Is Cremation An Acceptable Practice Among Baptists?

Baptist Cremation

While cremation is an individual choice, and not all Baptists want to be cremated, there are no major leadership bodies that a Baptist cremation. To the extent that a funeral service is held, cremation may take place either before or after the funeral service.

The late Reverend Billy Graham verified that cremation is an acceptable alternative for Baptists.

“…Christians will want to show respect for the body. Even though the essential person or spirit has moved on to an eternal destiny, the body is the tangible reminder of all that person meant to us. In addition, the body is destined for resurrection, transformation, and reunion with the spirit at Christ’s return”.

Burial or Cremation?

Whether burial or cremation best expresses that appropriate respect is a very personal decision. The wishes of other close family members and friends should also be considered in any decision because they are the ones who will live with the decision and with the memories.

At the Resurrection, it will not make any difference whether a person’s body has been buried or cremated. God knows how to raise the body, either in the Resurrection of Life or the Resurrection of Condemnation (John 5:28-29).