Cremation Or Burialhow To Decide
When deciding how to dispose of a dead body, consider the following factors.
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The wishes of the deceased. The Bible records instances in which family members respected the instructions a person gave regarding treatment of his body after his death.Genesis 50:4, 5 Exodus 13:19.
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Local customs. These often have a bearing on how dead bodies are treated. For instance, in Bible times, people customarily buried the dead. Likewise today, a person may choose to deal with the remains of the deceased according to local customs as long as such customs do not conflict with Bible principles.
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Legal requirements. The Bible encourages obedience to secular authorities. In some areas, the authorities enact laws about the treatment of dead bodies. For instance, in the case of cremation, some authorities place restrictions on where the ashes may be disposed of.
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The feelings of others. The Scriptures encourage us to look out for the interests of others. When deciding how to deal with a dead persons remains, we might consider these questions: How do other family members feel about cremation or burial of the deceased? How does the local community view such customs?
What Does It All Mean
As I said from the beginning, you can view cremation as the express method of what is going to happen to your physical body after you die. When you look at all the factors and add in what the Bible says about cremation, you can put your mind at ease knowing that you can decide what you want to be done with your body once you die. If you are in Christ you are safe and will be with him forever.
Besides, lets not spend so much time thinking about this corruptible body and what we do with it at death. You should be rejoicing because there is a new incorruptible body that is waiting for you. At the end of it all, that is the body that truly matters most.
Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. He is the author of The Pursuit of Purposewhich will help you understand how God leads you into his will. He has also just released his new bookThe Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life.Do you want to go deeper in your walk with the Lord but cant seem to overcome the stuff that keeps getting in the way? This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com.
How Long Do Cremated Ashes Last
Cremains in the Ground
In some settings, cremains are buried in the ground without either an urn or a tomb. The process for degrading is relatively short. Biodegradable urns speed the process but still may take up to twenty years to degrade. Once the biodegrade happens, the body will unite with the soil quickly.
similary How long do they keep ashes for?
In December, the National Association of Funeral Directors published guidelines stating that unclaimed ashes must be stored for at least five years, with efforts being made to locate the rightful recipient, before a funeral company could dispose of them.
Do they give you all the ashes after cremation? You dont get ash back.
Whats really returned to you is the persons skeleton. Once you burn off all the water, soft tissue, organs, skin, hair, cremation container/casket, etc., what youre left with is bone.
Is it OK to divide ashes? As you can see, dividing ashes after cremation is actually a fairly common practice. It can be a way to help each family member grieve, remember, and honor their loved one in a special way. It can help avoid conflict or settle disagreements. And it can simply be what the departed loved one wanted.
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Common Misconceptions About Cremation
Misconception: Cremation dishonors the body.
Fact: The Bible says that those who die return to the dust, which is what naturally happens to a corpse when it decomposes. Cremation speeds up the process by reducing the body to ashes, or dust.
Misconception: In Bible times, only people in Gods disfavor were burned after death.
Fact: The dead bodies of some unfaithful people, such as Achan and his family, were burned. However, this was an exception rather than the rule. As noted earlier, the bodies of even some faithful people, such as King Sauls son Jonathan, were burned after death.
Misconception: Cremation prevents God from resurrecting a person.
Fact: Regarding resurrection of the dead, it does not matter to God whether a persons body was buried, cremated, lost at sea, or eaten by wild animals. The Almighty can easily re-create a new body for the person.1 Corinthians 15:35, 38.
Burial Practices In The Bible
The usual way that dead bodies were handled in the biblical world was predominantly burial. And there were many different types of burial in the biblical world because they had no way of preserving the body effectively and keeping it from decaying or spreading disease.
The custom was that you buried a body the same day that the person died and that custom, of course, could be stretched or changed a little bit here and there. But by and large, people living at the time the Bible records buried their dead extremely quickly.
This burial took many different forms. Bible verses speak of direct burial in the ground. It also mentions burial in a crypt above the ground. In addition, like with Jesus Christ, there were burial caves, and these would be known as ancestral caves.
Abraham famously bought the cave of Mac Piela Hittite and buried his wife, Sarah there. And then when Abraham died, he was buried in the same case. Upon Isaacs death and that of Leah, they were both buried in the same cave. So thats why they were known as ancestral burial caves.
Although we are talking about burial here, it didnt necessarily mean they were covered with eath. Sometimes people were just laid in the grave and wrapped, like with Jesus Christ, in cloth and spices.
Sometimes in biblical cultures, a body was just exposed to the air in a similar fashion to some of the American Indian tribes and the Persians.
He will have the burial of a donkey
dragged away and thrown
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Where Should You Keep Urns At Home
Ideally, you want to place the urn in a location with high positive energy. Generally, that means in a home that faces east, northeast, southeast or southwest, the urn should be placed in a room in the northeast or northwest area of the home.
Do you have clothes on when you are cremated? Typically, a traditional cremation arranged with a funeral home will include a dressing prior to a viewing and/or cremation. In many cases, people are cremated in either a sheet or the clothing they are wearing when they arrive at the crematory.
Does the coffin get cremated with the body?
Is the coffin cremated with the body? Yes. The Federation Of Burial and Cremation Authorities Guiding Principles state that the container and the body shall be placed in cremator and cremation commenced.
Can you tell if ashes are human? EasyDNA offers DNA testing on cremated remains. Whilst DNA testing is very reliable on remains that have not undergone cremation, the situation with cremated remains is more complex. Our DNA test on cremated remains offers the opportunity to include or exclude the presence of DNA in the ash sample provided.
What Does It Mean To Be Chosen
Calvinists teach that only those who are chosen will be saved. Paul the Apostle seems to have been chosen. Can you explain this? Im not a Calvinist, but this has always been challenging to me.
This is the biblical idea of election. When we elect something, we choose it. I choose to hold this bottle of water in my hand you could say that I have elected to hold this bottle of water in my hand. The idea of election is a biblical idea. The Bible says that God has those whom He has chosen. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you may or may not know it, but Jesus Christ chose you. And in some sense, He chose you from all eternity, to love Him, to walk with Him, to believe in Him.
Now, of course, the great debate goes, How does Gods eternal choosing of the individual intersect with the individuals choice to believe upon Jesus Christ or not? The answer is that God just makes these things flow together perfectly. He does not violate our will. He does not force Himself upon us. Yet He works in us and through us to bring us to faith.
Theres a story that pastors like to tell to illustrate this concept you can take it for what its worth. But sometimes these illustrations can be helpful. Salvation is about far more than going to Heaven. Salvation has a real impact on this life right here and now, but it certainly includes the idea of going to Heaven. Lets speak about it in those terms at this moment.
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So In Summary What Does The Bible Say About Cremation
Therefore, cremation is an acceptable means of dealing with the dead. Cremation does not conflict with the Bible nor does it interfere with Gods ability to resurrect the dead.
Those who are considering cremation should also consider the impact of their decision on their survivors. For many people, a funeral and the ensuing interment is an opportunity to show one final act of love and respect for the deceased. Would cremation provide them with the sense of loving closure they need? Prior to making a decision to have ones remains cremated, we recommend that people discuss these matters with family members to be sure they are also comfortable with this decision.
If you are dealing with the death of a loved one, our article How to Deal With Grief may help.
Asking The More Important Question
I believe it is not really whether cremation is right or wrong.
We must not be all too focused on the question, Is cremation a sin? or What does the Bible say about cremation?
What we must ask ourselves is, Did I live a life worth living for? Did I serve God and fulfill His purpose for me?
The main concern that we must all have as Christians, followers of the great God, is whether we have lived a life that is pleasing to our Father or not.
King Solomon, as he approached the final years of his life, made this conclusion:
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,For this is mans all.
14 For God will bring every work into judgment,Including every secret thing,Whether good or evil.
In the final analysis, what the Bible says about cremation isnt the main concern of every Christian. Our main concern is to do the work of God, follow His commandments, and fulfill His will and purpose in our lives.
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Does The Bible Forbid Cremation
If you scour the words of the Bible, what youre going to find is that God really has not given guidance specific guidance about what to do with the dead body. It certainly does not say that cremation is wrong or carries some divine penalty
What is found in the Bible is some of the cultural aspects of death and funerals at the time, but there are a lot of aspects left out. There are things, for example, that the Persian said, that were going to cover, that the Bible doesnt even go over.
What Does The Bible Say About Scattering Ashes
Cake values integrity and transparency. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure.
For many people, personal belief and faith play an important role in deciding how you carry out certain end-of-life practices. If youre preparing for a Christian funeral, attending someones scattering ceremony, or want more information in order to plan your own end-of-life arrangements, you may want the answer to the question, What does the Bible say about scattering ashes?
Jump ahead to these sections:
Some religions outright ban cremation while others encourage it. Where does Christianity fall in the cremation vs burial question and can you distinguish clear guidelines to help with decision making? This guide will provide helpful pointers and tips so you can make an informed decision one way or the other.
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Praying Scripture Over Your Childs Life
Jodie Berndt loves to pray for her children. Shes been doing that for the past thirty years. Now she helps other parents to talk to God, asking for the salvation of their kids, and for wisdom, self-discipline, purpose, a future and much more. She offers fun and practical encouragement that moms and dads can put to work immediately in their daily lives as they prepare their children for a life in Christ.
The Bible Is A Sacred Book
The Bible neither favors nor forbids the process of cremation. Nevertheless, many Christians believe that their bodies would be ineligible for resurrection if they are cremated. This argument, though, is refuted by others on the basis of the fact that the body still decomposes over time after burial.
Contents
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Cremation: A Biblical Perspective
Does the Bible have anything to say about cremation? My spouse and I have been discussing our final will and testament, including our personal preferences regarding funeral arrangements. I feel strongly that cremation is the best way to go, but my husband says that it’s a “pagan” practice. He claims that the Bible condemns it. In particular, he says it’s sacrilegious to destroy the body by fire since as Christians we look forward to the hope of resurrection at the end of the age. What’s your perspective?
We dont like to take sides in disputes between husbands and wives. But we can give you our opinion from a purely objective point of view. And the first thing we want you to know is that youre not alone. More and more Americans have been opting for cremation over the past several decades. In fact, records show that the number of cremations doubled in the United States between 1980 and 1990, and this seems to be a continuing trend.
One reason for the growing popularity of cremation is financial. The cost is only about one-eighth that of a traditional burial. Cremation also offers more flexibility in planning memorial services. The funeral home can help with the cremation and death certificates, but the family can plan the service according to the schedule that works best for all concerned.
If you and your spouse need additional help working through these concepts together, please .
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What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Ashes Is It Ok To Keep The Ashes Of Your Loved Ones In Your Home
In Uncategorized by Jason Van DuynJuly 15, 2019
Are you considering cremation and are wondering what does the bible say about keeping ashes? I have been turning custom cremation vessels for many years now. I thought it was time to get really clear on what the bible has to say about cremation. Specifically, what does the bible say about keeping ashes? Are you educating yourself on the logistics of cremation? I am glad that you made it here. I hope that the information that I have found will help you answer some of your questions.
If not, by all means contact meif you have other questions. Likewise, feel free to take a look at my urn informationpage after you have read this article, it may be some help to you. I also invite you to take a look at my cremation vessels found on my cremation urn artistry page, if you are looking for a vessel.
Until they have to face it, its not surprising that most people know little about cremation. Are you here because you are interested in getting really clear on where the bible stands on cremation? So, for this article I am focusing on what does the bible says about keeping ashes.
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The Faqs: What Christians Should Know About Cremation
For the first time in American history, a majority of Americans have chosen cremation rather than burial after their death. The National Funeral Directors Association expects the trend shifting from burial toward cremation to continue over the next 20 years, with the projected rate of cremation reaching 78.8 percent of deaths by 2035.
Here is what Christians should know about cremation:
What exactly is cremation?
Cremation is a funerary process in which intense heat is used to transform the human body back to its basic elements. Most of the body, such as tissue, is vaporized, leaving only the remains of bone. The remaining bone particles are commonly referred to as cremains or ashes.
What is the cremation process?
The cremation process occurs in the cremation chamber , a masonry-lined enclosure that can produce and withstand temperatures in the range of 1800°F to 2000°F.
The deceased body is placed in a casket made of wood or cardboard and placed in the chamber. Within a few hours the body is vaporized and reduced to bone fragments. These fragments are removed from the cremation chamber and placed on a table where the crematory operator removes, by hand or with a magnet, all metal debris such as screws, nails, surgical pins or titanium limbs/joints.
Does the Bible mention cremation?
The first mention of cremation in the Bible is 1 Samuel 31, where Saul and his sons are burned and then their bones buried: