Another Practical Guide to the Logic, Philosophy, and Thoughts of Christianity

Section 1 - Article 7

Article 7 - The loyalty and love of dogs

I once had an opportunity to keep a pet dog for a week for a friend in Shanghai. The dog liked me very much, and I, the dog. It slept on my bed, followed me everywhere I went in my tiny studio flat, and my fondness for it grew. Yet, as with everything that came my way, I realized that there was a theological lesson to be learnt from a dog. Unlike the previous articles, this entry is written in a compare and contrast model, with alternative paragraphs depicting parallel points.

In the short time I had a pet dog, there were days where I underfed the dog. Noting that the poor animal was a little too fat for its own good, I reduced the amount of dog food I gave it. Despite not meeting all its needs and wants, the dog did not cease to wag its tail when it saw me. It also licked me, and was so very excited whenever I was around. In this, a thought came for me to wonder if believers can continue to show affection to the Lord when God does not give us what we want. All too soon, we start complaining and whining as the Hebrews did about Manna, the lack of meat, the lack of riches, no roast chicken etc. And often, such deprivations were for our own good.

I noticed that when I left the flat, the dog would sit quietly in the flat waiting for me. Even before I approached the door, or first went through the door, it would exhibit the greatest display of joy by jumping around, and wagging its tail faster than helicopter blades.

In a parallel thought, do we the believers anticipate the return of Christ? Do we so patiently wait for God to meet our needs? Or do we start poking around for our own solutions like dogs poke at garbage even when you have just fed them?

As my affection for the dog grew, I naturally wanted to share with it the good events that had transpired during the day (I was living alone). I know it does not have the mental capacity or ability to understand what I say, nor can it appreciate this dedication or the lessons that I have learned from it. Though I speak to it, I do not bother to explain deeper things such as the dedication or theological lessons.

Similarly, God, being much wiser and greater than us, does not tell us a lot of things because we do not have the capacity or ability to even comprehend part of the greatness of God. What we get is what we can accept as mere mortals, and I suspect this will be so even in the new heaven and earth to come.

The dog tries to guard me at night, barking at noises outside the room or flat. It is comical to think about, since should something malicious were to approach, a dog of that size would require my protection rather than me needing its. Although it is foolish, the dog tries to protect me, as it is loyal and affectionate.

We try in our foolishness, to leave God out of the many things in our daily lives. Yet when danger really comes, who is our sword and shield? Who is our protector? Do we defend God Who is greater? The dog does not understand why the furniture is arranged the way it is in the flat, or how certain things are made. I arranged the furniture, and I make some things do what they do around in the flat (I know God does, but to the dog, I do). The dog may simply assume all these things "just happened" by chance just as we do come up with theories or beliefs to keep God out of the picture.

Any dog owner knows dog pee and poo. Despite being a good dog, my dog cannot flush its pee and poo away. I have to do the cleaning and flush them away. Sometimes unknowingly, it steps onto its own pee whilst doing the act itself. Despite being a bit of a neat freak, I did not let these things hinder my petting and hugging of the dog. I do have to admit that I do constantly wipe its feet.

Similarly, like the dog, we unintentionally dapple in things not pleasing to God, who wants is holy, and wants us clean and holy with Him in heaven. Yet sin and our foolishness often prevent us from reaching that ideal that God has for us. Yet, as I love the dog in my imperfect love, I wash it and let it come and sleep on the bed with me (despite my allergy to dogs); similarly God loves us enough to offer us ways to wash away our sins through Christ and approach Him in Heaven. In some ways, He was tolerant of our sins because of His love for us, and this as exhibited in Him having approached the patriarchs (before the sacrificial practices of the Moses) who were also sinners. He loved and spoke to them as He does to us even when we are in sin.

Though I did not have the situation where I needed to give away puppies away, I have friends and relatives that have done so, and also sometimes punish the dog in training. Despite these, I noticed that the dog will generally continue to love and be loyal to its owner.

How do we as believers react when God disciplines us? Or when bad things happen to us? Can we be like the dog that stays loving and loyal? If we do not, we ought to.

Through a dog, I have learned much from the parallelism in the man-dog relationship and that of God-man relationship. And here, I dedicate this article to the vessel dog – Ashley.