Cremation (the burning of the dead) is not a Christian practice.
- God commanded the dead to be buried. Deuteronomy 21:23
- God buried Moses, Deuteronomy 34:5,6. According to Jude 9, Michael the Archangel and Satan came into conflict over the body of Moses and possibly because Satan wanted to make a shrine or place of idolatry of it. If so, God could have burned him just as well as burying him. Note that GOD HIMSELF buried Moses!
- God commanded Israel not to burn their children. Leviticus 18:21
- God punished Moab for cremating the king of Edom. Amos 2:1 Cremation is associated with idolatry. 2 Chronicles 28:3; 33:6; 2 Kings 16:3; 17:17,31; 21:6 Jeremiah 7:31; 19:5 Ezekiel 16:20-21; 20:31; 23:37
- God’s people burned the dead to show contempt. Joshua 7:25 2 Samuel 23:7 2 Kings 23:16,20
- Burial following death is an important spiritual symbol. Romans 6:4 says, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death" and Colossians 2:12 says, "Buried with Him in baptism".
- Burial is a part of the Gospel, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Read and notice verse 4 "And that He was buried, and that He arose again on the third day according to the Scriptures." All Scripture is "profitable for instruction" and thus, Christ is the believers’ example in the proper mode of handling the dead.
- Now, if a Christian is cremated, it is no difficulty for God to transform those ashes into a glorified body. The same is true for those burned or consumed by wild animals.
God will raise all the bodies of His children, no matter what their manner of death or disposal and will fashion them, "like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself." Philippians 3:21 Cremation should not be practiced by Christians who are looking forward to a resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15
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