Title: My Pastor Said Animals Don't Have Souls
Author: Gary Kurz
My Pastor Said Animals Don't Have Souls
"Why Brother Gary, what seems to be the matter", my
pastor's wife asked as I made my way to my usual pew on
Sunday morning. I didn't respond immediately, because I
just didn't feel like talking. My beloved dog of 16 years
had passed away the day before and my mind could focus on
little else but the terrible void and sense of loss I was
feeling. I probably shouldn't have been out in public so
soon, but I thought support from those of like faith might
help ease the pain I was feeling.
Before I could respond, she added, "You are always such a
happy person and today you look so glum." As I sought for
something to say I felt tears welling up in my eyes and I
knew that I had to squeeze an answer out quickly or risk
blubbering incoherently as my emotions took over. So I
quickly blurted out "My dog died yesterday."
Sure that she heard the quivering in my voice and saw the
tears beginning to flow I waited for the compassionate
words that I knew only a pastor's wife could find. To my
horror, instead of offering sympathy and compassion, she
sarcastically, and if I might add, gleefully asked "Oh, and
I bet you think your dog went to doggy heaven don't you?"
I didn't know what to say or do, so I resorted to the
tactic most people resort to when they find themselves in
an awkward situation; I chuckled and walked off. I didn't
want to chuckle. I wanted to lash out and admonish her for
her callousness; but I didn't. I didn't have it in me. It
just was not that important at the moment. I couldn't
handle a confrontation. I just wanted to be left alone and
so I chuckled and walked away.
Outwardly I erased any sign of hurt or anger toward her,
but inwardly I was mortified. She had taken one of the
most traumatic experiences of my life and heaped more grief
and pain upon it. Her undeserved cruelty to me was bad
enough, but the sentiment she expressed was even more
disturbing. I was to find later in my studies and work
that many in ministry share her erroneous view of animals
and the afterlife.
In my work I have received hundreds of letters and e-mails
from exasperated church-goers who have suffered similarly
at the hands (or words) of their ministers and their
spouses. Sometimes it was from direct dialogue about a
specific pet, but more often it was just hurtful comments
made from the pulpit that suggested animals were not
important and did not have souls.
Overwhelmingly, mainstream denominations hold to this
opinion. They hold that animals are temporal creatures
without souls. The usual premise for this belief is that
the Bible says that God breathed life into Adam, but does
not say that he did this for animals. Hence, in their mind
man has the Spirit of God in him and animals do not.
I find this position theologically immature and wholly
unsupportable. That animals have souls is an unimpeachable
teaching in scripture. First of all, the word "soul" is
used in over 20 different ways in scripture. When it comes
to animals, the Hebrew word "nephesh" is used. This word
"soul" means "essence" or "life". The word confers
permanence to that life. It is not and cannot be temporal.
Moreover, God is the one who gave animals their essence or
life, whether he breathed into them or not. Adam couldn't
do it. All life comes from God. This alone refutes the
erroneous notion that God did not somehow give life to
these creatures. Just because it is not recorded does not
mean it did not happen. We are not told that God breathed
life into the woman. Are we to assume then that women have
no souls?
If we follow this erroneous view it becomes more
outrageous. We must conclude that only Adam had a soul,
for God did not breathe into every man, only Adam. Adam
may have been able to pass along physical traits to his
offspring, but the soul comes from God. So, if God did not
breathe into each man, each man did not receive a soul.
How foolish an idea is when you follow it to the extreme.
The whole idea that animals do not have souls is erroneous.
There is no Biblical support for such a position. Indeed,
there is overwhelming evidence that proves that they do
have souls and are eternal creatures. This is not a
conclusion that is hard to arrive at. A simple, elementary
study of pertinent scripture is all that is required. It
is egregious that those who need to have answers do not
make the effort to reach this understanding.
Many ministers need to revisit their ideas about animals
and animal afterlife. Trusting what they heard from their
Seminary Professor or a previous pastor is not acceptable.
The onus is upon them to know the facts for their flock.
Their calling is one that puts them in a position of trust.
They are in ministry to serve and help when members of the
flock have need. Losing a beloved pet is indeed a time of
great need. It is not a place where a minister wants to
fail or trust their responsibility to the ideas of others.
It is a lazy and dangerous practice to disregard the
Bible's instructions for those who minister "to search out
whether these things are true". Ministers take on an
obligation to have ready and sound answers for their
congregants, in particular when it comes to matters of the
heart. People go to church to "know" what God says, not
what a Seminary Professor thinks. A minister must know,
not hazard a guess.
About the Author:
The author is a retired Coast Guard Officer with over 32
years of service. He is also a Baptist Preacher and Bible
Teacher. He helps those grieving the loss of a pet to
understand the Biblical evidence that proves they live on.
His most popular book, "Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates"
delivers hope and comfort to the reader in a very gentle,
yet convincing way. Visit at http://www.coldnose
for more information and tips.
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3 comments:
The English word “soul” derives from a number of different words in the Old and New Testaments and is used in the Bible in a variety of ways. First, it is employed as a synonym for a living, breathing person. Moses wrote: “All the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls” (Exodus 1:5; cf. Deuteronomy 10:22). Those who do not believe in God or accept the Bible as His Word (and thus deny the existence of an immortal soul) generally perceive animals as man’s equal in almost every aspect. They often refer to animals as being equal to humans with regard to how they should be viewed or treated. Also, can animals sin? Hardly. Indeed this position is at odds with Gods word. Man and animals do not share any kinship, notwithstanding the claims of evolutionists.
Listen to the apostle Paul when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 15: “All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fishes. Clearly Man is a special creation (“Genesis 1:26-30 and 2:7,21-25) with no genetic relationship to any other creature. Further, Man alone was created “in the image and likeness of God” (Genesis 1:26-27) something that may not be said of animals.
But do animals have souls? I will concede that animals may have “souls,” only if the word “soul” is used as the Bible employs it in discussing members of the animal kingdom (i.e., to describe only the physical life force found within all living creatures). But if the word “soul” is used to refer to an immortal soul that one day will inhabit heaven or hell, then no, animals may not be said to possess a soul. I know this is hard for a lot of people to accept, but fluffy isn’t waiting up in heaven wagging his little tail. This is the only conclusion that can be drawn, with the respect to the Word of God.
I believe assuming animals don't have souls is a personal human right. I don't quite understand why a person's Heaven wouldn't have all the people and things they ever loved waiting for them. I hope what people believe is true is their peace and keeps them peaceful.
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