Bible Answer

How should we handle bodies when people die?

How should we handle bodies when people die?

The Bible says nothing about burial versus cremation because frankly, it doesn’t matter. Once a person has died, that body is just dust waiting to dissolve. It has no significance to God nor to the individual.

That said, we should not desecrate the body.

There is a suggestion that we would be better to bury our bodies than to cremate them. The argument is that is might send a better testimony about our hope of resurrection. It might suggest we know we will receive another body. Whereas cremation might suggest we may never receive another body.

That is not necessarily sound logic, so the decision becomes a purely personal one.

For the Christian who has died, their body left behind carries no meaning – their focus will now be on dwelling in the Lord’s presence.