Losing A Pet....And What God Says About It

 Hello Church,

Amid the disturbance of the past 12 months, I have noticed numerous household that have had to put a pet down.  There have been 4 in just the past month or so.  I thought I'd share some thoughts on this as questions do arise for the Pastor over how the Church views life and death issues of animals and, specifically, pets that we come to dearly love.

To be sure, the Gospels and the Letters focus on the state of the human soul.  Jesus concerns Himself almost entirely on the issue of loving people.  Paul writes almost explicitly on his Christology.... that Jesus died that we might be saved and how we should allow Christ to live through us.  So there isn't much to be said for or against the issue of animals.  Do they have souls?  What happens after they die?

This is a highly controversial issue as people who think with the head debate with people who feel with the heart.  However, the following Scripture points to hope and comfort for those who feel the pain of losing a pet.  Mainly, the idea that salvation is not just for the human soul, but for all of creation.  I thought of this as I preached yesterday about God's covenant--not to Noah-- but to the whole earth about never flooding it again.

Acts 3:21:  Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

Romans 8:18-22 - 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

Isaiah 11:6-9 and Revelation 21:1 also point to this idea that all of creation will be made new, not just us human souls.

So if you have lost a pet recently, take heart.  Don't take the word of some theologian who claims that God only values the salvation of the human soul.  God loves all of His creation and there is enough evidence to suggest that we won't be floating in our new bodies out there in some ambiguous 'heaven', but that creation as God desires it will play a part.

...that said... if I ever see my German Shepherd, Heidi, again, I am going to bop her on the nose for all the times she jumped up and knocked down that 3 year-old boy.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe