Are There Fire Hydrants In Heaven?
Anyone who has ever had a canine or feline family member has wondered if they will see them again "on the other side." I was asked that question once and my answer was pretty pathetic. It was pretty obvious from my answer that I didn't know. I said something akin to: "Well, God loves all of his creation..."
In the 1989 movie "All Dogs Go to Heaven," after being murdered by his casino co-owner, Charlie B. Barkin finds himself at the Pearly Gates. Considering his life of riotous living on earth, Charlie B. was surprised and confused. "How'd I end up here?! " he asked the lovely feminine creature who met him at the gate. "All dogs go to heaven," she announced with certitude, " because we are naturally good, loyal, and kind."
Well, now, from the opening credits the validity of this declaration is brought into question, seeing as how all of the dogs display human characteristics — many of which are considerably less than "good, loyal, and kind." That's not to say that she's wrong. "Naturally" is the operative word here. Since dogs do not emulate human behavior to the extent of the cast of canines in the movie, and appear to behave badly only when they are taught to, she could be right.
Unfortunately, there are no scriptures in the Good Book to back her up. Dogs are mentioned 41 times in the Bible, and none have anything to do with being "good, loyal, and kind." However, in the overwhelming majority of those 41 times, "dog" is used as a metaphor for unscrupulous human beings. In the few remaining circumstances, they are depicted as victims of circumstance or as watchdogs.
So, just because the Bible doesn't specifically say that dogs go to Heaven, that does not mean that they don't. There has yet to be a definitive position taken by the church on the subject. Since Pius IX, Catholic Popes have affirmed and rejected the notion. Pope Pius IX (1846 - 1878) believed that dogs "have no consciousness." That was pretty much the end of it until in 1990 Pope John Paul II (1978 - 2005) declared that animals do have souls and are "as near to God as men are."
Pope Benedict XVI (2005 - 2013) appeared to directly contradict Pope John Paul II when he concluded that when animals die it "means the end of their existence on earth," and "they are not called to eternal life." The current head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has left the door open.
Protestants appear to be a little more united on the subject. Lutherans answer the question with a "cautious maybe." Reverend John Brug, a distinguished Lutheran scholar, said that "there may be plants and animals in the new earth as there were in the first earth. According to the Presbyterian Church, "God would not exclude creatures in the afterlife who were part of his original paradise in the Garden of Eden."
There does not appear to be a consensus on whether or not we will see our four-legged family members in Heaven. A considerable number of biblical scholars claim that the Bible does not take a definitive position on the subject. While the Bible does not specifically state that our pets will be with us in Heaven, it mentions — on numerous occasions — God's compassion for "all creatures, great and small."
In the final analysis, I believe it is safe to say that we will see our beloved pets in Heaven. So does one of the most famous preachers to ever walk the earth: Billy Graham. When asked his opinion on the subject, he responded, "God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there."
On these pages, we will share stories from folks like you who have had beloved pets precede them to the hereafter. Although that great picture on the Home Page might infer that the focus is on dogs, I promise to give felines — and any other animal you hold dear — equal treatment. If you have had a spiritual experience with your non-human family member, tell us about it.
Cedric
Tell me why you believe your pet is in Heaven waiting for you. Send your story and a picture to: cajpets@gmail.com. If writing isn't your thing, call me: 314/222-1718.