Question: Recently our family has had to put down several of our favorite pets and two horses. My wife and I have told my 6-year-old daughter that they are in heaven. My father said that this is not true, for they do not have a soul. Can you please help me or show me where I might find the real answer to this question?

Thanks,

Albert

Answer: Dear Albert,

The Bible does not dogmatically comment on this topic, although your father’s comments are typical of those many Christians have today. It is interesting to note that such a view (animals do not have a soul) was not shared by many centuries of Christians – basically until the time of the Enlightenment. Of course, that proves nothing either way – but it does illustrate that the body of Christ has never had a view that has remained the same on this topic.

  It is true that the Bible leaves no doubt that there is a vast gulf between humanity and the animal kingdom – but it may not follow that animals do not have a soul (see Genesis 1:20 and 24 – as well as Revelation 8:9). If animals have a soul, it does not necessarily follow that the animal soul or spirit exists independently from the body – like the human soul. If animals have a soul – or if some, but not all animals have a soul – neither does it necessarily follow that it is the same as the human soul.

In terms of heaven – and whether animals will be there. We might also consider that the Garden of Eden was populated with animals – and that in that sin-free environment they seemed to coexist peacefully. The Garden has always been regarded by Christians as a picture of heaven – the age to come – eternity in which no sin or evil will exist. What can we conclude? Nothing dogmatically of course, but animals were in the Garden.

Further, one well-known text that many evangelical and fundamentalist Christians have often thought of as a literal depiction of a millennial earthly reign of Jesus Christ after his second coming, includes animals who are now enemies and predators peacefully coexisting – in fact, being led by a child (Isaiah 11:6-9). Christians differ about this passage – whether it is a literal description, or a more profound description meant as poetic and symbolic, one that should not be simply reduced to a woodenly literal description. Either approach leaves us with the fact that animals play an important role in this depiction of the "peaceable kingdom" (A Quaker artist named Hicks painted this scene many times, always seeing it as a grand picture of the peace and reconciliation that humanity is given through Jesus Christ – both now and in eternity – perhaps his most well-known depiction hangs in a museum in Philadelphia).

Paul tells us that "no eye has seen, no ear has heard…" (1 Corinthians 2:9). Jesus took time for little children and told us that we all must change and become like little children or we will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:). We do not have firm and dogmatic ground upon which to stand and there is no reason to allow such an issue to stand between a child’s comprehension and insight of God – between them and their own relationship with our Lord and Savior. Perhaps it is best to let children know that we don’t know for certain that our family pet will be in heaven, but that God is wise and loving – and that he too loves animals for he created them all, and has given them to be part of our lives. Whatever the kingdom of heaven is like, it will be better than anyone can imagine.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht