Is it a sin for a Christian to be cremated?

Question

Does the Bible say anything in the New Testament about this?

Answer 1

The large majority of religions permit cremation. Greek Orthodox, Conservative and Orthodox Jews tend to oppose it, but those are the only major religious groups that do. The Catholic Church, once opposed to cremation, now accepts it.

Answer 2

The Bible says that flesh and blood does not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, so I don't think the Lord cares one way or the other what we do with our remains. It's just up to the individual and how they feel about it. The only thing I know for sure is that when I lost my 34 year old daughter, cremation wasn't even a consideration because I couldn't stand the thought of my precious girl going through any more. Does that make any sense to anyone but me?

Answer 3

Hi jasmin2236. No where in the Bible do we read "Thou shalt not be cremated". However, when we look into Scripture and see the images and pictures God gives us concerning death, we can see a few things. In the Bible when we read about a Believers death, many passages relate this to being asleep. On the other hand, there are many passages that show when a non-believer dies, they are destroyed by fire (equivalent to cremation). This gives us a picture of being under the wrath of God because Hell is typified as a lake of fire.

There is a passage in Scripture that relates to cremation and it's found in Amos 2:1. Here we have the possibility of God's anger is being directed at Moab because he had burned the bones of the King of Edom into lime:

"Thus says the LORD:“ For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime."

Personally, I would not want my body to be cremated when I die. But, somehow by whatever reason I was burned or my body was cremated, it would not bother me. Being cremated does not reserve you a spot in Hell just like being buried does not reserve you a spot in Heaven.

Answer 4

At the resurrection it is not THIS body which will be raised. The same will happen whether a person is buried, cremated, lost at sea, died whilst walking in a forest and never found etc. It is the soul which God is interested in. He promises a new body which is quite a good thing really because most of us wouldn't want to keep the ones that we have now with all their aches, pains and other health problems. I'm so glad that God is preparing a perfect and new one for me.

Answer 5

I have never read or heard anything pertaining to how are bodies should be disposed of. There are a lot of places that are running out of room for casket burials and have to rely on cremation. I see no reason why it would be a sin since at that point your body is no longer yours since your spirit has left it. It would become dust after burial at any rate, so no, there is no difference.

Answer 6

No. Although, for Catholics, cremation should be done in a place authorized by the bishop and according to some specific rules.

Answer 7

It seems that anybody mentioned in the Bible that died was buried. I haven't read anything directly about cremation.

Answer 8

i don't believe that there is any verse that specifically talks about cremation and i wouldn't worry about the flesh because when you die admittedly your in heaven either been judge are entering the gates to be with Christ for eternity

Answer 9

A question to answer a question. Why would the "man o' the cloth" say "Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust" if we were not meant to be cremated?

Answer 10

no it is not a sin. the Bible says were were made from the dust and we shall return to the dust. creamation is just a faster way to get back to the dust stage.