NW: Human Composting is Legal in These Six States; COGwriter: But God has a better plan

JUST IN: #BNNUS Reports. #NewYork has legalised natural organic reduction, popularly known as human composting, as a method of burial.

It becomes the sixth state in the US to do so. #HumanComposting #US #Social pic.twitter.com/BLUHCBHmrq

— Gurbaksh Singh Chahal (@gchahal) January 2, 2023

COGwriter

Newsweek reported the following:

Human Composting is Legal in These Six States

January 2, 2023

New York state has legalized natural organic reduction, better known as human composting, which is seen by some as an environmentally friendly alternative to burial and cremation for human bodies.

The move was approved by Kathy Hochul, the state’s governor, meaning human composting is now legal in six states across the U.S.

Human composting sees a body shut in a container, usually filled with material such as straw and wood chips, where it decomposes over a period of several weeks. …

Washington was the first U.S. state to legalize human composting, followed in 2021 by Colorado and Oregon. In 2022 the practice was legalized in Vermont, California and finally New York, meaning human composting is now permitted in a total of six states.

In California assembly bill 351, which made human composting legal, took effect in September after being signed by state Governor Gavin Newsom. https://www.newsweek.com/human-composting-legal-these-six-states-1770699

Here is more about it:

In a statement about the bill issued on June 1, the New York State Catholic Conference said, “while not everyone shares the same beliefs with regard to the reverent and respectful treatment of human remains, we believe there are a great many New Yorkers who would be uncomfortable at best with this proposed composting/fertilizing method, which is more appropriate for vegetable trimmings and eggshells than for human bodies.”

A Seattle funeral home that composts humans, Recompose, charges $7,000 and boasts that they can turn the deceased into soil in “as little as 30 days.”

The funeral home’s website explains that they offer a “laying in” ceremony when the body is placed in a vessel to compost.

“When you arrive at Recompose Seattle, you will be greeted by a member of our Services team who will guide you to the Gathering Space. Your person’s body will be in view when you walk into the Gathering Space, laying on a dark green bed we call a cradle, draped in a natural cloth,” the website explains.” The cradle will be stationed in front of our white, hexagonal threshold vessel, which is a passageway to our vessel system. A Recompose Services Specialist will guide you through the ceremony from start to finish.”

Of course, one could (but it may not be legal) simply bury the deceased for the cost of digging a hole and the body will naturally decay and “compost.”

The human composting laws made me recall the 1973 science-fiction movie Soylent Green, where humans ended up in the food supply. This is just a less direct way to do so.

That said, no I do not believe it is wrong for humans to be composted per se. But no, I do not plan to go that way.

Of course, the Bible tells that humans become dust. Notice what the Old Testament teaches:

19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return. (Genesis 3:19)

20 All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust. (Ecclesiastes 3:20)

But the New Testament show that humans do not have to remain as dust:

46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:46-54)

Yes, real immortality is possible. Not as dusty soil for vegetables to grow in, but in a glorious resurrected spiritual body.

Yes, God has a better plan–and it does involve resurrections.

Furthermore, notice that the Apostle Paul elsewhere wrote that should comfort those called in this age:

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 91 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Yes, God’s plan should be comforting to His people.

Anyway, the Continuing Church of God put together the following sermon on its ContinuingCOG channel:

53:31

After Death – Heaven or ?

George ‘Doc’ Buchanan dispels a widely held Greco-Roman-Protestant belief about what happens to Christians after death in this sermon. He goes over scriptures on heaven, immortality, and the return of Jesus. Doc asks what about the popular lyrics “when we all get to heaven”? He discusses giving and loving our brethren. He asks, “Did Lucifer want to get to heaven?” Doc tells of a two-word promise given to believers.