, we can become so afraid due to His righteousness that we can feel lost even with all Scripture saying otherwise. God has revealed so much about Himself that it is impossible to fully understand. It is easy to focus on one attribute more clearly than others and thus come away with a view of God far different from what He has revealed about Himself.

Peter described our first contact with God in his sermon to Cornelius. “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. (Acts 10:34-35). These are the people God planned the gospel to draw from every nation. This is not something the gospel was designed to produce; it will already be in existence before they hear it. “His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made.” (Rom. 1:20). This part of God’s character is already understood. It will be strengthened and broadened with the Scriptures.

After hearing the gospel, faith leads to the next step. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6). No one obeys the gospel without knowing that God wants to reward those who obey. He is a kind and generous God offering salvation and eternal life. With a foundation built on His everlasting power and divinity and knowing He rewards diligence, we are prepared to move to a fuller understanding

Conformed to the Image of His Son

9/1/2024

Introduction. When parents send their children to school, they have clear expectations. Because an education is the pathway to greater opportunities, their progress in learning is very important and is closely monitored. The Holy Spirit revealed that God feels exactly the same way about His children as He lamented in Hosea. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hos. 4:6).

Many blessings are lost if we don’t put forth our greatest efforts. The Holy Spirit urged: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God,” by “rightly dividing the word of truth.” Jesus asked God in prayer to “sanctify them in the truth, your word is truth.” Even our “faith comes by hearing the word of Christ.” Thus knowledge of the truth brings God’s approval, greater sanctification, and a stronger faith. God is deeply concerned in our progress and our efforts to learn the word left by the Holy Spirit “to guide us into all truth.” (2Tim. 2:15; Jn. 17:17; 16:12-13; Rom. 10:17).

Before obeying the gospel, all were “alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them.” Their only knowledge was a “vain manner of life handed down from your fathers.” God gave the gospel so we could leave all this behind by becoming “renewed in the spirit of your mind” and putting “on the new man.” Those who seize this opportunity manifest a faith and trust in God and an appreciation for the wonderful blessings God has bestowed in making this possible. “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” Through our knowledge of the truth God has made it possible for us “to be conformed to the image of His Son.” (1Pet. 1:18; Eph. 4:18-24; 1Jn, 3:1; Rom. 8:29).

Whatever is ... Think on These

8/2/2024

whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any virtue and if anything worthy of praise, think on these (Phil. 4:8)

Introduction. This passage gives specific guidance for passages such as “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life” or “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” (Pr. 4:23; 2Cor. 10:5). Our minds are always thinking. When we are not focused with work, we tend to imagine and remember. The direction of these thoughts are critical to spiritual growth. Just as “by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned," (Mt. 12:37), so also “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” (Mt. 12:34-35).

These meditations are the boundary between safety and danger and even life and death. They channel our thoughts like the lines on the road keep cars in their lanes or the out of bounds lines around any field of play. By assessing our thoughts before, during and after we think them we can be assured that “my meditation be sweet to Him” (Ps. 19:14; 104:34).

The Glorious Church – God’s Manifold Wisdom in His Eternal Purpose

7/3/2024

Introduction. Many today see the church as something that can be molded and modified to fit the needs of each generation. “Better ideas(?)” than those revealed in Scripture have created hundreds of new churches reflecting the wisdom of each new visionary. Many flock to these churches because it more closely fits their own ideas of what a church should be or what a church should do.

Yet these current attitudes found in this world are vastly different than what is seen from heaven. Just as the material creation reflects God’s “eternal power and divine nature” to those with the faith to see it (Rom. 1:20), the church was foreordained in eternity to reveal God’s “manifold wisdom” to those with enough faith to see it. In this respect, it is His greatest masterpiece, far greater than anything in the material creation. It is perfect! There is nothing in the church that needs to be changed or modified because it reflects the greatest aspects of God’s wisdom.

so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, (Eph. 3:10-11)

A Father's Pity

5/31/2024

Introduction. When Moses asked to see God’s glory, God placed him in the cleft of the rock and as He passed by “proclaimed His name.” (Ex. 33:18-34:7) God’s name is a description of His character. He is “the LORD (JEHOVAH) God”. He is also “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; ... but by no means clearing the guilty.” (Ex. 34:5-7). These are things God wanted mankind to know about Him.

First, as “the LORD, the LORD God,” He revealed He is eternal –“from everlasting to everlasting.” (Ps. 90:2; 103:17). Unlike everything else in this age of change, decay, aging and death, God will never change. (Mal. 3:6). Second, He wants us to understand His feelings toward His fallen children. In spite of our weaknesses and sins, He will always be “merciful” (feelings of tender pity with a desire to help) “and gracious,” (a joyous desire to give us the gifts of forgiveness and salvation we do not deserve). He is “longsuffering,” and “forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” These are the foundations of His unchanging character. This is how God feels about every one of those born to Adam and Eve. Even those who are “chief of sinners,” “by nature children of wrath,” and “enemies” are all treated the same after “repentance” and “obedience.” Yet in spite of these refreshing attributes, He warned: “I will not clear the guilty.”

His character resonates throughout the Scriptures. As Paul summed it up, “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God.” (Rom. 11:22-23) At the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, and Israel in apostasy, we see only severity. In these situations, God is just like a father with an unruly child. Even the most loving and kind father must chasten and appear harsh. The more unruly the child, the more harshness others will see. This is what has occurred with God. He has the character described above, but to the guilty who had rejected all God’s efforts to get them repent, we see severity. But for obedient children like Noah, Lot, Abraham and all those who were submissive, obedient and humble, we see His goodness, including mercy, grace, longsuffering, and forgiveness.

Yet that severity always changed to mercy and forgiveness, even to the most corrupt and rebellious, if they showed any sign of remorse, humility or repentance. Let’s see some Bible examples that illustrate that.

The Majesty of the Material Creation

5/2/2024

Introduction. The wisdom and power revealed in the material creation far exceeds the beauty and function of each individual part. Viewed separately, the sun and moon are beautiful. But the complex relationship between the sun, the moon and the earth creates an amazing synergy. As the earth orbits the sun, the tilt of the axis creates seasons and as the moon orbits the earth it creates tides in the sea. These precise calculations have kept stability for all life. Yet the most awesome is that God was working with “things that are not visible.” The finished product that we now see was framed and formed out of things we can’t see. God planned every aspect of this creation out of things we can’t see, then created it perfectly and flawlessly in six days.

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Heb. 11:3

The magnitude of this statement takes a few moments to process. God planned an entire universe with each individual part prepared to work cohesively with the whole and then created it with no flaws and no need to change or modify anything. The power of the heavens declaring His glory is only magnified as our science slowly unlocks more and more of these intricacies.

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. (Ps. 19:1-2)

“If You Love Me, Keep My Commandments”

4/1/2024

Introduction. The words “I love Jesus” are easily spoken, but Jesus demands more than words. Those who truly love Jesus must strongly desire to keep all His commands. This quality of obedient love is also the basis of Jesus’ love for us: “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:10) Just as Jesus showed His love for God by keeping every command, we show our love to Jesus in keeping His commands.

When we set aside one of Jesus’ commands, we are not even His friends! “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” (Jn. 15:14). Even worse, if we can easily set aside commands that are inconvenient or we don’t like, we don’t know Him at all. Those who proclaim they know Him but don’t keep His commands are liars. “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1Jn. 2:3).

This is not new! Love for God has always been based on how we keep His commands: “if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God.” (Deut. 11:13). Each of God’s commands creates a fork in our path. One direction continues our submission and love for Jesus and God. The other leads to a selfish regard only for ourselves: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding.” (Pr. 3:5).

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Alan Hitchen