(2 Peter 3:7, 10), then the world will one day be burned up or "cremated" by God . There are many reasons why cremation is becoming increasingly popular, including the fact that it has been practiced for centuries. Natural burials return your body to the soil in the form of a dozen fundamental nutrients in a matter of minutes. He has been in ministry for nearly twenty years as a pastor, author, speaker, and blogger. always at war. While the Bible does not mention cremation, it does mention resurrection. In the United States, the vast majority of people who pass away today are cremated rather than buried. 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 (I Corinthians 13:3). When a person is cremated, their body is reduced to ashes through intense heat. Now, lets go to another important question. The first thing we need to establish is the word cremation does not appear in the Bible. 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. This would be accomplished by cremation, which completely destroys the body. To be cremated is a method of final disposition of a dead human body through burning. Most certainly. In a nutshell, cremation is not a sin; it is simply a matter of life and death. Our main concern is to do the work of God, follow His commandments, and fulfill His will and purpose in our lives. God can resurrect our bodies miraculously God can resurrect that same body from ashes spread out at sea or somebody who dies at sea and is eaten by sharks. I am an ordained pastor, who is Jewish by natural birth, but never practiced Judaism. Learn how your comment data is processed. First, there may be some who think that a deceased, buried body remains in the form of a body until the morning of the First Resurrection when the body will simply be reanimated back to life. Ancient cultures used cremation to bury the dead, a practice only done by a small number of pagan (demonic) religions. Eventually, Joshua knew Achan caused the defeat of Israel by taking the accursed things. Gospel Q&A: I Feel Guilty That I Cant Fast Because of Medical Reasons. Moreover, as God is known to be all-powerful, it should not be impossible for Him to resurrect someone even after cremation. He can do whatever He pleases and certainly, He can resurrect bodies that have been burned. The Vatican issued final guidelines for cremation in 2016. They respect the desires of the individual. Very interesting. What is the cheapest and painless way to get a perfect cremated? Although burning the remains of the dead is mentioned a few times in the Bible, the modern practice of cremation is not specifically addressed. A stone was used to stone him every time. I do believe this would be a problem if the Christian worldview necessitated a one-to-one correspondence between the two bodies. Thats in Gods hands, but He has given us some clues. In recent years, however, cremation has become less popular due to the rise of other methods, such as burial and cremation. Given how detailed the instructions for living and dying set forth by almighty God in the Old and New Testaments are, we would argue that the topic is not addressed at all. Because cremation isnt a sin and is nowhere condemned in the Bible, it comes down to an individual decision whether it is best to cremate or bury a body. Any faults, defects or imperfections will be gone. In some translations, the daughters in this verse are translated as villages. The 1 Samuel 31:12 ESV / 101 helpful votes have been recorded. Whether this refers to actual people or the village, we can see that burning bodies is part of Gods punishment. You should attend a funeral if you knew the person who died and the funeral was open to the public. However, most people were buried (Genesis 23:19; 25:9; 35:29; 47:29). 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. And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die. It doesnt matter what physical material God uses and whether they are the same atoms or different ones. It may serve as a funeral or post-funeral ceremony and as an alternative to burial. And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. Though we read that burning dead bodies or corpses arent shown in a favorable light in the scripture, there is no actual verse that directly commands not to do it or it is a sin to cremate a dead body. We must not be all too focused on the question, Is cremation a sin? or What does the Bible say about cremation?, What we must ask ourselves is, Did I live a life worth living for? Did I serve God and fulfill His purpose for me?. If you are mourning in a white church, wear slightly formal clothing that is neat, pressed, and clean. What Can I Do? The devastation, terror, and sorrow that an ash represents is frequently accompanied by a photo of a ravaged landscape. 10, 2014, 11:50 a.m. NEW! If God created us from the dust of the earth originally, can He not resurrect us from the dust left behind after we die? James 1:27 (CEB) Revive Israel Community is reaching out to Messianic single mothers and their young children, the widows and orphans of today. This is whats happening in some places in the world as we battle the pandemic COVID-19. Gospel Q&A is a series from LDS Daily that strives to answer important gospel questions from readers. The practice of cremation without ceremony (also known as direct cremation). There are no passages in the Bible that advocate or prohibit cremation. The disadvantage of cremation is that it is not as detailed as burial, and it does not provide a complete burial experience. Can God resurrect a cremated body? Dan. The Bible does not specify whether cremation is sinful. I too believe that it will be so for the saints a resurrection of spirit soul and body to eternity in a new heaven and new earth. Moreover, you can bring with you the ashes anywhere you go. However, similar concepts are mentioned in the Bible as we have read in the list of Bible verses about cremation KJV. How is the Christian missionary physically resurrected and who or what is resurrected in the case of the cannibal? While the prominent method in the Bible is burial, it does not specifically command against being cremated. And in Amos 6:10, the Israelites are threatened with cremation if they dont repent. Dallas Theological Seminary (2001), president of Credo House Ministries and Credo Courses, author of Now that I'm a Christian (Crossway, 2014) Increase My Faith (Credo House, 2011), and The Theology Program (Reclaiming the Mind Ministries, 2001-2006), host of Theology Unplugged, and primary blogger here at Parchment and Pen. Seems cremation is a punishment or a last resort. Many people believe that cremated remains are not in Gods presence and that they are not forgiven by him. We know from God that if a tent is destroyed on the Earth, we will have a house built from God, one that is eternal in the heavens, a house not made with hands. In the Old Testament, cremation was sometimes used as a form of punishment (Leviticus 20:14) or to defile the dead bodies of enemy soldiers (1 Samuel 31:12). So, it really comes down to personal choice. In fact, many Bible passages speak of burning the body. Because God can resurrect a cremated body. (Although, I could be wrong. If yes, how? Although cremation is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, it is an expression that is not universally accepted by followers of Christ. is an effective and environmentally friendly method of disposal of bodies, and it is becoming more popular all the time. John taught that God loved the world so much that he created the only Son. The argument is simple: bodies decompose and become part of other elements. Funerals for Jewish people are typically attended by relatives, so the deceaseds family members are usually credited with a donation to a charity in his or her honor. There were numerous pagan (demonic) religions that practiced cremations, which are a custom of cremations dating back thousands of years. An ash can only be buried in a cemetery or another sacred location. 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). According to the Bible, burial is primarily done in caves, tombs, or under the ground. No. 2. 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. So, its a non-issue. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to cremated is a personal one and should be made in consultation with your religious leader. Many religions hold mourning rituals after funerals that last for an extended period of time, while others choose to end them once the funeral is over. What are the bible verses that talk about cremation? Some reject cremation on the grounds that the decomposed bodies of those who have been cremated cannot be raised. Ezekiels vision of the valley of dry bones is a clue. That was the case in the body of King Saul. 2023 Funeral Direct. It is much easier to understand, therefore, how God will be able to resurrect a physical body if one remembers: Michael is available for speaking engagements. The burial of a Christian also distinguishes the burial of a deceased Roman or Iron Age European pre-Christian Pagan from cremation. This means that a person who has been cremated will not be able to stand before God and be judged. And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? It is respectfully a personal decision only. 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. What on earth is going on? The practice of cremation has been carried out for thousands of years without any clear evidence of its efficacy. Th.M. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Does there need to be anything in the grave in order for our grave to be opened? Some people believe that God can resurrect a cremated body, while others believe that He cannot. These are just some of the cremation KJV bible verses that talk about the body being burned up. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. Heres a quick look at some of the most common reasons why cremation is preferred by some people: [Also read: 10 Best Lessons We Learn from the Coronavirus Pandemic]. There is no one answer to this question as it is a matter of faith. Cremated deaths are prevalent in some religions, while burial and cremation are also prevalent in others. Can God resurrect a cremated body? For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. Becca loves audiobooks, dark chocolate, singing, hiking, walking, going out with her husband, and raising their chickens and children. cremation is not mentioned in the Bible. To make room for them, he slaughtered all of the priests of the high places, on the altars, and burned human bones on them. July 24, 2022. 1:1), God will be able to reconstruct all of our parts so that we can meet him in the air. Jesus was the first person to be resurrected to life in heaven. As part of the funeral ceremony, a religious leader will preside over the event and guide mourners through the process of saying goodbye. Can you share some Bible promises to claim victory over fear? They will be whole and perfect. Thanx. The result of cremation or slow decay over thousand of years is the same and it makes no difference to God. God can restore life from ashes if he can create life from dust. He knows the DNA codes for every person He has ever created. In the same way, I don't like it when communion is served with eenie weenie pieces of bread and little plastic individual cups. The Orthodox religion does not directly link cremation to the general resurrection dogma, but cremation is considered a violent treatment of the body after death, and it is regarded as such extremely harshly. He can do whatever He pleases and certainly, He can resurrect bodies that have been burned. 11 Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose and traveled all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan; and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. In the New Testament, we see that Jesus was crucified and buried (John 19:38-42). The Bible doesnt directly condemn cremation and theres no verse in the Scripture that says it is a sin. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. When Jesus returns to heaven on resurrection day (1 Thess. (2) The centrality of the Incarnation. Whether we are buried or cremated wont affect the power of the Resurrection on our behalf. Another important thing to consider (and, maybe, the most important) is that we are physically not the same person we were just ten years ago. There is no definitive answer to this question as it is a matter of religious beliefs. 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. However, when the spell does work, it repairs physical damage to the body and returns the dead creature's soul to the now-healthy body. Thus, it is not surprising to see more and more people asking about cremation and how Christians should respond to it. Therefore, in this matter follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit to your life and the Lord will lead you to the best decision in this matter. This is the same thing that happens to some extent with cremation. As the other answers show, there's some debate over exactly how intact the body needs to be for Resurrection to work. LDS Mom Launches Exciting New Party Game. Some were not even given a proper burial. In fact, the Bible says that Jesus rose from the dead after being dead for three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40). The answer is yes, God can resurrect a cremated body. This process is irreversible, and thus, on judgement day, there will be no body to resurrected. This is interesting considering that most tombs in the Western world have always faced east so that when we rise we will be facing toward Jerusalem. 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. This belief is based on the fact that God is all-powerful and can do anything He wants. If God created us from the dust of the earth originally, can He not resurrect us from the dust left behind after we die? There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that God can resurrect a cremated body, but some people find comfort in the belief. 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." And He can re-create the cremated bodies of the deceased from the dust of the earth at the resurrection Day. Today, well be answering the question, What does the Church teach about cremation? Do you have a question youd like to see answered? I was wondering if things have changed once JESUS was on the scene. A. And a mans uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? 1 Peter 3:18. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. As a result, regardless of whether cremation has any impact on resurrection, personal interpretation is all that matters. While the prominent method in the Bible is burial, it does not specifically command against being cremated. God is perfectly capable of putting the parts back together, but we should also consider that we shall have glorified bodies. Most, or all, of the atoms in our bodies will have been replaced over that time. In fact, Paul explained in Romans 10:3 that what is sown is perishable, and what is raised is imperishable. The resurrection is only possible through a supernatural God who has knowledge of all things and is all-powerful. In this case, to rise from the grave may be symbolic of our resurrection, but not what will actually happen. In the Bible, cremation is not punished as a sin. 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. In the New Testament, cremation is not prohibited. Many have asked me how it can be possible for God to raise them to life again. Grand Rapids. Jehovah has chosen a total of 144,000 to live in heaven. 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. It was apologetic in orientation. Being Both a Disciple & a Daughter: Balancing Formality in Prayer. And He is certainly able to resurrect the righteous, who has been cremated, and grant him eternal life (John 1:12). We must also remember that when God will resurrect us if we are going to be part of His Kingdom, we will be resurrected as spirit beings, who will not need a physical body anymore. 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. Can I Lose My Salvation? Luke 12:32. 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). First, we should remember that our bodies are not our own; they belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Maybe God immediately replicated the cells of his body when he rose and the old cells just disappeared. As for where the information about our DNA is now, it is simply stored in Gods memory. Find him everywhere. Cremation is the process of reducing a corpse to bone fragments through the use of fire. He did not need to replicate it. It is natural to consider cremation as environmentally friendly because it does not necessitate burial or disposal. When presented with two options, cremation or burial, how can you make the right choice? Every seven to ten years the cells of our body go through complete rejuvenation. If this is the case, then Christs exact body being raised may, primarily, have apologetic purposes as well. If cremation prevents a person from going to heaven, other people must determine his or her own fate. 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. Are they the same DNA? Any Advice? Gospel Q&A: How Can I Find and Foster Celestial Love? And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. However, I dont believe this is the case. 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