Christians and Cremation: Another Perspective
I have had a number of people ask me about cremation over the years. I hear some wide variety of opinions, even among Christians. Some take it for granted that no Christian would ever get cremated and others taking for granted that few Christians should want to pay the high prices for burial.
Should Christians be cremated?
Paul Carter asks this question a TGC Canada blog post. I would agree with a lot of what Paul says. I know Paul, and I know he writes as a thoughtful pastor and Bible teacher.
He concludes that it is not sinful to be cremated and that being cremated does not prevent our own resurrection. At the same time, burial of the body is to be preferred because it honours and witnesses to our belief in the resurrection of the body.
While broadly agreeing, I would like to share a slightly different perspective. Instead of looking for specific Bible verses, what I see in the Gospels is a leaning into compassion, especially for the poor, as our guiding principle.
For some families, the burial of a loved one is no major financial burden. Some people actually pre-pay for everything so their loved ones do not have to worry about the cost. But this is not the case for everyone. Some families have little or no money set aside for a funeral.
Paul Carter makes this comment: “Most choose cremation because it is slightly less expensive than burial.” While he is correct about the motivation, is he correct about cremation being “slightly” less expensive?
I would point people to this article that explains the costs for funerals, including the differences between burial and cremation. I will just say that there is a significant difference in the cost.
There is another reason that cremation has become popular, especially since COVID-19. For various reasons, it is not always possible to gather the immediate family in the normal time that we have between a death and a burial. Cremation sometimes allows the time to gather the family and other loved ones.
An added benefit is that the week after a death is when most people are least capable of planning a funeral. Cremation can allow families to deal with grief before they are forced to plan a celebration of life.
Some might suggest that I am taking a pragmatic view, while the question requires a theological treatment. I would say that within the Christian faith, compassion is theological. It is not about just being nice but rather revolved around how God interacts with us and we are called to interact with others.
What about Paul’s concern that cremation “can and often does obscure our Christian witness.” If true, that would be a major concern.
I have never experienced this concern after attending a funeral that included cremation. I never thought there was a lack of emphasis on the resurrection because of the cremation. At the same time, at non-Christian funerals that included burials, I did not see a witness to resurrection.
There is a lack of witness to the resurrection at funerals, but it is not from cremation. What really does obscure our Christian witness is a focus on heaven rather than resurrection by pastors because of longstanding Platonic influence. Before we ask families to fork over a few more thousand to witness to the resurrection, pastors need to address how we lead funerals.
Am I arguing for cremation? No. I will say that my parents were both cremated and their urns only buried 20 and 15 years after their deaths. But that was based on their requests and not my convictions.
As a pastor, I allow families to make their own decisions and I support whatever they decide. If they want to bury the body or have the body cremated, I will support either decision. My guiding value is that of compassion for the family, a compassion that is based on my understanding of the ministry of Jesus.
I would like to echo the words of Paul Carter in his article. Put in writing what you want for your funeral and communicate with your family and pastor. I would also suggest you consider how your wishes will be paid for.
