Cremation
Is it wrong?
Q. Do you think it’s wrong for Christians to cremate their loved ones? A friend tells me it’s disrespectful to burn-up dead bodies. Is there some theological reason we should avoid cremation? Thanks for answering…
Answer:
Thank you for asking the question. Many Christians do not want to face issues like these.
Historical Views
Historically, Christians have preferred to bury their dead when it is possible. This is because pagans typically practiced the rites of burning their dead. Or, they offered burned-up victims to ruthless lesser gods like Moloch, Baal or Ashtoreth.
In contrast, Christians were buried in the catacombs of Rome reflecting their belief in a future resurrection. The apostle Paul noted that putting our bodies in the ground was like “sowing a seed” for our future resurrection.
The apostle Paul says, “What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain” (1 Cor 15:36-37).
Later in this same passage Paul continues, “What is sown is perishable. What is raised is imperishable. …The first man was from the earth, a man of dust. The second man is from heaven…Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven” (1 Cor. 15:42, 48-49).
Biblical References to Cremation
There are primarily three examples of cremation in the Old Testament:
1. Achan (Joshua 7:25)
2. Saul (1 Samuel 31:12)
3. The King of Edom (Amos 2:1)
Each of these three examples was a result of God’s judgment or curse (Hitchcock 2005).
Biblical References to Burial
Hitchcock goes on to list several biblical examples of a proper burial method.
-Abraham (Genesis 15:15)
-Sarah (Genesis 23:4-6
-John the Baptist (Mark 6:29)
-Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:6-10)
-Stephen (Acts 8:2)
I list these particular Scriptural passages so that you may read for yourself some of the burial practices mentioned in the Bible.
(2005, 80).
Resurrection not Dependent upon Physical Bodies
Having said that, we do not believe it is wrong to cremate loved ones. Our future resurrected bodies do not require that we preserve our dead bodies in any manner. Thank goodness this is so – what would happen to all those martyred Christians who were used as torches in Nero’s garden? How about those who died at sea or were eaten by sharks? How about those eaten by wild animals?
DNA Records in Book of Life?
Remember, our DNA is simply “information.” In fact, it may be our DNA records, our “information,” that is recorded in the “Book of Life.” Has this occurred to you?
“And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).
Does God Need Tissue Samples from Dead Bodies?
Furthermore, consider this: If God really needed our dead “seeds” or cell-tissue or samples of DNA to resurrect us, He could certainly go back in time and snatch a hair sample or some other piece of our representative DNA in order to do this.
A Tiny God in a Little Box
Our problem is not one of preserving our dead bodies so that God can revive us. Our problem is how we are inclined to diminish God himself! Our concept of God is too small, too narrow, too little.
Itsy-bitsy Understanding in a little Itty-bitty Box
We put our itsy-bitsy understanding of God in a little, itty-bitty box where teeny-weeny people see things in just four little dimensions: length, width, depth, and time.
We tend to force our limited perceptions onto a God who, in fact, sustains trillions upon trillions of swirling galaxies, who exists outside of time and space altogether, who is the cosmic glue that binds atoms together and keeps us from disintegrating:
“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity…” (Isaiah 57:15, ESV).
…”in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17).
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Education for Everyone
In fact, it might do all of us some good to invest in literature and DVDs pertaining to physics, astronomy, astrophysics, and other sciences which broaden one’s understanding of our God. (Yes, you can understand these…they are produced for the layman). Here are some recommendations:
References:
Ankerberg, John. www.johnankerberg.org.
Hitchcock, Mark. 2005. 55 Answers to questions about life after death. Sisters, OR: Multnomah.
Missler, Chuck. 2001. The Creator Series. [DVD]. www.khouse.org.
Ross, Hugh. Physics & astronomy discussions. Available from: www.reasonstobelieve.org.
— 1996. Beyond the cosmos: What recent discoveries in astrophysics reveal about the glory and love of God. [Book]. Colorado Springs: NavPress.