Should Believers Cremate Their Loved Ones?

Cremation: We reject the idea that God permits the bodies of Christians to be cremated. While scripture does not expressly use the word “cremate,” we believe it does instruct believers on burial and is exemplified by our Savior (Rom. 6:4). Fire is used in Scripture as a means of judgment from God (Gen. 19:24; Ex. 9:23; Lev. 10:2; Num. 11:1, 16:35; Jer. 17:27; Hos. 8:14; Amos 7:4). Human sacrifice by fire was a method of pagan worship to the god Molech (Deut. 12:31; 2 Kings 16:3, 17:17, 21:6, 23:10; Eze. 20:31). Furthermore, it is noteworthy that many eastern religions practice cremation, from which we should be separate. Beginning with Abraham and continuing through Christ, the burying of bodies is a precedent established in Scripture (1 Kings 2:10; Matt. 14:12; 27:59-60; Mark 14:8; Acts 8:2) with no concept of any other treatment found regarding the believer’s body (1 Cor. 15:37-44). Our bodies belong to God, and His will should be done with them (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Some may inquire about those who have previously been cremated or those who were burned in martyrdom. God is still able to resurrect their bodies from the ashes (Gen. 22:1-5), and in some circumstances their lives were even preserved (Dan. 3).