Cremation: "My Answer" by
Billy Graham
When a Christian dies is it all right to cremate the
body? 
The Bible does not give specific directions for the disposal
of the body following death. Bible-era practices are described
in Unger's Bible Dictionary as follows: "Interment
in Bible times followed soon after death, as is evident
in the narratives of the burial of Sarah (Genesis 23:1-20),
Rachel (Genesis 35:19-20), and Rebekah's nurse (Genesis
35:8). The Hebrews did not normally cremate, except in
most unusual cases of emergency, as in the case of Saul
and his sons (1 Samuel 31:11-13). Later Babylonians burned
their dead and deposited their ashes in ornate funerary
urns, as did Greeks and Romans. Hebrews in later time,
indicated by the numerous ossuaries found in New Testament
Palestine, also practiced cremation."
Christians will want to show respect for the body. Even
though the essential person or spirit has moved on to
an eternal destiny, the body is the tangible reminder
of all that person meant to us. In addition, the body
is destined for resurrection, transformation, and reunion
with the spirit at Christ's return. Whether burial or
cremation best expresses that appropriate respect is
a very personal decision. The wishes of other close
family members and friends should also be considered
in any decision because they are the ones who will live
with the decision and with the memories.
At the resurrection it will not make any difference
whether a person's body has been buried or cremated.
God knows how to raise the body, either in the resurrection
of life or the resurrection of condemnation (John 5:28-29).
The new body of a Christian will be a radically changed
and glorified body like the body of the exalted Christ.
It will be an eternal, spiritual body never again to
experience weakness, disease, suffering or death (1
Corinthians 15:35-54 and Philippians 3:20-21)
"My Answer" is a nationally syndicated article
by Dr. Graham appearing in many newspapers. Reprinted
with permission of Tribune Media Services. © Tribune
Media Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted
with permission.
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