What Does It Mean to Give the Dead a Proper Burial? (1)

THE BIBLE talks about the need to bury the dead. So, we know that when our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus died, He was buried (Matthew 27: 50, 57-60).

Most Church leaders teach about giving the dead a befitting burial based on the words of King Solomon. David’s son writes, “A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive PROPER BURIAL, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he” (Ecclesiastes 6: 3, NIV).

Solomon talks generally about a man; he did not say a Christian or a child of God. He simply said “A man…” His emphasis was on the need for humans both male and female to receive burial.

In the opinion of the king, it is improper for a human being to die and be denied proper burial. A person who is denied proper burial is worthless than a stillborn child.

Some versions of the Bible render “proper burial”, as “decent burial” or “honourable burial” for the dead which most pastors emphasise

Now, what is proper burial? Is it the same as expensive funeral? We should make it clear that the Bible does not talk about expensive funeral but proper burial. And expensive funeral is not proper burial.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines funeral as a ceremony for a dead person, but defines burial as the act or ceremony of burying a dead person in a grave.

What then is proper burial, decent burial or honourable burial which the Bible advocates? Is it securing a huge loan to enable the bereaved family to deposit the dead body in the morgue, rebuild or renovate the old family house, mount a gigantic billboard of the dead, invite high profiled personalities, provide mourning clothes, provide assorted foods and drinks all in honour of the dead?

Moreover, is proper burial the same as celebrating the dead? Is it organizing solemn wake-keeping for the dead where dirge hymns are sung officiated by bishops or apostles?

Exactly what is proper burial for the dead? Is it getting the deceased person put in a casket and sent into the church auditorium for bishops to offer fervent prayers of intercession for the salvation of his soul? Or is it arranging for men of God to dress in decent mourning clothes and personally bury the dead?

For us to understand the proper or decent burial King Solomon talked about, we need to go into the Bible and find examples of what was considered improper and proper burials.

Biblically and scripturally, a person is considered to have been given a decent or proper burial if his remains or body was properly covered or wrapped in a fine material, for example, fine linen shroud or put in a casket and was laid in a tomb.

So, we can say that Christ Jesus received a proper, decent or honourable burial (Matthew 27: 50, 57-60).

Let us also consider the burial of King David. The Bible says, “Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day” (Acts 2:29) “…for after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed” (Acts 13:36).

To be continued.

By James Quansah

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James Quansah is the Executive Director of Christ-Conscious Leadership Centre (CLC) and lead Pastor of End-Time Christ’s Commissioners (ECC), Kumasi, Ghana. James is also a journalist by profession. He is married with four children.