The Bible doesn't directly forbid keeping ashes, but traditional Christian views favor burial as a sign of resurrection faith, seeing scattering or keeping ashes as potentially dishonoring the body or mimicking pagan practices, though some modern interpretations allow keeping them if done respectfully, focusing on God's power to resurrect anyone, buried or cremated, with the decision often left to personal conviction in "doubtful" matters.

What does God say about keeping the ashes of a loved one?

It's important to note that there are no explicit verses addressing cremation or the keeping of ashes.

What does Jesus say about cremation?

According to most Biblical study websites, there is no explicit scriptural command for or against cremation. There are no passages that forbid cremation, according to most Biblical scholars. However, some passages describe standard death practices during these times.

What did Jesus say about ashes?

Or when Jesus says that if the miracles performed in Chorazin and Bethsaida had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, “they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.” (Luke 10:13) Ashes show the acknowledgement of destruction.

Is it bad to keep cremated ashes at home?

Yes. Keeping cremated ashes (cremains) at home is legally and culturally acceptable in most places and is a common, meaningful way to remember a loved one. Choose what fits your needs by considering legal, practical, emotional, and cultural factors.

Cremation vs Burial | What does the Bible say about Cremation? | GotQuestions.org

Why can't you keep ashes at home?

Some people believe that keeping ashes at home can disturb the soul's peace, leading to unrest or bad luck.

What did Billy Graham say about cremation?

Billy Graham viewed cremation as a personal choice, not a sin, stating the Bible doesn't forbid it and God can resurrect cremated remains, but personally preferred traditional burial out of respect for the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit and an echo of biblical tradition, emphasizing faith over the physical disposition method. He stressed that resurrection power isn't limited by burial or cremation, and the focus should be on readiness for God, not funeral customs.

Does the Bible say if you're cremated you can't go to heaven?

No, the Bible does not say a cremated body can't rise; Christian theology teaches resurrection is a spiritual event God orchestrates, not dependent on the physical remains' state, as God can resurrect anyone, regardless of how bodies decompose (like those lost at sea or in battle). While the Bible historically favored burial (e.g., Jesus) and cremation was rare or showed contempt, there's no explicit command against cremation, and many modern Christians view it as a personal choice, believing God transforms believers into new, glorified bodies, not just reassembling old ashes. 

Do Christians believe in keeping ashes?

According to canon law: "The ashes of a cremated body should be reverently disposed of by a minister in a churchyard or other burial ground in ... or on an area of land designated by the bishop for the purpose ... or at sea. The ordinary position therefore is that ashes are to be buried.

Does the Bible say cremated body can't rise?

No, the Bible does not say that a cremated body cannot rise. The Bible emphasizes resurrection as a spiritual event. It's not tied to the physical state of the remains. Cremation is not forbidden in the Bible and is a matter of personal choice for Christians.

Who was the first person cremated in the Bible?

The first actual mention of cremation in the Bible is 1 Samuel 31: 11-13 where Saul and his sons are burned and then their bones buried after terrible ravages were inflicted on their bodies.

What does the King James version say about cremation in the Bible?

One of the first things to note is that the King James Version of the Bible does not provide an explicit commandment regarding cremation. Unlike other religious texts that might have clear directives, the Bible offers no direct condemnation of cremation as a sin nor does it endorse cremation.

Should you keep ashes or let them go?

You can keep the ashes as a lasting memento

But it doesn't stop there — you can also create paperweights, LPs or Christmas tree baubles which contain ashes, as well as other items which may be meaningful to you. A very small amount of ashes can even be mixed with ink to create a unique tattoo.

What happens to your spirit when you are cremated?

The body is seen as a vessel that contains the soul, and when the body is cremated, it is believed that the soul is released from the body and can move on to the next life. Cremation is also seen as a way to purify the body and make it ready for reincarnation.

What kind of bodies will we have in heaven?

Part of Heaven's glory is that our bodies will be transformed, and we will become like Jesus Christ in His perfect resurrected body. We won't be subject to the ills and ravages of old age like we are now, for we will be changed.

Can you be resurrected if you've been cremated?

There are martyrs who were burned at the stake. Cremation doesn't affect the body in such a way that it is beyond the reach of God's resurrecting power. Just as in cases of martyrdom, amputation, or the like, God can raise a body from the ashes.

Has anyone been cremated in the Bible?

1 Samuel 31:11-12 (TLB) – But when the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done, 12 warriors from that town traveled all night to Beth-shan and took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall and brought them to Jabesh, where they cremated them.

Why are baptists against cremation?

This is why they might dismiss cremation, in the fear that they will have no body for the resurrection. Of course, few Baptists would argue that God couldn't recreate a person's body from their ashes, but in hope of the physical resurrection of the body, they might still favor burial over cremation.

Does the Bible say only 144,000 people will go to heaven?

No, the Bible does not say only 144,000 people go to heaven; this is a specific interpretation, notably by Jehovah's Witnesses, of a symbolic number in the Book of Revelation, which also describes a "great multitude, which no one could count" from all nations going to God, suggesting a much larger group of saved people with different destinies, some in heaven and some with an earthly hope. The 144,000 in Revelation (7 & 14) likely represent a symbolic, sealed group of Jewish evangelists during the tribulation, not the total number of the saved.

Why is the skull broken during cremation?

For many Hindus, it is important that the skull be cracked, urging the departed soul to move on. This is sometimes a significant part of the ceremony. Non-Hindus are often invited to attend the cremation service.

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