Within Christian communities, there has been much debate around choosing cremation or embalming for ourselves and our loved ones. As someone who has seen many loved ones pass, there has been a mix between cremation and embalming. Even though many people believe one is right and one is wrong, there are no biblical grounds to warrant this. Rather than being judgmental, if someone chooses cremation over embalming, we need to extend grace, love, and kindness.
During times of choosing cremation or embalming, it is normally not a good time. If a person is thinking about whether they want to go the route of cremation or embalming, they might be near death or a loved one might be approaching death. At these times, we need to be a source of support to our friends and family members. We don’t need to judge them for what they choose, nor do we need to think badly of them if they choose what we don’t personally adhere to.
Within your God-given grace, you have the freedom to choose (Galatians 5:1). With this freedom to choose, you can freely choose how you want to preserve your body. As far as the resurrection goes, it does not matter if you are cremated or embalmed. It will not affect the truth that your body will be transformed into its glorious state (1 Corinthians 15:35-38). Never allow anyone to tell you any different.
Cremation is the process of burning the deceased body and placing their remains in an urn. Urns can be kept in homes, or buried in a graveyard, or the remains could be sprinkled across an ocean, a mountain, or another outdoor area. My great-uncle had his ashes sprinkled across the mountains because of his love for the mountains. If this is something you want to do, or someone you love wants to do this, know that there is nothing wrong with doing this.
Many people want to bring up biblical arguments against cremation, but there are no biblical arguments against cremation. Some people argue for the case of burning bodies as recorded in 1 Kings 16:18 and 2 Kings 21:6. These occurrences recorded in these Bible verses do not refer to cremation. In fact, there are not any Bible verses that discuss cremation. Therefore, there are no curses, judgment, or hatred placed upon cremation by God.
Within the Old Testament, we see that it was common for bodies to be buried and kept in caves. Though this is true does not mean that God condemns other forms of burial. If this were the case, God would have told us in the Old Testament or the New Testament that we should not burn bodies after they have passed away. As it is, there are no commands within Scripture that tell us to do so. Instead, we have the freedom to choose between cremation and embalming.
Thus, there are no ethical concerns when it comes to cremation. There is nothing unethical or wrong about cremating a body. If you want to be cremated when you pass away, know that there is nothing wrong with doing this. You will not lose your privilege of taking part in the resurrection of believers because your body has been cremated. God can do anything, therefore, He can transform a cremated body into the glorious body that He has prepared for you.
Embalming can also be a choice, but in no way is it superior. God does not need a fully preserved body to raise it from death to life. As believers, our souls go to Heaven when we pass away, yet our bodies stay on this earth. There are many people whose bodies are tragically destroyed and there is no way to embalm the body. Not to mention there are many people who choose cremation because of financial concerns because embalming can be very expensive, which adds stress to grieving families.
Cremation overall is very cost-effective. This is a key reason why many people choose cremation over embalming. Embalming can cost several thousands of dollars in addition to the tombstone and the casket. With cremation, a person does not have to pay any of these expenses. They only have to pay the expense of having the body cremated. If financial concerns are an issue for you, cremation might be the only choice you have.
This is nothing to be ashamed of as millions of people have been cremated over the course of time. Many people within my own family were cremated and I can confidently say they will be raised in glory because of their faith in Jesus. There have been many false beliefs that try to claim if a person does not have a physical body, such as being embalmed, then they will not take part in the resurrection that happens at the time of the rapture of the church. Once more, this is not true.
The only thing that affects this is if you are a believer or not. All believers, regardless of whether they are cremated or not, will take part in the resurrection. God does not look at whether you are embalmed or cremated. Rather, He knows those who are His. Within God’s eyes, cremation and embalming are different ways to honor the dead. There is not one that is morally superior nor does one option or the other cause an individual to lose their glorified body.
Despite the different beliefs and old wives' tales that have circulated concerning cremation, there is absolutely nothing wrong with cremation. If you or your loved one is cremated, you or your loved one will not lose your glorified body nor will you be cursed, judged, or looked down upon. The only thing that affects our eternity is whether we place faith in Jesus or not. If we have placed faith in Jesus, we will be raised in the resurrection and transformed into our glorified bodies. It has nothing to do with whether we are cremated or embalmed.
Now that you have learned more about cremation, you are equipped to make your choice. At the end of the day, it does not matter if you choose cremation or embalming because you will still be raised in the resurrection. What you should consider is your financial situation as well as your children’s financial situation. If you have prepared ahead of time, you can already include this information in your will.
However, if you are not prepared at the time of your passing, your loved ones will have to make this decision. If they are financially struggling, they might not be able to afford embalming. In this case, cremation might be their only option. Not many people are aware of this ahead of time, but it is important to know that paying for these expenses can be very tricky. Yet again, as someone who has gone through this, paying for these expenses can cause you to go into debt or even cause you to clean out your savings.
Ultimately, it is up to you if you plan ahead of time, but know that if you pass unexpectedly, it could be left to the decision of your loved ones and they might not be in the best financial situation. Nonetheless, it is important to note that your earthly body is only temporary. It will decay whether it is embalmed or not. God will raise your body in glory and dress you with the finest of silks. This is our final destination as followers of Jesus. Allow this truth to help you in your decision and to also know that whichever you choose is a good decision.
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