Vol. 11 No.7 – March, 2013

Cremation

Bryan Matthew Dockens

Concern exists as to whether it is proper for a Christian’s body to be cremated upon death.  Some wonder if the method of bodily disposal has any bearing on the soul’s eternal destination.

At least one instance of cremation is recorded in Scripture when the bodies of King Saul and his three sons were burned by the valiant men of Jabesh Gilead (1st Samuel 31:11-13).

Paul explained that what body one occupies in the present life has no bearing on the body occupied in the resurrection (1st Corinthians 15:35-49).  Answering the questions, “How are the dead raised up?  And with what body do they come?” (35), the apostle answered, in part, “The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.  It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory.  It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.  It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.  There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body” (42-44).

“A spiritual body” is the prospect of the resurrection (1st Corinthians 15:44), and “a spirit does not have flesh and bones” (Luke 24:39); therefore, what becomes of that body made of flesh and bones is ultimately irrelevant.

What is entirely relevant is the condition of the soul at the time of death, as it is written, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord” (Revelation 14:13).  Being “in the Lord” is what matters, and that cannot be accomplished without baptism, for the saved are those who were “baptized into Christ” (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27).