"The Church raises no doctrinal objections to this practice, since cremation of the deceased's body does not affect his or her soul, nor does it prevent God, in his omnipotence, from raising up the deceased body to new life." We believe God gave us our bodies, and they should be treated with respect. What does it mean "the dead in Christ shall rise first" if to be absent from the body is to be present with In His Words: What Billy Graham Once Said About Eternity, Will Graham Devotion: When My Grandfather Entered Heaven, Will Graham Devotion: When My Grandfather Reached Heaven. When we are united by faith with Jesus Christ, we are adopted into Gods family (Romans 8:1517). Your soul shall rise to meet him on the day of resurrection. There are two main ways the Scriptures indicate this. God is very specific about how a person becomes a are Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. Can Christians watch Anime, The 13 Easiest Version of The Bible to Read (2022), 5 Major Promises Of God In The Bible (Complete list), Scriptures and Verses of Thankfulness to God (2022), 30 Verses About Scripture on Gods Love (Complete list). Grand Rapids. I suspect these are some of the same people that would not let alcohol touch their lips or believe that you shouldnt tap you foot or you are improperly dancing. Joni Eareckson Tada: When Is It Right to Die? God knows how to raise the body, either in the resurrection of life or the resurrection of condemnation (John 5:28-29). The early Christians practiced this; as witches, people with unclean spirits, or those who had committed abominations were burnt at the pyre. Scriptures of the Old Testament, such as 2 Kings 23: 16-20 spoke of the desecration of an altar after human bones were burned there; however, nowhere in the Old Testament does it command against the burning of a human body. Cremation was practiced in ancient times, but it was not practiced by those in the Old or New Testaments except on rare occasions (Leviticus 20:14; 1 There is no Biblical precedent for cremation. Reading the above articles and will read again. ( Genesis 3: 19) Cremation speeds up the process by reducing the body to ashes, or dust. I have considered cremation! WebThe Christian Tradition of Cremation Why a Cremated Body Doesnt Rise in the Bible . The bible does not outrightly approve or go against the idea of cremation; if anything, the idea further strengthens the notion that from dust, we have come, and to it, we shall return. But in our quest and furtherance to understand the word of God, we sometimes tend to overthink things and begin to question a thing or two about Him (Acts 36:8). Pastors wont give you a straight answer. This argument, though, is refuted by others on the basis of the fact that the body still decomposes over time after burial. Long ago, cremation only became an option when there was a global pandemic and people had no alternative to bury their dead when the graveyards were full. In summary, the Bible does not explicitly state whether a cremated body can rise or not. The new body of a Christian will be a radically changed and glorified body like the body of the exalted Christ. Your new body will be that, new. So, cremation will not separate you from Gods love and will not affect your eternal destiny. Because of this, we cannot have our physical selves truly resurrected. Does the Bible Say a Cremated Body Cant Rise? The Bible, however, does give a few examples where bodies were burned after death. Ethics and Religion Talk. In addition to this, many also feel that cremation would hinder the resurrection power when Jesus would come for his beloved and the grave would open up for the dead to rise. The Bible does not specifically address the issue of cremation, but it does state that the dead will be resurrected (John 5:28-29). Thank gor sharing By 1900 there were 20, 425 crematoriums by 1975, and by 2009 around 37% of people opted for cremation. And I do believe we are to honor it. A new growing trend developed in Italy is the Capsula Mundi project. I Dont visit my loved ones remains but I remember them daily, and keep their memory deep within. In fact, most people who were burned in the Bible were cursed. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? The children of Israel convicted a man name Achan of a grievous sin against God. When cremation was practiced, it showed contempt for the person (e.g., Achan, who disobeyed God and brought defeat to the Israelitessee Joshua 7:25). This is completely a preference IMO. However if that is not the case and decisions need to made for her then I feel you must first ask yourself this, is this for them, or for me? That would beimprobable, no matter what method you choose for death. The new body of a Christian will be a radically changed and glorified body like the body of the exalted Christ. However, it was sometimes used by the authorities as punishment for heretics. It is only John 5:28-29 that says a persons body must be raised up in order to be judged by God. Ultimately, it depends on the personal wishes of the deceased or, if no wishes were left, the feelings and preferences of those making decisions for their final arrangements. However, this begets the question, do we think that its too hard for God to breathe life into dust, or to raise the dead from its dust? If Lazarus had been cremated, would he have been raised from dust? What does it mean "the dead in Christ shall rise first" if to be absent from the body is to be present with We expect the resurrection of the body. Cremation is an alternative to the widely accepted practice of burying the dead. Because thats supposed to be the way of composition and decomposition according to biology. Wouldnt your belief in God and the way you live your life determine if you go the heaven? Achan was caught in possession of some of these accursed things. Ecclesiastes 12:7 (NIV), the dust returns to the ground it came from and the spirit returns to God who gave it. We become joint heirs with Christ; we inherit the promise of heaven and eternal life. Read John 3:1-18. Many Christians believe that it is not our physical bodies that willdwell in the house of the Lord. As humans, after the loss of a loved one, we are saddled with the responsibility of interring them; this is such a tricky stage where a decision has to be made in preserving the memory of such a loved one. The argument is simple: bodies decompose and become part of other elements. Our body is our temple. The Christian tradition of cremation is not a sin. ( Genesis 3: 19) Cremation speeds up the process by reducing the body to ashes, or dust. listeners: [], on: function(evt, cb) { The whole burial process can be long, full of the declarations of love and admiration for those that have passed. Throughout the Bible we see a consistent theme that only the wicked burned their dead. June 1, 2004 This should be a non issue and conversation. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a35617ec52a666059533e075f2516881" );document.getElementById("e218d56cc5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Bible, however, does give a few examples where bodies were burned after death. We become joint heirs with Christ; we inherit the promise of heaven and eternal life. I just dont want to do anything that would displease the Lord. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.. It doesnt interfere with Gods ability to raise the dead. 10, 2014, 11:50 a.m. NEW! It ismore of a cultural and philosophical issue rather than a biblical one. One thought that came to me I dont believe cremation will keep you out of heaven, and I also dont beleive it will keep you out of hell. Contact Us. The argument is simple: bodies decompose and become part of other elements. WebFirst, the Bible doesnt forbid cremation. 10, 2014, 11:50 a.m. NEW! The Christian tradition of cremation is not a sin. So there is a bad connection to being burnt. For example, Abraham purchased a burial ground for himself and Sarah. We believe God gave us our bodies, and they should be treated with respect. He can resurrect a body eaten by a shark or a baby torn limb from limb and aborted by its mother. In summary, the Bible does not explicitly state whether a cremated body can rise or not. 2023 BGEA A person or a family considering this issue should pray for wisdom ( James 1:5) and follow the conviction that results. The breath of life made him a living soul. So if he created all these wonderful things i am sure that he will remember us when that great day comes. claims the Bible says you cant go to heaven if youre cremated. T ue stop me from being present with my Lord. } Christians hold a belief, one which is very important in Christianity; the resurrection power. Cremation, according to science, is an irreversible reaction. Joseph also had the bones of his father carried out of Egypt. Pray for peace in your familyand may each of you face the reality of death, and rejoice in the hope we have of eternal life because of Christs death and resurrection for us. Fact: The Bible says that those who die return to the dust, which is what naturally happens to a corpse when it decomposes. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.. WebWhen cremation was practiced in the Bible, it showed contempt of person as mentioned in Joshua 7:25. However, although Jesus did not give definitive answers, He did make reference to the disposal of the body. These few instances might as well have fueled the fire of misinformation that cremation might be a result of sin. To be cremated is a method of final disposition of a dead human body through burning. Misconception: In Bible times, only people in Gods disfavor were burned after death. Cremated bodies become part of the air and ash and buried bodies become part of the ground and plant life. You can rest confidently knowing that you are safe in Christ and cremation wont change that. We might as well say it gives a visual representation of hell in their eyes, and hell is a place reserved for sinners, and it might represent that such a person is taking rewards of their evil deed on earth before journeying to the life beyond. We expect the resurrection of the body. It were very refreshing. A person or a family considering this issue should pray for wisdom ( James 1:5) and follow the conviction that results. God is equally able to raise a persons remains that have been cremated as he is the remains of a person who was not cremated. To a certain extent, they can make a strong case for their contention. claims the Bible says you cant go to heaven if youre cremated. The resurrection of the body will occur at the end of the age when Christ returns. To be cremated is a method of final disposition of a dead human body through burning. There are, however, biblical examples of how Christians were buried recorded in the Bible. Genesis 3:19 - In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Would that preclude them from resurrection? Its also not about destroying the dead body or spreading disease. Even though the essential person or spirit has moved on to an eternal destiny, the body is the tangible reminder of all that person meant to us. The fact that a body is cremated does not make it impossible or difficult for God to resurrect that body. If your Mother has the ability to answer this question I would first ask her. After creating the human race, God saw all that he had made, and it was very good (Genesis 1:31). It may serve as a funeral or post-funeral ceremony and as an alternative to burial. If it is approved, the goal is to create memorial parks full of trees instead of tombstones. They cant destroy what they cant see. Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Mummification and embalming reigned notably amongst the Egyptians, while cremation was among those who practiced Judaism, which was part of the problem it first encountered as a mode of burial. In a few short years after burial you will be ashes. In North America, the first crematory was built in 1876. If you are cremated, then your soul will remain in heaven waiting for your resurrection at the end of time. The Bible does not say that a cremated body cannot rise. Christians believe that all things are possible with God. What does the Bible say about cremation? Solicitation Disclosure Statement God knows how to raise the body, either in the resurrection of life or the resurrection of condemnation (John 5:28-29). The Church Handbook states, The family of the deceased person decides whether his or her body should be buried or cremated. The Jews believe in the eventual resurrection of the dead as promised in the Bible, so that was another reason they believed it was required by God to preserve the body if at all possible. After creating the human race, God saw all that he had made, and it was very good (Genesis 1:31). However, numerous Bible passages suggest that a persons physical body is essential for the resurrection. All bodies buried since time are all dust by now, and when the time happens, they will become dust if God tarries (1st Corinthians 15:35 44). WebCremation is often practiced today in cultures that have no respect for the human body or see it as evil; Christians in those societies reject cremation. Would that preclude them from resurrection? By BGEA Staff No, the Bible does not state that a cremated body cannot rise. The remains are kept in a container (most commonly an urn) handed to their loved ones, to which they can dispose of as they wish or according to the wish of the dead. The circumstance warranted such action. So the spirit is not returned to the ground because it didnt come from the dust like the body. If yes, you should click right here for the key things to understand. Return to: 1 Samuel 31:11-13 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful. Does cremation interfere with the resurrection? That is what Jesus Christ and His Apostles and Disciples talked and wrote about. The question of burial or cremation is within the realm of Christian freedom. It doesnt interfere with Gods ability to raise the dead. I was never new of any bible teaching that a cremated body could not rise to heaven. Additionally, mass cremations were sometimes performed due to the fear of contagious diseases. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( Then again in 1963, the law was changed to allow cremation due to overcrowded cemeteries, sanitation hazards, and economical purposes. There is nothing but remains. When we are united by faith with Jesus Christ, we are adopted into Gods family (Romans 8:1517). By the time you get to the funeral whether cremation or burial (which is usually days later) it is just a body. It is only John 5:28-29 that says a persons body must be raised up in order to be judged by God. This could be taken as evidence that a cremated body will not go to heaven, because it would have been burned up in the fire. He explained that in the days of Jesus on earth, the people that were criminals were thrown in a fire to be burnt outside the city. July 6, 2005 He can resurrect a body eaten by a shark or a baby torn limb from limb and aborted by its mother. Nevertheless, there were certain instances where the cremation of the dead still took place. In fact, with Ecclesiastes 3:20 quite literally mentioning dust, and with the prevalence of the phrase "ashes to ashes" in Catholic culture, the act of cremation has been seeing a bit of a renaissance. 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