Is cremation a sin?
Can God resurrect the ‘ashes’ properly?
Why do people choose it these days? The main reason is ‘money’. The average crematorium charges as low as $1000 for a standard cremation. Whereas, the average funeral home will charge $5000 or more for a standard burial. You may love dear Grandma, but $4000 savings speaks loudly; plus, you can keep Grandma right there with you in your living room!
Here is how a basic cremation works:
‘The body of your loved one will not be embalmed as is the procedure in a traditional burial. Instead, the body is taken to a crematorium where it is put into a furnace, which is known as a retort. The retort has the capacity to burn at temperatures of 1600 degree Fahrenheit to 1800 degree Fahrenheit. These high temperatures ensure that the body is completely reduced to ashes. The furnace where the body is burned uses natural gas and propane as fuel.
The crematorium then collects the ashes puts them into a container made from metal, plastic or cardboard and hands them over to you. You have the option of purchasing an urn for the cremains. You can bury the cremains in a cemetery, scatter them over your loved one’s favorite place or just keep them at home because the cremains are not considered to be a health risk.’ (Yahoo.answers.com)
According to the historical records, the idea of reducing a dead body to ashes originated in heathen lands. The Romans, who also invented a crucifixion kind of death, were among the first to practice this abhorrent custom. The Hindus in India have always burned their dead and then sprinkled the ashes on the Ganges River. Since they believe in reincarnation they want to dispose of the body quickly so that the next incarnation can take place. Should Christians emulate the Hindus? Interestingly, Christians in India believe that cremation is as pagan as idol worship, and therefore always bury their dead.
The first crematorium in America was built in Washington, Pennsylvania in 1876 by some very ungodly and atheistic men. The Roman Catholic Church responded very quickly to the spreading of this evil practice by banning it in 1886. Long before that date however, Christian pastors spoke out against this practice and condemned this pagan way of disposing of a Christians body. It is therefore a rather recent development in our country, and sadly, it has now been adopted by many Christians as another tactful way to get rid of a dead body.
1 Cor 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Your body is important to God…it is His. Don’t do with it as you please. Glorify God with how the body is taken care of after death.
Is there scriptural allowance for cremation in the Old Testament? The answer is “No!’ The universal law and practice of God’s people Israel was to bury the body, not burn it.
Take Abraham, for example. As the “Father of the Faithful’ he chose to purchase a plot of ground for 400 shekels of silver as a place for burying his wife Sarah (Genesis 23:14). Why did he do that? Because it was the scriptural way to care for the dead. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all buried, as were the more than two million Israelites who died in the desert.
God’s judgment upon Adam was that at death, Adam should return to the ground: “For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Gen. 3:19). Does this include being in the form of ‘ash dust’ and being sprinkled on the earth?… Doubtful.
The Old Testament forbade the Jews from following the customs of their pagan neighbors, and specifically ordered them to bury dead bodies (Deut. 21:23). When Moses died, God Himself buried Moses in Moab — Deut 34:5-6 So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. Since that is God’s method, should it not be ours. The Jewish commentary on the Law (The Mishna) denounced cremation as “an idolatrous practice.’
The only case of a body being burned in Israel is recorded in Joshua 7:15. Aachan and his family were stoned to death, and their bodies were ordered to be burned because of their horrible sin of rebellion against a holy God. Burning a body was a demonstration of God’s ‘fierce anger’ in Bible days (Joshua 7:26). Should our remains be disgraced in this same way?
Burning was the symbol of shame and disgrace, hardly the proper imagery for a Christian funeral.
Let’s follow Jesus’ instructions for disposing of a dead body — Matt 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
Our Lord’s own body was carefully placed in a tomb. He was “buried” the Scripture says. Our identification with Christ in His death is said to be a “burial’ (Romans 6:4). Believer’ baptism graphically pictures that spiritual relationship. Cremation therefore, is a violation and a distortion of that scriptural object lesson.
Understand, there is no loving concern [shown for your dear loved one] as an unknown mortuary worker in private pushes the body into the flames and afterward crushes the remaining bones with a mallet before placing them in an urn. How different from a Christian burial. Cremation dishonors the redeemed body of a Christian and is the cheapest, legal way to avoid a sacred responsibility. It is a barbaric act that [has no support in Scripture]; it’s only support is ‘pagan’!
Matt 27:51-53 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Nothing is said about ‘the urns were opened and the ashes came out and went into the holy city…’!…
Don’t choose to cremate in order to be cheap… show honor to that loved one… follow the Biblical model.