Is It A Sin To Be Cremated?

Is It A Sin To Be Cremated?

No! There is no scriptural evidence that one sins if they decide to be cremated. There is no scriptural evidence if a family decides to have a loved one cremated, that they have committed sin. A person may have a preference with what they want to happen after they die. That is a personal decision one has to make considering a number of factors including cost and location. However, one’s soul is not in danger of being condemned if they decide to be cremated.  

Let’s see what we can learn about death, the body, and cremation from the scriptures.

The Bible teaches that it is appointed for men once to die according to Hebrews 9:27. Unless we are alive when the Lord returns, we will all experience death. Therefore, one should be concerned about their soul salvation.

We learn from the book of Genesis that man was created from the dust of the ground, Genesis 2:7. The Bible says, “Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

The Bible also teaches in Ecclesiastes 12:7 that “…Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it…” When we die, our bodies whether in a casket or through a cremation process will return to dust.

We do have plenty of examples of individuals who were buried in scripture.

Genesis 25:19-20: “After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field at Machpelah facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. So the field and the cave that is in it, were deeded over to Abraham for a burial site by the sons of Heth.”

In Genesis 49:29, Jacob said, “Then he charged 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…”

We have a unique example of King Saul and what happened to his body after he died in 1 Samuel 31:11-13 and in 1 Chronicles 10:11-12.

After the death of Saul and his sons, the Philistines found them, striped them, cut off Saul’s head and “…Sent them throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. They put his weapons in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men rose and walked 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. They took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.”

We find in Joshua 7:25 how Achan along with his family were stoned and then their bodies were burned. This was a result of sinful conduct Achan engaged in.

In 2 Kings 23:16-20, we find King Josiah burned the bones of pagan priests on their altars according to the word of the LORD.

In Amos 2:1 it says, “Thus says the LORD, For three transgressions of Moab and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime.”

A couple of thoughts to observe.

1.        The burning of bodies and bodies was often in unique situations of judgment and dishonor.

2.        The typical practice for Israelites, was a burial in a tomb or grave.

In Conclusion:

One day we will die. Some have died in the ocean and were never able to have a proper burial. Others have died in fires and all that remained may have been their bones. Others have died in horrific accidents where there are virtually no remains to bury or even to cremate. What will happen to them? When the Lord returns, all will rise according to John 5:28-29. “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.” No matter what happens to these physical bodies, we all stand before God, we will all rise from the dead and spend eternity either in heaven or in hell. It is a personal decision whether one decides to be buried or cremated.