Not sure if we should cremate or bury our parents

Dear Pastor,

I am a Christian and I would like to hear your comment on cremation.

I have parents who are now very aged and we as children have been discussing whether we should bury them or cremate them when they die. We have been told that it is cheaper to cremate than to bury. Our father would like us to bury him. Our mother is not well enough to decide what she would want. For us children, it is a matter of what is cheaper and more convenient.

The people in the church we attend are against cremation, but no one has been able to show us from the Bible what is wrong with it. That is why I am writing to you and asking you to comment on this topic. I hope you will take the time to do so.

Christian

Dear Christian,

I thank you for your letter. I can say a lot about burial versus cremation. I would, however, point out just a few things. First of all, burial is the method of disposition that was practised in the Old Testament. In the book of Deuteronomy 21:23, we read "his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; For he that is hang is accursed of God. That thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for inheritance. According to this verse, God is pleased when a body is buried and not cremated.

The prophets and servants of old buried their love ones. Abraham buried Sarah, his wife. See Genesis 23:19. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried Abraham in Genesis 25:9. The Bible says when Moses died, he was buried in the land of Moab, according to Deuteronomy 34:5-6. The prophet Elisha was also buried, as seen in 2 Kings 13:20.

I would not condemn cremation if that is the choice of a family, but I know that the Bible seems to say that the bodies of Christian people should be buried. "And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord," it says in Leviticus 18:21.

If you were to read the Book of Amos 2:1 you will see it say "Thus saith the Lord for three transgressions of Moab, and for four I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime."

I will not condemn anyone who wishes to cremate his loved ones. Personally, I have struggled with the matter and I know for sure that cremation is an ancient pagan practice. It is the practice of both Hinduism and Buddhism. I say no more on that.

It is said that in India where cremation is practised regularly, that Christians in India practise burial. I think I have said enough on this matter. My response is not made so that you should change your mind from whatever your family intends to do. Whatever method you use to dispose the body of your loved ones will not prevent the resurrection of the dead.

Pastor