Dec 12

Deuteronomy 12:31
Memorise Deuteronomy 21:23
“thou shalt in any wise bury him that day”

Burial and not cremation is the biblical way of putting to rest the body   of those who have been called home to be with the Lord. What are the reasons for burial and not cremation? The reasons are based on Scripture and Doctrine. We shall first examine the practice of cremation in the light of Scripture, and then present the doctrinal reasons why we ought to bury and not cremate.

First, let us deal with the question of cremation. Cremation is the method of disposing the dead by burning. This method is not new. It has ancient origins, and was practised by the Canaanites in the time of the Old Testament. In the light of the Old Testament, we learn that cremation is not only a heathen practice but also a sign of divine judgment.

Dr John J Davis in his book, What About Cremation? said that cremation “was both early in origin and widespread in geographic scope. For the most part, it was associated with pagan ideas about the essence of life or mythical beliefs regarding the afterlife”. Cremation is tied to the heathen practice of offering human sacrifices. God commanded the Israelites not to follow this cruel and hateful practice in Deuteronomy 12:31, “Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods”. For the heathens, cremation was the way to send off both the living and the dead to the netherworld. Is it no wonder that non-Judeo-Christian religions like Hinduism and Buddhism also practise cremation?

The Jews regarded the act of cremation as a form of idolatry. Israel in keeping herself distinct from the heathen nations, and in obedience to the command of separation, practised burial instead of cremation. To prove that the divinely sanctioned method is burial and not cremation, the Jews cited Deuteronomy 21:23, “His body  shall  not  remain  all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day” (see also Genesis 23:19, 35:8; Deuteronomy 34:6; 1 Kings 11:15, 22:37, Ezekiel 39:15).

Thought: “Burying has been held as a sacred custom in all ages; for it was a symbol of the last resurrection” (Calvin).
Prayer: Lord, I want to be a good testimony of Thy resurrection even at death.