Cremation or burial?

Since the Bible is silent on the subject of cremation, Christians are free to choose burial or cremation.

There was a time not that long ago when some voices in the Christian church cautioned against cremation. In a day and age when some unbelievers utilized cremation as a way to defy God (“Let’s see if this supposed God can put me back together some day.”), some Christians advocated that followers of the Lord not cremate their bodies, so as not to be associated with unbelievers or an activity of unbelievers. That element of taunting God has largely disappeared from the practice of cremation, so Christians today who make use of cremation are not likely to be confused with unbelievers.

The choice of cremation over burial often includes ecological, economical and convenience factors. In the end, cremation essentially speeds up the process that occurs with burial: “Dust you are and to dust you will return” (Genesis 3:19). And, regardless of cremation or burial, “…all who are in their graves will hear his [Jesus’] voice and come out” (John 5:28-29). What a blessing to know and believe in “the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting” (The Apostles’ Creed).