Having your body cremated after death, is it a sin according to Protestant beliefs?

Question

My family is protestant, specifically Brethren in Christ and my father recently announced that he already made plans to be cremated upon death. I was angry because I always thought it was a sin, or at least not what God wants. He is doing it only because it is cheaper...........a stupid reason if you ask me.
When the time comes and my father is cremated, will he be accepted into Heaven?

Answer 1

I'm not sure what sects of the Protestant Church do believe that, but our bodies, even though rotted in the ground, will be resurrected and we will have new, spiritual bodies. Is it any harder for God to resurrect the ashes of someone who has been cremated.
We need to go by what the Bible says and not by the Church or traditions.
I even did a Bible search in 10 different versions for cremation, cremated, burned after death, and came up with no results. If you think you need to do a study yourself go to http://crosswalk.com/ there is a good Bible search there.
The Bible does say though there is only on unforgivable sin and that's blasphemy, rejection, of the Holy Spirit. Also see Mathew 12:30-34. It seems to indicate if we speak against the Holy Spirit and not let Him work in our Heart (and His work is to bring us to the Christ) that we can't repent of if we die in that sin, it mentions no other.
So be ready to see your father in heaven!

Answer 2

In the Bible cremation is portrayed only as an exceptional method of disposing of bodies. Most often cremation took place in the midst of unusual circumstances. For example, in 1 Samuel 31:12 we read about the men of Jabesh-Gilead who burned the corpses of Saul and his sons in order to prevent desecration of their bodies at the hands of the philistines.
We don't find cremation mentioned in the New Testament. Burial is the normal method. Moreover, the church fathers preferred "the ancient and better custom of burying in the earth."
However, there is no actual prohibition against cremation in the pages of Scripture. And if a Christian does get cremated, this poses no problem for God in resurrecting that person's body from the dead (1Cor 15:42-44).
We read in 2 Cor 5:1, "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands." It does not matter how our "earthly tent" (body) is destroyed; all that matters is that God will raise it from the dead. Even those who are buiried eventually dissolve into dust and bones. So regardless of whether we're buried or cremated, we can all look forward to a permanent resurrection body that will never be subject to death and decay.

Answer 3

It is not a sin to be cremated. The body returns to dust anyway, cremation just helps it get there quicker. Once a person is dead they will have no use for their corrupted flesh body. We will receive a new glorified body.

I agree with your dad, considering the average funeral costs around $6000; cremation is a viable alternative. Why burden a family with that kind of debt on top of the grief of their loss?

Whether you are buried or cremated makes no difference to your soul as a believer's soul will go to be with God. A person is "accepted" into heaven when they have asked God for forgiveness, repented, and put their faith entirely in the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Answer 4

I'm Protestant, and I've never found anything in the Bible about proper burial. Of course, it records that they used traditional burial, but God never said you had to do it that way.
Think of how many saints and martyrs there have been throughout history...burned alive, eaten alive, drowned in the ocean, etc. If those people weren't accepted into heaven, I think we have a problem.
His reason might seem stupid to you, but if that's what he wants then it's what he wants. You certainly wouldn't someone else deciding your funeral because they thought you were wrong...

Answer 5

I do not believe there is a place in the bible that says "if you get cremated, you will not be saved", and it would not get in the way of a relationship with Christ.

Answer 6

The answer is NO, it is not a sin.

If it were, who would be the sinner?
The dead person?
The family member that ordered the cremation?
The person that cremated him?

He will be accepted in heaven.

grace2u

Answer 7

The beliefs on this is of ones' own personal choice. However; the question I mention is this:

What does it matter? When one "dies" what is the body anyway. The soul is who we are not of the body. Besides what happens to the body when buried over time.

IMO- God does not care what choices on this. What of those that say perish in a plane crash or something involving fire?

Answer 8

Does it really make a difference to god HOW your dead body decomposes, by heat or by chemicals or action of bacteria? I honestly don't understand that one. Will god also be angry with the people he cremates with burning hail at the Apocalypse?

Answer 9

Jesus himself became water into wine for a marriage. in case you drink in extra or grow to be addicted that's sinful, yet a tumbler of wine with dinner or at a social adventure isn't a sin. additionally dont hear to protestants. study the historic past at the back of the religion. study the canon of the bible, see what proportion faiths replaced it. study the council of Jamnia and Councils of Hippo and Carthage maybr the bible they are utilising is in simple terms incorrect.

Answer 10

No. Cremation is not a sin.