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I was scrolling through Facebook and happened upon one of those clickbait articles that some groups tend to rotate through. This one was fairly innocuous compared to many. It said “The Bible doesn’t forbid cremation, but it makes a strong case for burial.”
These types of claims bother me a bit. We have to be very careful about what we claim the Bible says and what it means for us today. Here are a few reasons why I believe this:
1. The Bible is not univocal. It was not written by one person. It was written by many people over a long period of time and the text is dealing with things that happened during a specific time.
2. God did not take control of the writer’s hand and force them to write what God wanted them to write. God inspired them to write, but their own opinions, biases, and interpretation is also very present.
3. Things that God wanted people to do in 800 BC may not be the same things that God is asking of us now. Culture, technology, and human understanding have changed significantly since the Bible was written.
Our Reformed Tradition believes in sola Scriptura, or “Scripture alone”. Yes, I realize there are four other solas. How can we say “Scripture alone” when we also have faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, and glory of God alone? That’s a lot of things to be alone.
Like all of the solas, a proper understanding of the doctrine requires a certain amount of context—both historical and theological. In the first place, we need to understand that the Reformation doctrine of sola Scriptura arose within the context of the late medieval Roman Catholic church and its teaching. It was a response to perceived error in the teaching of the church. So, what was it that the Reformers found objectionable?
The dispute with Rome was not over the inspiration or inerrancy of Scripture. Rome affirmed both doctrines. The problem, instead, was due to the fact that over the course of many centuries, Rome had gradually adopted a view of the relation between the church, Scripture, and tradition that effectively placed final authority somewhere other than God. Tradition was conceived of as a second source of revelation, and the pope and Roman magisterium were viewed as the final authority in matters of faith and practice.
When we look at Scripture for revelation we should be looking at it in relation to what it shows us about God. Who is God? What is God’s intention for humanity? What does God require of us in relation to who and what God is?
So, does God really care if we are cremated, or have tattoos, or eat shrimp, or have a loving LGBTQIA+ relationship? I don’t think so. The main point of the Bible is that we should love God, show love and respect to other people and the world around us. That is the point of scripture.
Blessings,
Pastor Steve
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