A few years ago I wrote some thoughts on cremation and burial for my pastor. I was reminded of that by a recent podcast from Russell Moore and Stephen Prothero, which I would recommend. My own views have changed over time. I once would have preferred cremation, largely because of the lower cost involved. However, now I would press for burial so long as it can be done simply and as inexpensively as possible.
I have read arguments both for and against cremation. In some cultures, cremation is tied to pagan religions. But how a body is handled after death is less important than how the person lived. This is not an essential point of doctrine. Faithful Christians can come to different conclusions. I agree with Russell Moore’s comments in this article:
“We are put away in sleep in order to be awakened, in order to see the resurrection of the entire body one day. And so, it’s not so much about what happens to the person as it is what we are communicating. And we care what we communicate about death because of the very high view that the Bible has of the body. The body isn’t just a disposable container of the person.”
The physical body when we are alive is important. We (collectively) are in fact “the temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 6:19) and should treat our bodies accordingly. Joseph made provision for his bones when he died (Ex. 13:19, Josh. 24:8). This may say more about his faith in God’s promise of a new land than it does his theology of the body or eternal life. The Bible speaks often of burial; however, the bodies of Saul and Jonathan were burned and their bones were buried (1 Sam. 31:12-13). When Jesus was put in the tomb, the women intended to honor Him by anointing the body with spices (Mark 16:1). The bodies of the dead were treated with the honor or dishonor due to them from the way the people had lived (2 Chron. 28:27, Jer. 16:5-6, et al).
The early church had to refute the claims of the Gnostics who said in part that our goal is to get rid of our physical bodies. Gnosticism has gained ground in recent years. Prothero makes the comment that the increasing frequency of cremation even among Christians may be an indicator that we are adopting our culture’s view that the body is not essential to who we are. If the body is merely a temporary container for the soul, then it doesn’t really matter what we do to it either in life or in death. But that is counter to Scripture. The fact that Jesus became incarnate reflects the high value God places on our human bodies. If the body is irrelevant to who we are, then the idea of a bodily resurrection is absurd.
First Corinthians 15 reminds us that the perishable must put on the imperishable. Our final bodies are not dependent on the continuing existence of our earthly bodies. Those believers whose bodies are lost in fire or ocean are still eternally secure. The atoms that make up our bodies today have dwelt in other humans, animals, and plants before us. God can make new creations by His Word. He needs no existing entity.
Some of our modern “traditions” may reflect a fear or denial of death and an idolatry of life, though there are legitimate concerns for health and the time needed to gather family together. Draining the fluids and pumping in unnatural chemicals (that are bad for the environment) is an attempt to delay God’s natural process of decay. It’s ironic that Scripture states “the life of flesh is in the blood” (Lev. 17:11ff), and yet we try to preserve an imitation of life by removing the blood. Sealed caskets are another invention to slow natural decomposition, perhaps trying to avoid seeing the “great equalizer” that death really is. “They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them” (Job 21:26, cf. Eccl. 3:19-20).
Burial expenses often seem excessive, which leads many families to choose cremation. A sealed casket and vault may not be essential, though some cemeteries require a vault. Embalming may not be necessary depending on timing of services and whether or not there will be a public viewing. Churches might consider ways to help people with limited finances, whether through financial assistance or directing them to lower cost alternatives like natural caskets.
While the word cemetery comes from the Greek for dormitory, cemeteries tend to exist more for the living than for the dead. It is a place to visit and remember their loved ones. For Christians, the cemetery should also be a reminder that this life is temporary but eternal life is coming. Churches should consider carefully what message is communicated by providing a columbarium or, conversely, by refusing burial of ashes. How can we best promote a scriptural view of the value of the human body and of the coming resurrection?
The day will eventually come for each of us unless Christ returns in the near future. Funeral planning is important, but it’s even more important to be prepared for eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Are you ready?
“Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed” (1 Cor. 15:51-52).
© 2022 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV and all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.
