Q & A: Is Cremation Biblical?

Is it biblical to be cremated? There are those who teach that the Christian is bound to be buried. If one decides to be cremated, he would be committing sin. So, while at the root it may seem like nothing, it is important that we know the answer. If it is a sin, it affects our eternity. Will cremation cause one to enter a realm of fire that never dies? The first thing that needs to be done is define the terms. Cremation is “the incineration of a dead body.” Burial defined as “concealing something under the ground.” One should keep in mind that the subject is about burial after death. This was not the “burial of an ass” which Jehoiakim received (Jeremiah 22:19). This is not concerning the burial of water the Israelites received at the Red Sea (Exodus 14; 1 Corinthians 10:2) or even the “burial” every man must face in order to become a new man in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:1ff). Is it more holy to be buried and is it a sin to be cremated? Now, what does the Bible state on the subject?

Those who stand against the idea of cremation use the argument that those who were holy were buried while the ungodly were consumed by fire. Examples of Sara, Abraham, Stephen and others are given as examples of the holy. For the unholy, one can look no further than the examples of Nadab, Abihu, and Achan. Here are a few problems with these examples. Nadab and Abihu were devoured by fire from the Lord because of sin (Leviticus 10:1-3). They were still alive at the time of the supernatural fire. This has nothing to do with burial. Achan took the accursed thing (Joshua 7:1). He and his family were stoned and burned afterwards. These instances, along with others, do not give proof for burial over cremation (Leviticus 20:14; 21:9). None of these are in the context of burial. Even Deuteronomy 21:23 is given in the context of someone who committed an act worthy of death. He was to be hanged from a tree. It has nothing to do with cremation vs. burial. If anything, it proves that the godly were not the only ones buried.

What about the fact that cremation spawned from non-Christian practices? Cremation was a constant practice of the Greeks and Romans who viewed the body as temporary and the soul of the only part which was immortal. I have personally seen a Hindu cremation ceremony, a process which is part of their belief in reincarnation. Vikings were normally cremated. They viewed the smoke as a medium which quickened the warrior’s trip to Valhalla. Do these examples prove that cremation is unbiblical? That is, unless we plan on renaming the planets and days of the week, abstaining from EVERY holiday, and completely cutting ourselves off from a host of other things which began from pagan practices. While there are practices which are wrong, one cannot say that cremation is sinful, while Halloween, which began from a Celtic (pagan) background, or Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or Saturday (named after the Romans deity Saturn) is not.

Many claim that since the Bible does not speak of cremation with approval, it must be wrong. 

The problem with this statement is the Scriptures also DOES NOT speak of cremation with disapproval. 

Biblical Authority obviously comes from the Bible. 

Is there any direct command concerning burial over cremation? Do we have any divine examples? Are there any implicit statements? The answer to all three is no. Furthermore, if one chooses to be cremated and cremation is sin, does that mean we can sin after death? “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10; cf. James 2:26). God is not concerned with what you do with your body AFTER you die. God is concerned with what you do with your body BEFORE you die.

Cremation is not a biblical practice but it is not an unbiblical practice. There is no “Thus saith the Lord…” concerning this topic. It all comes down to your personal belief. If you believe that cremation is wrong, you are not to be cremated (Romans 14:23) but do not tell someone else that he is going to Hell for the decision to do so. “Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth” (Romans 14:22).