Does Scripture Teach Cremation as an Option for the Saint? – Part 1

As the years go by, more people are turning to the option of burning their dead as common place alternative to burial – something that was rare and unusual in the past generations. While this practice is gaining momentum, the real focus of this article is directed towards the professing believer in Jesus Christ and what we discover in the Bible.

From the onset, it is to be understood that every single topic in life may not be explicitly addressed in Scripture, but we can deduce the heart of our Father through patterns and implications which will help us to confidently draw a conclusion that follows His heart towards us. With this understanding in mind, let us see what the Bible tells us how God’s people put to rest those saints who have slept in the Lord, having departed the land of the living.

Let us begin with our forefathers, and starting with Abraham we read of his death, “Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age… and he was gathered to his people. Then his sons Isaac and Ishmael BURIED HIM in the cave of Machpelah” (Gen 25:8-9).

Isaac: “Then Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, an old man of ripe age; and his sons Esau and Jacob BURIED HIM” (Gen 35:29).

Jacob: Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am about to be gathered to my people; BURY ME with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite” (Gen 49:29). Then Joseph fell on his father’s face, and wept over him and kissed him. Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel… So Joseph went up to BURY HIS FATHER, and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household and all the elders of the land of Egypt” (Gen 50:1-2, 7).

We discover a pattern from the patriarchs that after death their bodies were prepared for burial and laid to rest. We further read this same pattern from the Kings of Israel…

“So David rested with his fathers, and WAS BURIED in the City of David. (1 Kings 2:10) … Then Solomon rested with his fathers, and WAS BURIED in the City of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place. (1 Kings 11:43)… So Rehoboam rested with his fathers, and WAS BURIED with his fathers in the City of David...” (1 Kings 14:31)

(See the following for additional kings, 1 Kings 15:8; 15:24; 22:50; 2 Kings 8:24)

This is the same method of laying to rest the departed throughout the entirety of Scripture. To be clear, the people of God buried their own, without exception. So what of the new phenomenon of cremation – the practice of burning the dead bodies of our family just as a carcass of refuge and garbage – and where did this practice originate? The best evidence points to ancient European customs, with the greatest influence tracing back to the Greeks. As pertaining to Scripture, we find the practice of burning people, and specifically children, for the purpose of ritual sacrifice to foreign gods. This was something that the nation of Israel later embraced in departing from their faith, of which YHWH forbid as a practice for His people.

“And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.” (Lev 18:21)

We later see… “Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he DID NOT do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God, as his father David had done. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and he even made his son pass through the fire, in accordance with THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE NATIONS whom the Lord had driven out before the sons of Israel.” (2 Kings 16:2-3)

We discover through the entire Old Testament that that practice of burning the body, being made in the image of God, was never an accepted practice from our LORD, in any manner. The grand point to consider is that no one reading the Bible from Genesis to Revelation will ever come out of it with the idea of burning the dead bodies of our parents and loved ones as an accepted practice by God. In point of fact, it is never implied at any level. The only reason as to why cremation has come to be an option for modern-day Christians has been through pagan practices and influences being accepted as the norm. I am not declaring that it is an outright sin to burn the bodies of Saints, but I am saying that there is a higher road for the people of God, and we are not called to follow the world, but we are called to be separate and to be a light. The Christian is to be led by the Spirit, and to influence the culture with a kingdom mind, as opposed to submitting to a mindset that is under the sway of the god of this age.


Why the Christian Should Choose Burial over Cremation – Pt. 2

Paul said, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify” (1 Cor 10:23). He preached that there is a liberty found in Christ and encouraged the saints to be led by the Spirit in all things pertaining to life. The Scripture is profitable to make us complete in all things, and this includes how we are to transition the body after death. Let us remember upon the creation of mankind that God made us in His image, and He repeated this revelation to Noah, “…for in the image of God He made man” (Gen 9:6). Paul later told us, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Cor 6:19-20)

A fundamental truth regarding the human body is founded on the understanding that it belongs to God, in life and after death. Our bodies were given to us by God, and we should be mindful in understanding that we are not our own. This physical body is special in the eyes of God, of which we discover that even the devil is fully aware, “But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about THE BODY OF MOSES…” (Jude 1:9).

Let’s consider that if our bodies are worthless after death, why would the devil want it? This is the same Moses that appeared to Jesus on the mountain when He was transfigured. Recall what happened to Jesus after He died and was taken off the cross. Please read the following:

“Now after these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, requested of Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came… So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the BURIAL CUSTOM OF THE JEWS.” (John 19:38-40)

Could you imagine our Lord and Savior being burned in a pile of rubbish, or on a pyre as depicted in the movies? The thought of this brings us to the main reason for the Christian burial as the foundation of our faith – the Resurrection.

“Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those WHO ARE ASLEEP, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have FALLEN ASLEEP AS CHRISTIANS… For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1 Thess 4:13-14, 16).

Did you catch those highlighted words? From the viewpoint of our Father in heaven, those who die in the Lord are asleep, which means that the grave is not a final destination space, and that death has no hold on the Saint. Jesus rose from the dead, and because He rose, this is the proof that we will rise from the grave as well. This presents to us a hope that the world does not know or understand. Jesus explained to us that those who are in the graves will come forth at the voice of the Lord (Jn 5:28). Thus, it is implied that the people of God are expected to be buried after death knowing that we will rise again to forever be with the Lord. Again, this is what separates us from all other people in the world.

“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body” (1 Cor 15:42-44).

This article is not stating that the believer who chooses cremation has altogether sinned. However, I am declaring that the Spirit of God will bear witness to the testimony of Scripture that we are not to view our bodies as those who do not know God. We live with the hope of the resurrection, knowing that at the sound of the Messiah’s voice we will awaken, and come out of the graves with glorified bodies to forever be with our Lord. Let us comfort one another with this hope that is found only in Him.


We plan for many things in life, let us plan for our death as well. I am not convinced that the 80% expectation of Americans choosing cremation is based upon a financial factor alone, however it will come from a world view that is void of God and what His holy word reveals to the saint. I am confident that our God can bring forth beauty from ashes, notwithstanding I am also confident that it is our Father’s will for His saints to intentionally lay His children to rest, as seen from every single Believer in Scripture, and by those who understood the significance of the coming of the Lord.

I remind you that no one reading the Bible from beginning to end will draw a conclusion that God's people embraced the practice of burning the dead. In other words, cremation is not something that can be supported by Scripture. Are you confident that you will rise again when our Lord returns? If so, I encourage you to consider having your body laid to rest just as our Lord has expected us, as opposed to having it burned as the heathen do who know not God.

Shalom,
B.D.R.