From the time of Adam and Eve, at death burial has been the practice in most religions of
the world, especially in Jewish, Christian and Islam faiths.  However lately, another
practice is rapidly becoming popular among Christians.  Like Hindus, Sikhs and
Buddhists, Christians are turning to cremation thinking that it is better than burial. There
are many reasons given in its support.
	The Bible tells that God made man and breathed into him His own breath.  Also
man was made in the image of God.  God is a triune being, and man, who is composed of
body, soul and spirit is also a triune being.
	We the triune human being, God has blessed us and made us to inherit the earth.
And when the life on earth is over, we have surety of a home in heaven where, like
Enoch, the seventh generation hero, we will be raptured all body, soul and spirit. 
	In a vision, God showed Ezekiel a valley of bones and told him to prophesy over
them.  Thus there was a movement in the bones, they rattled and came together, bone to
bone (Ezekiel 37:7).  After it, the flesh came upon them and the breath of God caused life
to enter them, and they became a mighty army.
	All the prophets, priests, kings and others, when they died, the Bible tells us that
they slept and were laid in the tombs.  Slept meant that they were to be raised just like the
bones in Ezekiel’s vision.  Therefore, when any righteous person dies, that person is only
sleeping and one day will rise again.  That person is laid in the tomb or in a grave. One
day, like Lazarus, when they hear Jesus calling, they will rise up.  Joseph had this hope.
Therefore he told his people in Egypt that God will take them to the Promised Land, and
instructed them to take his bones also with them.  He died in Egypt and there they buried
him.  After 400 years, they took his bones to the Promised Land.  His name is included
with the heroes of the faith (Hebrews 11:22).  His hope was revealed in Christ who, when
He died and was buried, rose again. He arose to tell the world of this wonderful
resurrection.
	The Bible states: “thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to
Molech (a foreign god), neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord”
(Leviticus 18:21).  In cremation, the fire erases the whole slate clean because it has its
link to reincarnation.  The reincarnation belief states that after death man is born at
another place according to its deeds till his soul finally finds salvation.  In this absence of
salvation, of course, there is no need of remembrance of that soul.    
	But in Christianity, it is not so.  Salvation is real in Christ Jesus.  Being a
Christian bears witness to this fact, for they are alive in Christ Jesus and shall live
forever. To the man, God has declared: “… for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou
return” (Genesis 4:19).  We do not find any mention of returning in ashes.  If a living
person is burned it is a first degree, second degree or third degree burn, or it is a murder. 
	The Old Testament states that when a dead body touched the bones of Elisha, he
revived and stood on his feet (II Kings 13:21).  In burial, therefore, man’s whole body is
lowered into the grave.  There, though the body is decayed, the bones remain intact for
the flesh and breath to come upon it.  
	At Jesus’ resurrection,  “…  the graves were opened; and many bodies of the
saints which slept, arose” (Matthew 27:52) – the flesh and life surely had come upon the
bones.  Like them and Lazarus, all believers in Christ shall arise.  For about six thousand
years burial has been the order because in Christ we shall all be made alive.
	The Bible says: “as He is, so are we in this world”  (I John 4:17).  If Jesus was
buried, we should follow what happened to Him, so that we might rise like Him.
	The Old Testament states a case of burning the body and bones.  King Josiah,
while he was cleansing Judah of evil practices, “he slew all the priests of the high places
that were there upon the altars, and burned men’s bones upon them” (II Kings 23:20).
But when the men of the city showed him the tomb of the man of God, he said: “Let him
alone; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the
prophet that came out of Samaria” (II Kings 23:18).  Another case is stated: “all Israel
stoned him (Achan) with stones, and burned them with fire” (Joshua 7:25). 
	Burning and fire are extensively mentioned when stating the state of hell.  Fire
and brimstone burned Sodom and Gomorrah.  In the parable of the Rich Man and
Lazarus, the rich man being in Hades was saying: “… I am tormented in this flame”
(Luke 16:24).
	Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego said to king Nebuchadnezzar: “our God whom
we serve is able to qdeliver us from the burning fiery furnace … be it known unto thee, O
king, that we will not serve thy gods” (Daniel 3:17-18). When they were thrown in the
fiery furnace, the ones who threw them in the fire were burned but these were not burned
though the furnace was made seven times hotter.  It was the will of God that they should
be preserved.  Therefore, He joined them and saved them. So is the will of God for us
also.
	 The triune being that God has made us has the flavour of God.  Therefore, we
must be like Him in all aspects.  To preserve the sanctity of our faith, body, soul and
spirit all have got to be preserved.  Apostle Paul also writes: “and I pray God your whole
spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ” (I Thessalonians 5:23). 
	Cremation is not a Christian burial. Therefore, we should be careful for we will
have to give an account to God. 

A.C. Parshad   -  At Jesus Feet  - July 2005
acparshad@hotmail.com