Have you ever been asked a question and been completely stumped to give an answer? There is a healthy dose of humility when once in a while we are caught out by a question and truly at a loss for words.
I remember being in exactly that situation. It did not concern biological evolution, manuscript evidence for the New Testament, or an ethical question raised by new technology. It was at an assembly at a local first school when a reception-year child raised a hand to politely ask: ‘My rabbit died this weekend, will he be in heaven?’
My thoughts froze. I knew what I might say to an adult but what should I say to a child? I knew lots of things in the Bible that might have relevance to the question, but what should I select for a brief comment in front of a reception year group? Perhaps most importantly, how do we harmonise a theologically accurate answer with a pastoral word to a child for whom a great tragedy has happened.
Animal suffering
Animal suffering in general is something we may be able to answer along traditional lines. We might say God created all things good and that suffering has been brought about by human sin and disrupted His good creation. Alternatively, we might describe God’s purposes in the animal realm – that death prevents overpopulation and is part of God’s providence. But none of those answers would have addressed what that little child was feeling.
Bereavement
Pets have a special place for most people. I lost a dog last week who had been part of our family for over ten years. We all cried a river. When an animal has closely bonded with family there is no doubt it feels like bereavement. But the pet is not a human being, not made in the image of God, and not the subject of salvation. So we cannot come to terms with our grief in the way we can when a person dies in full assurance of redemption. So how do we answer the question: is my rabbit (or dog) in heaven?
First, there is no shame in admitting ignorance. The Bible reveals what we need to know, not all that we might want to know (Deut.29:29). Secondly, we need to resist turning the Christian faith into a sentimental fairy tale: it is not for us to make promises that the Bible does not give. To claim, as I know some do, that all pets are in heaven, steps beyond anything Scripture affirms. Apologetics is not the art of making it up as we go along.
Animals – yes. Pets – ?
However, the Bible does describe animals in the future age to come (Isa.11:6-8). With so many animals in the good creation of Genesis 1, why would there not be any in a renewed creation? God himself provides for the animal kingdom (Ps.104) and cares about even the death of a sparrow (Matt. 10:29). So we can affirm there will be animals in heaven – but what about our pets?
In a podcast speculating on this theme, John Piper refuses to rule out the possibility of pets in heaven. He makes the point that God cares for our well-being and, perhaps, in speaking to a four-year-old, we could hope that reunion with a pet might be part of God’s plan for our real happiness in eternity. However, Piper resists the lure of sentimental theology. The crucial answer is that we should turn from the gift of dogs and rabbits to the One who gives us such gifts and sustains such an amazing creation. What a magnificent God to have given us the animals (Gen. 1:28) and what assurance that He understands how sad it is to lose anything we love.
