Q.  Is it right to cremate dead bodies instead of burying them?

A.  Cremation historically is a practice of pagan peoples like Hindus and pagan Greeks. In India the ashes of the cremated are spread over the “sacred” Ganges river to commune with the river deity. Pagans believed that the rising flames of a cremation fire helped the soul rise to heaven.
       In the Bible, burning of human beings was reserved for only two reasons: for serious offenders and for those who were cursed.  For instance, a man who marries both a woman and her mother was to be consumed in fire (Lev. 20:14).  A daughter of a priest who becomes a prostitute also was to be destroyed in flames (Lev. 21:9).
       An example of Yahweh Himself carrying out this law was Sodom and Gomorrah, cities Yahweh destroyed by fire because they were practicing homosexuality and other sins.  Furthermore, Israel burned the cities of their conquered heathen enemies in a demonstration of total, destructive judgment (see Jericho, Ai, Hazor, Laish, etc.)
       Individually, in Joshua 7:15 we read that Achan sinned and brought judgment on Israel by taking items from Jericho that were devoted to fiery destruction.  Israel stoned him and his family and then burned their bodies.
       The Scriptural practice for the upright was burial, not cremation.  Abraham bought a burial cave called Machpelah for himself and his family, Genesis 23.  Joseph was embalmed and placed in a coffin, Genesis 50:26.  Yahweh Himself buried Moses, Deuteronomy 34:6.
       In contrast, Saul, who had turned from Yahweh, suffered partial cremation.  The body of Saul and his sons had been mutilated by the Philistines and, apparently to prevent further mutilation or to conceal what was done, their bodies were burned by the people of Jabesh Gilead.  Yet the bones were spared and David later buried them properly.
       Moses took the bones of Joseph from Egypt as the sons of Israel had vowed to do.  Joseph was so devout that even at death he was concerned that his very bones would not remain in a pagan land.  Joseph’s bones were buried in Shechem, where Yahweh first appeared to Abraham.  These examples show the regard we should have for bodily remains and provide a proper burial if at all possible.
       Cremation completely obliterates the body and reduces it to nothing but ashes.  This is a mark of total destruction that Yahweh reserves for the truly wicked.  Malachi 4:3 reads,
       “And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do [this], says Yahweh of hosts.”
       Lack of a proper burial is a sign of Yahweh’s judgment.  See 1Kings 14:10-11; Jer. 7:33; Ezek. 29:5.
       The people will so hate the two witnesses in Revelation 11:9 that they won’t give them a burial.
       Even our Savior was wrapped in a linen cloth and put in a tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathaea.  Many other examples show that burial, not cremation, is the proper way.
       True Believers attest to their belief in a future resurrection of the body by being buried to await the trumpet call when they will be given spirit bodies, 1Corinthians 15:52.

 
                   
         
     
                   
               
                         
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