Can Christians Be Cremated?

The Law of Moses does not explicitly forbid cremation. However, the historical pattern throughout both the Old and New Testaments strongly favors burial as the normative and honorable treatment of the dead. Patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were buried in family tombs (Genesis 25:9-10; Genesis 35:29), and Jesus Himself was placed in a borrowed tomb (Matthew 27:60), establishing burial as a spiritually significant practice.

In the Old Testament, the burning of bodies is typically associated with judgment or disgrace, as in the case of Achan (Joshua 7:25) or Moab's desecration of Edom's king (Amos 2:1). This led many to avoid cremation, not because it was expressly condemned, but because of its negative connotations.

Nevertheless, we must remember that the resurrection is not based on the preservation of the body, but on faith in Jesus Christ (John 11:25-26). Whether a body is buried, cremated, or lost in circumstances beyond human control–such as shipwreck, war, or natural disaster–God's promise remains the same. Those "lost at sea" or consumed by fire are not beyond the reach of divine resurrection. The God who created man from dust (Genesis 2:7) is fully capable of raising him from ashes (I Corinthians 15:42-44).

For this reason, many Christians today regard cremation as a matter of personal conscience rather than theological necessity. While burial continues to reflect the biblical pattern and symbolic hope of bodily resurrection, cremation is not inherently sinful nor a denial of Christian faith. What matters most is not how the body is laid to rest, but the state of the soul when it dies.

In sum, Christians are free to choose cremation if done with reverence, trust in God, and without violating their conscience (Romans 14:5-6). The New Testament teaches that the dead in Christ will rise–not based on burial rites–but by the power of the resurrection and the believer's faith in the risen Lord.