When I die, I don’t want to be cremated. Of course if it happened, I wouldn’t know it. Nonetheless, while having a choice, I prefer to naturally decompose. I suppose I’m thinking this way because “naturally” appeals to me.

That’s my state of mind even though I know that it doesn’t really matter. Whether cremated or not, it has no bearing on whether a believer is resurrected. For example, I think of Jonathan, the close and dear friend of David. Probably most devotees of the Bible would agree that Jonathan is heaven-bound. Yet Jonathan’s body was burned (1 Samuel 31: 12).

Furthermore, the Bible says we are dust, having come from dust. That means that in the end, cremated or otherwise, our bodies basically return to the elements of the earth. Ecclesiastes 12: 7 puts it this way— “the dust returns to the earth.”

Moreover, I find the next part of verse 7 to be extremely relevant to the topic. It clears up any concerns about God not being able to resurrect if the body is burned to ashes. Upon death, the verse continues, “and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” The Greek word for spirit is pneuma, meaning breath or air. Biblically, the words spirit and breath are used interchangeably, e.g., Job 27: 3.

Also be aware that spirit isn’t referring to the air we breathe. The spirit that returns to God is the animating life-force that was breathed into Adam’s nostrils at humanity’s creation (Genesis 2: 7).

Now I’m not certain about this, but I’m assuming that within the returned spirit (life-force) is impressed information about the deceased’s personality.* I think that because of what Psalm 104: 30 says. “You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the earth.” (Again take note of the two words being interchanged. In Psalms, God gave the spirit to create; in Genesis, He gave breath to create.)

Psalm 104: 30 reveals that the essential aspect to the resurrection will be the return of our spirit (life-force). Our returned spirit will be coupled with, not the old material of the body, but with new material that will be incorruptible and immortal. “Behold, I make all things new,” says the Lord (Revelation 21: 5).

So as to the appropriateness of cremation, having considered what’s been presented here, and because there isn’t a biblical command about it one way or the other, I think it’s okay to let our conscience be our guide.

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*The assumed impressed info I think to be in the spirit is not to be thought of as anything that’s conscious or having feelings. I liken it to digital info. Nor is it the popularly thought independent soul that can live apart from the body after death. For more about what happens at death, pls. read Dead-On Truth About Death. Click here.