What Does The Bible Say About Cremation? Is Burial Necessary?

When a person is deceased, the people around the world have different forms of disposition and last rites. In terms of Christianity, the body of the deceased individual is buried in a casket after the funeral. On the other hand, cremation means burning the body to ashes. Many different religions, like Hinduism, follow the tradition of cremating their dead loved ones. It’s common for Christians and other people around the world to wonder, “What does the Bible say about cremation?”

Being one of the main holy scriptures, the Bible sparks a lot of curiosity and intrigue about the cremation technique. Well, many factors shape the opinions about cremating bodies. For example, personal preferences, religious bias, tradition, culture, and history. What does the Bible say about cremation? Is cremation considered to be a sin?. If you seek answers to these questions, read this till the end. This blog will help you understand how Christianity and the Bible perceive the cremation tech

What Does The Bible Say About Cremation?

The topic of cremation sparks a lot of discussions and arguments as it clashes with Christian ideologies. In the Bible, there’s no direct command stating that humans should bury their dead. Simply put, statements like “dead people must be buried or cremated” cannot be found in the Bible. 

In the Old Testament and the New Testament, there are no rules or direct guidelines. Therefore, we can conclude that cremation is not prohibited in the religion of Christianity. At the same time, it cannot be considered a sin. The Almighty God doesn’t tell humanity how to dispose of a person’s body after their death. 

Instead of being stuck on the funeral practices, the Bible teaches Christians about life, death, and resurrection. It revolves around Jesus Christ, the Gospels, faith, and hope. The Bible doesn’t emphasize cremation or burial. The holy scriptures only hint that the people of God commonly practice burials in Christianity. However, occasional use of the cremation technique didn’t invite any harsh consequences. 

How Do Christians Bid Farewell To Their Loved Ones?

In Christianity, the whole process of bidding farewell to loved ones includes multiple rituals. These meaningful rituals revolve around remembering, faith, and hope of a good afterlife. The funeral requires all the family and friends to gather at one place, most likely a Church or chapel. Everyone reads different parts of the Bible while the pastor leads everyone in prayers. 

There’s a whole sermon meant to honour and give respect to the deceased person’s soul. Spiritual music is also common at these funeral services. From sadness to comfort and reflection, this service welcomes all kinds of human emotions. It’s common for the close friends or family of the deceased person to share good memories. They often highlight the significance and impact of the person’s life. 

Thereafter, the body is taken to a cemetery or burial site for committal. With final prayers, blessings, and goodbyes, the body is buried six feet under the ground in a casket. Hence, the deceased are returned to the creator and Almighty God. The Christians also organise a reception after the funeral and burial services. At this time, people can give condolences, offer emotional support, and relive memories.

Understanding The Christian Beliefs About Cremation

Aside from what the Bible says or not, the Christian people have their own beliefs. Each one of them perceives the cremation technique under a different light. According to Christians, the burial technique is a historical symbol of Jesus Christ’s burial after death and resurrection. They believe that God will raise the dead one day, and burial is needed for the resurrection to work. There’s another angle because some Christians claim that we should respect the human body as it is God’s creation. 

From ancient times to the modern world, Christian communities continue to reject the idea of cremation. In fact, some of them go to the extent and link cremation with ancient pagan traditions. The biggest fear of Christians is that they’ll be denied resurrection if their body is cremated. Religions like Hinduism justify cremation in different ways. For example, cremation helps the soul get separated from the body and find liberty. Hence, cremation will allegedly return all the elements to nature. 

Essential Factors In Understanding What Does The Bible Say About Cremation?

• It has already been established that the Bible does not command people to use the burial technique. There’s nothing against cremation that would make it a sin. 
• In ancient times, burial was the norm and main custom after someone died. Even though cremation wasn’t forbidden, the Christian believers only buried their dead. The Bible depicts several burials. For example, God himself buried Moses according to Deuteronomy 34:5-6. In Genesis 23:19 and Genesis 49:29-32, it’s shown how Abraham buried Sarah and the rest of his family in a tomb. Meanwhile, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, was also buried in a tomb after he was crucified. This is represented in Matthew 27:59-60 verses. 
• There have been multiple instances of cremation and burning bodies in the Bible. However, these weren’t respectful cremations. Instead, the bodies were burned for punishment, disgrace, and execution. The enemies burned the bodies of King Saul and his sons. It was a tragedy, and the Israelites buried the remaining bones as a token of respect. According to Joshua 7:25, Achan and his family members were executed for sin. Later, they were also burned as a part of their punishment. 
• Further, Christians believe that they’ll be denied resurrection if they were cremated. This is the most common concern among the Christian communities. Some people argue that the condition of one’s remains doesn’t affect God’s divine power. And, that his ability to resurrect people even works after cremation. 

Conclusion

In the end, you are free to shape your own opinions about the cremation and burial techniques. Moreover, it is hoped that this blog gave you a clear understanding of the topic. Even though the Bible doesn’t include direct commands, Christian perspectives are shaped out of doubts, fear, and contemplation. In conclusion, burials are the most common way of sending people back to their creators, especially for Christians. 

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Also, Read: Top 10 Bible Verses About New Beginnings | The Real Meaning Of Christmas