Our Beloved Pet

Our Beloved Pet

When growing up, I recall discussions about how it is impossible
for animals to go to heaven; being that they don't have a spirit.
How could they have one, being that they do not talk and, thus,
can not understand or communicate with God? Or, at least, that
was the winning argument.

Though, I have wondered, more and more, how it would be
impossible for them not to have a spirit, after having our
current cat; Whiskers. We have never had one like him before.

When we snap our fingers, in disapproval, Whiskers whines. When
his preference is to be disobedient, he will whine as if we have
scolded him already. Knowing he will get into trouble, Whiskers
proceeds to do the very thing he knows not to do, anyway ...
fully anticipating that we will immediately tell him to stop, for
which he reluctantly does; perhaps also testing to see if we care
enough to respond.

In every way, Whiskers appears to have the feelings and
understanding of a toddler. He even talks back to us when he
does not like the rules. Others have stated they have never
heard a cat make sounds like he does; somewhat like how a baby's
cry has different meanings.

When our hands are full and we need to open a door, Whiskers will
reach for the doorknob and attempt to open it for us. He has the
gift of helps! When he wants us to open a door for him, he will
do the same. He already knows Bible! "Ask and ye shall
receive."

With the aroma of cooking, Whiskers will run to the kitchen.
Much like we did as children, he is prepared to rinse the pots
and bowls by licking the tasty residue. (Being in the age of
dishwashers, germs are not a problem.)

At meal time, Whiskers will select a chair around the kitchen
table, just like any other member of the family; patiently
awaiting (most of the time) scraps. (Just don't leave your plate
until you are finished eating.)

Like children might sneak cookies (the evidence later to be
revealed) we discover pieces of food Whiskers has snitched, then
hid to eat. It is not a good idea to leave white powdered donuts
out, even with the box lid closed. That is one of Whiskers'
all-time favorites.

Whenever we leave the house, Whiskers watches out the window,
anticipating our return; missing us, I am sure. Upon arrival and
before we get to an entry, he has already scurried there to greet
us.

It really is not all that different from picking up your toddler
from the baby-sitter, how they run to the door, "Mommy!" If
Whiskers has not greeted us, we know to check to see if he has
become sick or gotten closed in a closet.

Surely, animals must care intensely, being that they take on the
family health problems.

Also, each member of the family has a different place in his
heart. Whiskers responds to the one who feeds him as if they
were his mother and that is, also, the person he cries to when
the bowl is empty.

To his playmate, Whiskers jumps on them, attacks, and does all
sorts of silly things. His personality is so entertaining. Much
like a Sanguine, he is sure to bring a smile.

To another, he is so romantic that everyone in the house is drawn
to watch him. Whiskers will love on you as if you are the most
precious person this side of heaven.

The unconditional love one gets from Whiskers is as heartwarming
as any toddler. If you are in tune to listen to his heart, more
joyous than his purr, you will know he knows 'love'; and God is
love.

These are just a few of the things leading me to think Whiskers
almost has to be part human.

Then, when the subject of animals came up, around my 12-year-old
niece, I overheard her say, "Well, of course animals go to
heaven! Everything God created will be in heaven!" Like, duh.

All the world will cry out that there is a God. Oh, the wisdom
of a child!

Maybe God blessed us with Whiskers so I would ponder such things
and be able to offer assurance to those who have lost pets; as,
now, I know when our beloved pet dies, we will see them again.

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© by Joyce C. Lock
http://iam.homewithGod.com/glimpsesofgod/
Know what you believe because you heard it from God.
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My Pastor Said Animals Don't Have Souls

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.coldnosesbook.com
for more information and tips.

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