The Jews believed it was a desecration to burn the bones because the Bible tells us that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and is holy unto God. One reason burial has been preferred by Christians is because the Bible teaches that one day those who die in Christ will be raised from the dead and given new bodies. James 5:16The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.. The Israelites always buried their dead or put them in a tomb. Christians that died hundredsof years ago are certainly turned into dust by now. (Amos 2:1). But God is able to bring together whatever has been scattered: And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens (Mark 13:27). These cremains are then placed in a plastic bag inside an urn and returned to the loved ones family. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. 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. Your new body will be that, new. Do not worry nor fret; if God can breathe life into mere dust, prophecy the gathering of bones through a mere mortal in Elijah, if resurrection warrants raising souls from the dust, would that be too much for him to do? It is only John 5:28-29 that says a persons body must be raised up in order to be judged by God. Achan (Joshua 7:25): After the children of Israel had committed a trespass in the eye of the Lord, which triggered the wrath of the Lord against them as they lost and were smitten in a battle against the people of Ai. 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). Misconception: In Bible times, only people in Gods disfavor were burned after death. Dust? The Bible neither favors nor forbids the process of cremation. Besides, there are individuals who do not bother about burial as well as cremation because it is the spiritual body that is allowed to enter Heaven, not the physical body. The Bible also says that Lazarus was raised from the dead (Luke 16:19-31). It may serve as a funeral or post-funeral ceremony and as an alternative to burial. For example, Abraham purchased a burial ground for himself and Sarah. The wishes of other close family members and friends should also be considered in any decision, because they are the ones who will live with the decision and with the memories. 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. However, there are several scriptures throughout the Bible that speak of burning the body,such as the two below. WebThe Bible does not say that a cremated body will rise in Heaven. I hope your family wont be divided over this issue. A person or a family considering this issue should pray for wisdom ( James 1:5) and follow the conviction that results. In another instance,Achan and his familywere stoned to death and then cremated when Achan deliberated committed the sin of taking the spoil of the battle of Jericho. It doesnt interfere with Gods ability to raise the dead. Hello. As highlighted above, we have grown to know in modern Christianity that cremation was a disposition reserved for the ills and societal rejects, hence the burning of witches and many more who have been convicted of certain evil, whereas that does not offer any validation as to why saints should not take it. These few instances might as well have fueled the fire of misinformation that cremation might be a result of sin. In many ways, a trees life cycle mirrors the human experience. Amen to that. Just imagine for a second that Christ was cremated instead of being buried? Lewis said: God loves bodies. Bury the body. 2) Is it acceptable and even commonly practiced to favor a closer proximity to family even though my parents are recalled as expressing an interest in being buried in Florida where they lived at the time? The reasons for burial. This argument, though, is refuted by others on the basis of the fact that the body still decomposes over time after burial. By the time you get to the funeral whether cremation or burial (which is usually days later) it is just a body. Whether you drown I the deepest ocean or you fall into lava God will resurrect you if you are a believer. Since time immemorial, people had one way or the other let go of their dead; embalming, mummification, and the widely known burials, amongst many others, were methods in which people said goodbye to their dead. It disturbs me that my Catholic upbringing insinuates that the families scattering their loved ones ashes in the sea or other desired location they request, is something God is/was concerned about. While cremation was common among Romans and Greeks, Christians soon started to bury their dead, just like the Jews had always done. The Israelites always buried their dead or put them in a tomb. Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. 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. What does it mean "the dead in Christ shall rise first" if to be absent from the body is to be present with Moreover, the Bible speaks of the heavenly bodies and implies that the new body will be different and suited for eternity. what an assurance and great comfort this is. So, it comes down to your personal choice as to whether you want to beburied or cremated. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201 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. Remember Romans 8:38-39 that gives you assurance that there is nothing that can separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. With the spread of Christianity, cremation at first faced stern opposition and was frowned upon by people of the faith, and it gradually receded into little or no acceptance. The Christian tradition of cremation is not a sin. This is another excellent argument against theassumption that a cremated body cannot be resurrected. 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. Return to: And the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by whoring, profanes her father; she shall be burned with fire. on: function(evt, cb) { It then reappeared again in the fifth and sixth centuries. "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." This does not necessarily mean that cremation is not an acceptable method of burial. Or more than that, howGod feels aboutit? In a few short years after burial you will be ashes. So glorify God in your body. They all eventually integrate into other things, including, in Cremation just speeds up the process. He maybe can't tell you where it is in the bible because it's not there to find! That is what Jesus Christ and His Apostles and Disciples talked and wrote about. The children had no place to visit. In summary, the Bible does not explicitly state whether a cremated body can rise or not. The Hebrews did not normally cremate, except in most unusual cases of emergency, as in the case of Saul and his sons (1 Samuel 31:11-13). 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 Christian. After creating the human race, God saw all that he had made, and it was very good (Genesis 1:31). The children of Israel convicted a man name Achan of a grievous sin against God. Nevertheless, many Christians believe that their bodies would be ineligible for resurrection if they are cremated. Well i will say that it mentions in the bible that when we die that the body goes back to the ground and the spirit returns to God. Read on to learn more. 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. WebTherefore, the fact that a body has been cremated would not prevent Him from resurrecting us. Grand Rapids. I know if cremation was the true issue, Jesus would have brought it up. 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 reasons for burial. WebBible verses related to Cremation from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance. WebMisconception: Cremation dishonors the body. This final bible versebelowis a powerful messageto read and contemplate: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of Gods mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Godthis is your true and proper worship. My Mother is now in our original home state and my oldest brother recalls that when my parents were together, visiting them, living in Florida, they wanted to be buried there. The resurrection of the body will occur at the end of the age when Christ returns. In early Roman Britain, cremation was diminished by thefourth century. Moreover, the Bible speaks of the heavenly bodies and implies that the new body will be different and suited for eternity. Also, most people were buried. when we get to heaven , He is not going to ask what did we do with our bodies .,but rather I believed ,H e would be asking us, what have you done to my Son? In John 1: 12 the scripture says But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, to those who believe in His name. NKJV and that my name is written in the Book of Life ,for I believed Jesus work of redemption was done and I am waiting for His return as promised,in John 14: 1-3 to take us all with Him ,and will be with Him forever and ever. Even bodies buried traditionally eventually decompose. event : evt, Cremation 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. However, there is no scriptural prohibition of cremation in the New Testament. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that a cremated body cant rise during the second coming of Christ. Some feel that its disrespectful or that it deprives the family of the sense of closure that comes from viewing the body in the casket. The fact that a body is cremated does not make it impossible or difficult for God to resurrect that body. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that a cremated body cant rise during the second coming of Christ. The bone fragments are then placed on a table and all-metal debris such as pins, screws, titanium limbs, are removed by hand. There are, however, biblical examples of how Christians were buried recorded in the Bible. By the time you get to the funeral whether cremation or burial (which is usually days later) it is just a body. Does the Bible Say a Cremated Body Cant Rise? We expect the resurrection of the body. 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). WebThe Christian Tradition of Cremation Why a Cremated Body Doesnt Rise in the Bible . Wasnt she burned at the stake? Is resurrection possible if cremated remains are scattered? (Mark 13:27). it says in the bible that when God comes for us he will give us new bodies that has no wrinkles , pain and beautiful in his eyes if you believe in God then just believe what the bible says after all it is God and he can do anything so why couldnt he make a new body. I only heard today and Im 69 yr. old, someone say that. There is no place in Scripture, which signifies that cremation is inappropriate. Remember Romans 8:38-39 that gives you assurance that there is nothing that can separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. As of right now, the project is waiting to gain clearance of burial laws. Where in the Bible is cremation mentioned? Read John 3:1-18. Genesis 2:7 tells us God formed man from the dust of the ground, and without the breath of life, he would have just been a sculpture made of dust. 1 Samuel 31:11-13 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful. The reasons for burial. Is cremation allowed in the Bible? Archaeologists believe it has been practiced for thousands of years, far back as the stone ages. Required fields are marked *. 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Ecclesiastes 12:7 (NIV), the dust returns to the ground it came from and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 2023 BGEA The Church Handbook states, The family of the deceased person decides whether his or her body should be buried or cremated. I doubt that my parents considered my Mom moving back to our homestate for her final years. Biblical Perspective on Cremation You may do well to investigate why your family doesn't approve of your cremation choice. Daniel 12:2. ( Genesis 3: 19) Cremation speeds up the process by reducing the body to ashes, or dust. Also, most people were buried. Greatly appreciate this debate as Im trying to help my aunt build her case that she wants to be buried NOT cremated and she is afraid her son is intent on cremation. WebAt the resurrection it will not make any difference whether a persons body has been buried or cremated. I have considered cremation! There was no instance in the Bible where God frowned against the idea, for example, in the case of Saul and his sons. If cremation was an important issue to God it would have been addressed in detail. "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." The atoms in your bodies are continuously replaced. The breath of life made him a living soul. The Bibledoes not clearly define about cremationas a means to dispose of the dead. After King David heard of this, he had his men go and exhume, burn their bodies, and transport them back for a proper burial. Our body is our temple. Some, like your husband, oppose cremation on biblical grounds. WebCremation was not practiced on both Lazarus and Jesus' body, as they were placed in the ground upon death (John 11, 12:17, Matthew 27, Mark 15, etc.). 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. Many Christians believe that it is not our physical bodies that willdwell in the house of the Lord. After creating the human race, God saw all that he had made, and it was very good (Genesis 1:31). 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. WebHere are some verses that may answer what does the Bible say about cremation KJV version: I Samuel 31:11-13: And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. You can rest confidently knowing that you are safe in Christ and cremation wont change that. The Bible has many passages that speak of the bodily resurrection, mostly found in the New Testament. 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. everyday, planned parenthood literally throws bodies in dumpsters, those would have to be cremated as well and all together at that. Although theres no definitive answer in the bible, most religious leaders today will agree that it is ok. Hence the notion to live, die, and be buried like Christ, as nobody wants to be ruled out of resurrection when Christ comes to take up the saints, as said in the book of revelations. No, the Bible does not state that a cremated body cannot rise. WebAt the resurrection, it will not make any difference whether a persons body has been cremated or buried. We were briefly shown the extent and not the peak of his power when he said in Ezekiel 37:7 that as Elijah prophesied as he was commanded, there was a noise and rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.. Nevertheless, many Christians believe that their bodies would be ineligible for resurrection if they are cremated. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { The argument is simple: bodies decompose and become part of other elements. Yet, as Dr. ( Genesis 3: 19) Cremation speeds up the process by reducing the body to ashes, or dust. Cremation in Judaism has many different people saying many different things, but it boils down to this: However, if you believe that the souls of the dead will come back to life, then that bone being destroyed in cremation does not influence spiritual reincarnation.. In Matthew 27:52-53, Jesus is resurrected after being buried for three days and then coming out of his tomb. Life exists in time and seasons; there is a time for everything under the sun, and as said in Ecclesiastes 3:2, there is a time to be born and a time to die. We all know the creation story about how God created everything in 7 days, but our searchlight would focus on the cremation of man. WebDoes the Bible say you won't rise if you are cremated? Christians that died hundreds of years ago are certainly turned into dust by now. According to the Old Testament and New Testament, burial is definitely the standard practice adopted for disposing of a dead body. WebHeres what the Bible says about cremation: Leviticus 20:14 and 21:9 If a man takes a woman and her mother also, it is depravity; he and they shall be burned with fire, that there may be no depravity among you. Is resurrection possible if cremated remains are scattered? Contact Us. Wow, what a painful process, some might think. The children of Israel convicted a man name Achan of a grievous sin against God. Read on to learn more. Whether burial or cremation best expresses that appropriate respect is a very personal decision. WebWhen the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, Up, make us gods who shall go before us. Both run around $1,000 each. Some, like your husband, oppose cremation on biblical grounds. WebThe Bible doesn't say anything about cremated bodies not rising. This is certainly true in the case of Gods family. 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.. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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.. The Israelites always buried their dead or put them in a tomb. Or you fall into lava God will resurrect you if you are cremated bag inside an urn and to. 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