In the United States, the vast majority of people who pass away today are cremated rather than buried. God can restore life from ashes if he can create life from dust. In this post, let us answer the question, What does the Bible say about cremation?. Isaiah 61:3 Beauty from Ashes is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. Some were fed to the lions while . Especially today, at the time of this writing, that we are facing a global pandemic, it seems that cremation has increasingly become popular. While the Bible does not mention cremation, it does mention resurrection. God need only reform a physical body within the framework of the eternal spiritual body resulting in the re-creation of a body in his perfect image, just as Adam was initially created in a perfect state. Whether this refers to actual people or the village, we can see that burning bodies is part of Gods punishment. The vision of the Valley of Dry Bones. cremation is not mentioned in the Bible. Jesus Christ Himself was buried. There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that God can resurrect a cremated body, but some people find comfort in the belief. Some people believe that God can resurrect a cremated body, while others believe that He cannot. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Even if the body is completely buried, it continues to decay. God could just use the same blueprint he used at the very beginning. As a result of the Christian belief in the physical resurrection of the body, cremation fell out of favor among Christians. The body was never meant to be the stable principle of identity, that is the job of the soul. King Solomon, as he approached the final years of his life, made this conclusion: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments,For this is mans all. First, many verses teach that our resurrected bodies will be the same bodies that we have now, except transformed into an immortal state.Since God does not create new bodies for us from scratch, but rather resurrects the body that dies, it is clear that we do . Funerals are secular in nature because they commemorate the deceaseds life, provide comfort and support, and acknowledge their loss. May our living God continue to use you to enlighten souls. Bodies decay in the soil or water, so even if someone is buried, it is quite possible that when the grave is dug up some centuries later, there might be little or nothing left. Jesus declared, I am the resurrection and the life. Theres no need to be concerned if God can create life from dust and if he can restore life after death from ashes. Many people choose to be cremated because they believe it is a more environmentally-friendly option than burial. When a person is cremated and claims to be Jesus Christ, that act does not prevent the persons resurrection. In the Bible, cremation is not punished as a sin. Although cremation is the final disposition of the body, some people believe that it is possible for God to resurrect a cremated body. He spoke everything into existence in the first place in Genesis chapters one and two when He tackled the far larger job of creating the entire universe. He has been in ministry for nearly twenty years as a pastor, author, speaker, and blogger. In some cases, cremation is needed or imposed by the government. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. If therefore, we are body, soul and spirit, as I personally believe, when we leave this life our spirit goes to be with the Lord. The speaker brought good points to consider when trying to figure out whether cremation is acceptable or not. Gospel Q&A: How Do I Tell If Its the Holy Ghost or Just Me? In fact, the Bible says that Jesus rose from the dead after being dead for three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40). Because cremation is more cost-effective than direct burial, the body is placed in an alternative container rather than a casket. One account describes a man being stoned and then burned due to his . God has already spoken it into existence. That said, when God resurrects us He will not make us exactly as we are now. Gospel Q&A: Do We Really Have the Spirit With Us All the Time? All Latter-day Saint Youth Need to Hear Ready to Rise, Popular Rapper Says He Wants to Be Baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, FREE I Can Do All Things Through Christ Sheet Music + Music Video, Latter-day Saint Missionaries Perform Is There Room, Official 2023 Youth Theme Music Video: I Can Do All Things Through Christ, We Asked ChatGPT to Answer Frequently Asked Questions About The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Popular Rapper Says He Wants to Be Baptized into The Church. The entire Christian worldview hinges on whether or not Christ was physically dead and then appeared alive in the physical body that was previously deceased. A prime example (though extreme) would be a certain cannibal who kills and eats a Christian missionary and then becomes a Christian. The Healing Order of God. I refer much to the original language of the day and make extensive use of numerous translations of the bible and they are not all accurate. Personal. But I bestow all my possessions on the poor, and I burn my body, but I do not love it, he says. As well, we are told that Christ, who is the first-fruits of our hope, was raised from the grave and his tomb was empty (suggesting the same exact body, not just a similar body, was raised). If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. (Although, I could be wrong. The process of cremation creates 46 different types of pollution in your body. God can restore life from ashes if he can create life from dust. This question requires a further look into what happens to the body after we die, and what our expectation of how resurrection occurs. So, cremation will not separate you from God's love and will not affect your eternal destiny. The Bible does not take a stance on cremation, nor does cremation in any way hamper God's plan to one day resurrect all of humanity. Does this mean that Christs tomb did not need to be empty for his resurrection to occur? He can do whatever He pleases and certainly, He can resurrect bodies that have been burned. This belief is based on the fact that God is all-powerful and can do anything He wants. Thanks for the information reference cremation, if is the sin or not? Since God was able to make a man out of dirt, He won't have a problem reassembling a dead person from it. According to church guidelines, cremation of the deceaseds body does not affect his or her soul. Jesus said that only a small number of his disciples would be resurrected to live in heaven. All Christian interpreters, theologians, and teachers agree that God is able to resurrect any body. Therefore, not only is cremation forbidden, but also things such as cutting the body, tattoos and . And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. Here are some verses that may answer what does the Bible say about cremation KJV version: 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. While the Bible does not mention cremation specifically, it is clear that God is concerned about how we treat the bodies of those who have died. They will be whole and perfect. Or profit anything. The resurrection of the body will occur at the end of the age when Christ returns. At the funeral, a religious leader will lead mourners through the saying of farewell. Jeroboam, Nebats son, erected the altar, and he burned it as well as the altar in Nebats house. The 1 Samuel 31:12 ESV / 101 helpful votes have been recorded. In the end, however, we should remember that the resurrection will take place by the power of God, who created the heavens and the earth. An ash can only be buried in a cemetery or another sacred location. So, in the final analysis, theres really no difference between burial and cremation in terms of what would become of the corpse. If this is the case, then Christs exact body being raised may, primarily, have apologetic purposes as well. I am an ordained pastor, who is Jewish by natural birth, but never practiced Judaism. Mosiah 2:25 tells us, Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye werecreatedof thedustof the earth; but behold, itbelongethto him who created you.. 25 And Joshua said, Why have you troubled us? It is respectfully a personal decision only. Our main concern is to do the work of God, follow His commandments, and fulfill His will and purpose in our lives. How do we deal with all the bizarre, paranormal, seemingly unchristian things that are happening in the world. Are they angels? As for whether God can resurrect a body that's been cremated, that's no problem whatsoever! Thus, it is not surprising to see more and more people asking about cremation and how Christians should respond to it. If yes, how? Natural burials return your body to the soil in the form of a dozen fundamental nutrients in a matter of minutes. As Christians, when we die, our spirits are united with Jesus in the spiritual world: Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. You should attend a funeral if you knew the person who died and the funeral was open to the public. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide what they believe. Any faults, defects or imperfections will be gone. Think of all the people incinerated in terrible fires, and all the atoms and molecules and DNA dissipated and reabsorbed into the eco-system over thousands of years. Find him everywhere. Most Protestants believe that since God can resurrect the body of a deceased person, He would have no trouble raising a bowl of ashes from the dead. God made our bodies miraculously, he can resurrect our bodies miraculously and he's promised to do that. This process is irreversible, and thus, on judgement day, there will be no body to resurrected. As the other answers show, there's some debate over exactly how intact the body needs to be for Resurrection to work. He also burned the bones of the priests and other high places visitors in the high places. "When you are at 10C, with no brain activity . Ethics and Religion Talk. Therefore, I dont think that God is too concerned about getting us in the exact same model at the resurrection. Can God resurrect a cremated body? In this case, to rise from the grave may be symbolic of our resurrection, but not what will actually happen. For example, God buried Moses himself (Deuteronomy 34:5-8; Jude 1:9). Even if the grave marker or other type of memorial is on a family plot, it can be very important to survivors. Moreover, you can bring with you the ashes anywhere you go. While the Bible doesnt give a clear preference for cremation or burial, it does give some principles that can guide our decision. Ultimately, whether a person's body was buried at sea, destroyed in combat or an accident, intentionally cremated or buried in a grave, the person will be resurrected ." That is all contained within the DNA in our genes. Interestingly, the evidence that our resurrected bodies may not share ontological continuity with our pre-resurrected bodies causes prominent professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary to have his doubts about the empty tomb of Jesus, even though he does not deny the physical resurrection of Jesus (Resurrecting Jesus: The Earliest Christian Tradition and Its Interpreters, 219-28). This belief is based on the fact that God is all-powerful and can do anything He wants. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. At the resurrection it will not make any difference whether a person's body has been buried or cremated. As for where the information about our DNA is now, it is simply stored in Gods memory. God can do anything. (Hindi) (Malayalam). So, burning corpses is something done unusually. As long as the body is buried, it remains intact. It is only John 5:28-29 that says a person's body must be "raised up" in order to be judged by God. He can resurrect a body eaten by a shark or a baby torn limb from limb and aborted by its mother. The fact that a body is cremated does not make it impossible or difficult for God to resurrect that body. So, cremation will not separate you from God's love and will not affect your eternal destiny. Similarly, a seaman buried at sea would leave no traces. According to the Bible practice, the bodies of the deceased were not cremated but buried in the ground or in caves (Genesis 23:19; 35:19; 2 Chronicles 16:14; Matthew 27:60-66). It is also less expensive because funerals and burials are not required. Becca loves audiobooks, dark chocolate, singing, hiking, walking, going out with her husband, and raising their chickens and children. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. This will in no way prevent God from being able to resurrect their bodies. Whether cremated or buried, once the life has gone out of them, all earthly bodies soon decompose and turn to dust ( Genesis 3:19 ). A funeral service can last anywhere between 50 and 80 minutes. It was moved not so he could get out, but so others could see in. These instructions included washing the body, anointing it with oil, and wrapping it in a linen cloth. person consists. At the rapture/resurrection the spirits of deceased believers will return with the Lord where they . For most of us, An embalmed body usually lasts in a coffin for up to 10 years.. Moreover, even if you bury a dead body, the body would still decay and decompose, eventually, leaving bones and other hard materials. I dont select the ads displayed here but generated by advertising software. 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, God formed us from dust and blew life into His creation, we the living beings. Scriptures do not specifically say that cremation is a sin. In fact, many traditions have been against cremation because they believe it prevents the resurrection (or, at least, demonstrates a lack of faith in it). Thank you, Michael, for your measured perspective and clarity on this subject. Natural burials are far superior to cremation and traditional burials in terms of convenience and ease of use. If cremation prevents a person from going to heaven, other people must determine his or her own fate. Left me still unsettled. Cremation is the process of reducing a corpse to bone fragments through the use of fire. SUBMISSIONS NEEDED! All rights reserved (About Us). The resurrection is only possible through a supernatural God who has knowledge of all things and is all-powerful. In other places, cremation is mentioned, but not in the Bible. Most Americans today die as a result of cremation, not burial. Indeed, even as we live now, the atoms of which we are made are continually changing and being replaced. The Bible also says that Lazarus was raised from . Funerals differ from one religion to the next. He knows the DNA codes for every person He has ever created. The deceaseds remains are said to have been burned to send their essence to the afterlife. In the final analysis, what the Bible says about cremation isnt the main concern of every Christian. For such reasons, I tend to turn away from traditional, orthodox, historical, denominational teachings and apply the principles of Acts 17:11, testing all things. As a result, it is difficult to determine whether cremation has a significant impact on the resurrection. There is no one answer to this question as it is a matter of faith. If God created us from the dust of the earth originally, can He not resurrect us from the dust left behind after we die? Whether any God exists is, of course, another matter. Of course, Christian tradition would favor more burying the dead rather than burning them. The first thing we need to establish is the word cremation does not appear in the Bible. In some translations, the daughters in this verse are translated as villages. And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die. 1 Cor. There is no definitive answer to this question as it is a matter of religious beliefs. : to cause . Can God resurrect a cremated body? Ultimately, whether a person's body was buried at sea, destroyed in combat or an accident, intentionally cremated or buried in a grave , the person will be resurrected." Though prayer is meant to be natural and instinctive, I have struggled at times to , $MMT = window.$MMT || {}; $MMT.cmd = $MMT.cmd || [];$MMT.cmd.push(function(){ $MMT.display.slots.push(["f992c357-0be0-4334-a4f7-87772a39cf1e"]); }), $MMT = window.$MMT || {}; $MMT.cmd = $MMT.cmd || [];$MMT.cmd.push(function(){ $MMT.display.slots.push(["ef22f1d7-4b5e-494f-8e7f-703e2b67dff1"]); }). Others believe that cremation may hinder resurrection, as the body must be whole in order for the soul to be reunited with it. When Jesus returns to heaven on resurrection day (1 Thess. Although cremation is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, it is an expression that is not universally accepted by followers of Christ. Yahweh, Himself, commanded that the culprit, along with all that he has, would be burned (Joshua 7:15). In the same way, I don't like it when communion is served with eenie weenie pieces of bread and little plastic individual cups. Aside from that, it could be that he was also mutilated, and by the time he was found by the valiant men of Israel, his body could already be rotting or decaying. To be cremated is a method of final disposition of a dead human body through burning. In fact, many Bible passages speak of burning the body. and he shall say, No. On average, it takes about 1-2 hours for an adult body to be fully disintegrated. Perhaps, the biggest concern among people who ask what the Bible says about cremation is the question, Is cremation sin? This is a valid question that needs to be answered. No, cremation is not a sin. And with Him all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). Ultimately, whether a person's body was buried at sea, destroyed in combat or an accident, intentionally cremated or buried in a grave, the person will be resurrected." . The issue really comes down to the level of continuity we see between our future body and our present body. We must also remember how some saints were burned at the stake. (Luke 9:62), 12 Important Lessons We Learn from the Temptation of Jesus Christ, 10 Little-Known Lessons from the life of Tabitha (Dorcas) in Acts 9:36-43, The Plain Truth About Tithing [YouTube Shorts compilation], 3 types of heaven in the Bible [1-minute video]. Yes. Many people, especially those who have been severely injured, do not have their bodies intact when they are buried. And the Lord promised, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:5). Some peoples bodies have even been cremated and so are totally obliterated. In 1917, cremation was only permitted in times of disaster as part of Canon Law. The answer is yes, God can resurrect a cremated body. Some were fed to the lions while others were sawn in two. Regardless of the religious beliefs of the person, cremation does not prevent a person from going to Heaven. 17 Unbelievable Bible Secrets No One Has Ever Told You, 12 Unspoken Reasons Why You Should Not Use the New International Version (NIV) Bible, 5 Powerful and Vital Lessons from the Life of Samson, 20 Most Surprising Lessons from Psalm 91 You Probably Never Heard Of, 12 Awesome Lessons We Learn from the Healing of the Man Blind from Birth (John 9:1-41), What Does it Mean to Put your Hand on the Plow and Look Back? All of our genetic code (at least the part of which was not affected by sin) will remain unique and individual to us on the New Earth as it is today. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. New Testament Proponents of cremation also point to biblical sources suggesting that Jews may have practiced the burning of dead bodies in ancient times. Death Can I still go to heaven if I am cremated? Though some may choose to believe that somewhere on earth there is always a physical piece of you that still exists that God will raise from the grave, I find this theologically unnecessary as well as creating unnecessary apologetic hurdles for us to jump. After creating the human race, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). Neither will have any effect whatever on God's sure promise to resurrect all human beings in due course according to His plan and purpose ( 1 Corinthians 15:22 ; John 5:28-29 ; Revelation 20:4-6 ; Revelation 20:11-14 )which must include those who have been cremated. In a crematorium, each body consumes approximately three hours of fuel. The Bible does not say that a cremated body cannot rise. Moreover, even the bodies of the saints in the past would have already been dust after thousands of years being on the ground. I dont believe any of my answers are comprehensive. Many Christians, however, believe that their bodies will be unable to be resurrected if they are cremated. Its interesting what we Christians will get wrapped around the axel about. Additionally, they believe the body and spirit are holy, and were created by God for his holy use. ). Many have asked me how it can be possible for God to raise them to life again. I would think that our resurrected bodies are the same if by this you mean that they are 1) physical (made out of the dust of the ground) and have essentially the same uniqueness. Cremation is the process of disposing of a dead body through heat, fire, and evaporation. Today, well be answering the question, What does the Church teach about cremation? Do you have a question youd like to see answered? This was the case in Leviticus 20:14: 14 If a man marries a woman and her mother, it is wickedness. As well, we can be entirely confident that we will be the same people at the resurrection that we were while here on earth. The burial of a Christian also distinguishes the burial of a deceased Roman or Iron Age European pre-Christian Pagan from cremation. There is no clear answer as to whether cremation will harm the resurrection. This heat is enough to burn up corpses and ensure that what remains would only be a few fragments. Ultimately, whether a person's body was buried at sea, destroyed in combat or an accident, intentionally cremated or buried in a grave, the person will be resurrected." Funeral costs are estimated to be $6,500 today. In conclusion, cremation is becoming increasingly popular among Christians due to its environmental friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and ease of disposal. The last activity was back in April of 2017 when a favorable report for the bill was submitted by the Public Health House Committee, and it was sent to the House Calendars Committee for consideration. 2023 Funeral Direct. To make room for them, he slaughtered all of the priests of the high places, on the altars, and burned human bones on them. Thanks for sharing your comment, Robert. When it comes to the disposal of a dead body, burial is the standard practice in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Lastly, I get commissions for purchases made through my Amazon affiliate links in this website. But in the resurrection state they will be powerful, imperishable, glorious, and spiritual. Some were fed to the lions while others were sawn in two. Alma 11:43 states, The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time., Verse 44 continues, Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall berestoredto its perfect frame.. Find him everywhere: Scripture clearly favors burial over cremation, but God has no problem resurrecting the . It was apologetic in orientation. cremation does not prevent a person from being able to Heaven, according to Christians. The Bible does not specify whether cremation is sinful. Some people are concerned that cremation may have spiritual consequences. The dead body is put inside a container like a sturdy cardboard container or casket. If God created us from the dust of the earth originally, can He not resurrect us from the dust left behind after we die? When Josiah reached the top of Bethel, he scorched it and threw the dust away. In the Bible, cremation is not sinful in any way. The topic is largely ignored by the vast majority of Christians because there are no detailed instructions for living and dying in the Old and New Testaments. How can someone delivered from demons prevent them from coming back? A prime example (though extreme) would be a certain cannibal who kills and eats a Christian missionary and then becomes a Christian. Environmentalists are reconsidering cremation in light of the fact that it requires a lot of fuel and emits millions of tons of carbon dioxide each year. These are the three things the Bible says about cremation. Lia. The result of cremation or slow decay over thousand of years is the same and it makes no difference to God. As for Joseph, he wanted his bones to be carried out of Egypt so it could be buried in Canaan, although his embalmed body was in a coffin for about 200 years until the Exodus (Genesis 50:24-26; Exodus 13:19; Joshua 24:32). You have answered well that you backed it with several verses in the Bible ,now it is up to serve God in spirit and truthGod bless you, Thanks for the topic on cremation I esky enjoyed it asks it answered a lot of questions besides what I had already searched in the Bible for. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. For many years, the Church handbook stated, The Church does not normally encourage cremation. In ancient times, burning the body, even post-mortem, was considered disrespectful to God as man was His creation. Even though His body had been mangled, and there was no funeral, they still took the time to prepare His body for burial (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:43-46; Luke 23:50-53; John 19:38-42; Acts 13:29). He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live (John 11:25). Why does God forbid cremation? The Vatican issued final guidelines for cremation in 2016. Here are four reasons: (1) The body of every human was created by God, bore his image, and deserved to be treated with respect because of this. Gospel Q&A: I Feel Guilty That I Cant Fast Because of Medical Reasons. Disclaimer:While all of my answers will use scriptures and/or words of modern prophets, I do not represent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from . John taught that God loved the world so much that he created the only Son. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Whether we have a body in a grave to be resurrected or our body is to be destroyed by fire or some other disaster, an incorruptible body will be resurrected to join with Christ in the air on that great day. Can god resurrect a cremated body? In response, the Lord declares, I will punish him for his indiscretions and bring him all his ways that he has committed. In the New Testament, there is also mention of cremation. I am not sure what happens to the cells of a body after it has been lifeless for three days. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is. Dayna Spence, a licensed evangelist, minister, and chaplain, provides an excellent explanation of the law and how to follow it. he/she/it ought to be able to resurrect a cremated body. This is especially true in the COVID-19 pandemic when people who died of the coronavirus are cremated to prevent the virus from infecting other people. Even though cremation does not impact your soul, you might be wondering if it will affect your resurrected body. Gospel Q&A is a series from LDS Daily that strives to answer important gospel questions from readers. Last Update: Jan 03, 2023 . Many people believe that cremated remains are not in Gods presence and that they are not forgiven by him. I would also just mention, in passing, that in my experience people often get confused as to how exactly God can manage to resurrect people whose bodies have decayed away centuries ago. Good topic.It is a valid point that needs to be answered. More research and thought required. How is the Christian missionary physically resurrected and who or what is resurrected in the case of the cannibal? In the Old Testament, cremation was used symbolically to burn away or purify unrighteousness in sinful people. God can do anything. Our DNA is a blueprint to who we are. Jesus our great redeemer ate and was in the physical body prior to his departure post-resurrection. But, most importantly, husband to a beautiful wife and father to four awesome children. Embalming before burial is meant to delay decomposition, but it cant delay it indefinitely. Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime. What Can I Do? 12:2And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. There is no one answer to the question of whether or not cremation is against Gods will.
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