On a recent Sunday, those worshipping at CrossPoint Community Church were encouraged to text in their questions and doubts during Matt’s message. Some were answered “live.” The best of the rest will be answered here.
TEXT: Pastor Matt, will my pet make it to Heaven?
As much as I tried to avoid answering this question, I just couldn’t. Too many of you threw it my way for me to ignore it. Apparently a lot of people want to hang out in paradise with their poodle.
This is one of those topics that the Scriptures just don’t talk about in any detail. We’re left to make an educated guess based on what the Scriptures do speak clearly on. And taking it all in, my personal, Biblical insticts lead me to offer a pretty confident, “no.”
[Long pause for the pet lovers to stop cursing my name.]
Let me tell you how I get there. First, the Bible tells us that mankind - human beings - are the crown of God’s creation, the height of all that He’s made. Also, mankind carries an incredible value in the eyes of God because we are - unlike our pets or any animal - made in His image. That is, all humans reflect something of the character and power of God. For example, like God created all things, mankind - as His image bearer - can create small but still very incredible things. A dog simply can’t. (Gen. 1:27-31)
Therefore God’s desire is for these image-bearing human beings to have a relationship with Him. That’s why when the God / humanity connection was destroyed at the Fall of Man, God the Father went to great lengths to restore it through the work of the Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus’ death on the cross atones for our sins - it pays the penalty and rights the wrongs of our evil and reunities us, through trust in the Son, to the Father in Heaven. We’re the only member of creation that can enjoy those benefits. (We’re also the only part of creation that will be held accountable and can be - if not connected to Christ - condemned for all time.) Yes, God loves all of creation. But He only wants to live in community, for eternity, with us.
Our pets are simply a part of the creation that we enjoy and love and care for, much in the same way that God enjoys, loves and cares for us.
The scriptures clearly say that one day, when Jesus comes back, all those who have died in Christ will rise to enjoy eternity with Him in a new, uncorrupted creation. The Scriptures call it the ”New Heaven and New earth.” (Rev. 21:1; Isa. 65:17-25) As part of this process, the old, corrupted creation - plants, animals, ocean, land, all we see - will “pass away” to make room for the new. God’s people will then enjoy life with Him in a perfect world, in flesh and blood surrounded by a perfect creation, with no end in sight.
So, when Jesus comes back will there be animals? In the new creation, yes. Will my old pet be there? No. Sorry.
Besides, the Bible is clear that in the end only a fraction of all humanity will have been reunited with the Father through faith in Jesus. (Matt. 7:13-14) If “all dogs to heaven” but all people don’t then Heaven’s gonna have one hell of a pet problem. And, if Bob Barker makes it, he’ll be seriously pissed. And who wants to spend eternity with an angry game show host? Not me.
Love your pets and enjoy your pets. But let us never give them more value than we would another human being and let us worry even more for those who are yet to know Jesus.
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Pastor Matt,
I always wondered if I would see my pets in heaven. Your answer makes a lot of sense. But between you and I. I am going to let my kids think they will see their Tessie in heaven when she passes. It will help ease their pain. When they get older and can understand your answer then they can learn the truth. HA!
Janin
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:25 pm
frankly, I think it’s the pets who would pissed that Bob Barker was there. would you want to spend eternity keeping one eye out for Bob and his scissors?
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:33 pm
I think that your analysis makes a lot of sense. As you say, in eternity we’re talking about a new creation. Even humans who participate in this new world do so as part of the new creation, the old nature and body both having passed away. “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Rom 6:5) Also, “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” (1 Cor 15:44)
For humans who have faith our resurrection is explicitly connected with our identification with Christ. It seems to me to be the basis of our participation in the new creation.
The Bible does indicate that there will be a resurrection of “both the just and the unjust” (Acts 24:15). But the destiny of those with faith in Christ is clearly separate from that of those who don’t, and it seems that not being raised as new creatures dead to the old (and, of course, forgiven) is a critical distinction disqualifying the non-believers from participation in the new creation. Since I see no indication that an animal can have faith or participate in the kind of resurrection that believers can experience, I wouldn’t see them as being a part of the new creation.
There is an interesting verse that does seem to indicate that animals may have a spirit… “Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?” (Ecclesiastes 3:21) Even so, just as with unbelieving people, I don’t know that that qualifies them to participate in the new creation.
Man, for a seemingly simple question this really made me think.
March 24th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Well, I’m glad I swallowed before I read Jason’s!
Every previous time I’d heard this question mentioned, it seemed like the answer was either “no, no animals in heaven at all” or “yep, your Fifi and Max will definitely be there”. Your take makes sense.
March 25th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Nope…”All Dogs Go to Heaven”, Matt! *nods*
June 18th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
You are so so wrong—I am sure they will make pet food out of you-but would make the critters ill-
July 21st, 2009 at 2:07 pm
I have discussed this in depth w christian brothers and sisters who are very well read in scripture. We are all in agreement. Heaven will be like another dimension where everything is pure and beautiful. It will be nothing like life as we know it here on earth. We will not have emotional attatchments. I believe we can see whatever we want to see but it will be God showing us that every living thing had a divine purpose.