Is Cremation Biblically Acceptable?Is Cremation Biblically Acceptable?
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By Frank and Mary Hoffman - 26 Feb 2006

Dear Anne and Others:

Some people read more into the Bible than is really there, and there is nothing in the Bible that says that cremation is against the will of God.

The Jewish people believe that the body should not be embalmed or preserved in any way so that we rapidly decompose and go back to the earth from which we came. Modern burial methods are totally counter to this understanding.

We know from biblical accounts that the body was anointed for burial with perfume, but this seems to be a way of showing respect and not a way of preserving the body, as we know from Martha's statement about the dead body of her brother, Lazarus, stinking on the third day after his death (John 11:39).

All through the ages, people's bodies have totally decomposed or been destroyed, and many of these were true believers. Is God going to forget them, because no body remains? Absolutely not!

The Lord raises us in spiritual bodies, and not as resurrected physical bodies as we have now. And since He created us, and knows everything about us, He can resurrect us in perfect spiritual bodies no matter what has happened to our physical bodies.

We have studied this question fairly thoroughly, and like you, we have decided to be cremated and have our ashes scattered in the woods.

In the Love of the Lord,

Frank and Mary

Go on to comments: By Fleur Wiorkowski - 26 Feb 2006
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