Monday, July 26, 2010

Monday Morning Quarterback

I know that it's not yet the season for Monday morning quarterbacking, but I thought I'd borrow the phrase as I rehash a bit of yesterday morning's Sunday School discussion.

The text was taken from the 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians, and was about the resurrection--both the resurrection of Jesus and the resurrection of the dead. Some how we managed to get off topic and were talking about what heaven will be like--if we'll recognize each other, if we'll know one another as we know one another now (mother, son, spouse, etc.), and if there will be animals in heaven (pets from earth or heavenly animals).

Personally, I find these discussions (especially about animals) to be a waste of time as they are purely speculation. But since we managed to take up a good portion of our class on the topic, I thought I'd just throw it out there for my readers to weigh in on.

For the discussion, I'm going to have to assume that you believe in heaven. If you don't, well...I guess you'll have to wait for the next open topic. Rather than have too many different ideas of heaven, let's just stick with the idea of animals in heaven.

Will there be animals in heaven?
Will they be animals that are created for heaven or will they be animals that were on earth?
If you think they will be animals from earth, does that mean that animals have souls?
If your pets will be in heaven, does that mean that all animals will be in heaven?

Apparently, there are people that feel pretty strongly about this topic that I really don't care about. If you're one of them, feel free to share your thoughts on the subject.

John

5 comments:

Bandit said...

I heard or was taught many years ago that there will not be animals in heaven. This is due to the fact that they have no soul. In other words, they have no spirit that either goes to heaven or hell for eternity as humans.

Jesus will rule with an iron hand on earth for a thousand years. I suppose we will have some sort of body similar to the one's we have now. This is because there will be births and when the age of accountability comes, they will have the decision to make between heaven and hell. I just suppose there will be animals during that time.

Two guys were lifelong friends and loved baseball. One got sick and was on his deathbed. As he laid there he told his friend, being by his side, that he would soon be playing baseball in heaven. His friend smiled and consoled him but really didn't think there was baseball in heaven.

After the funeral the living friend was driving alone when a voice came to him. "I knew you didn't think there was baseball in heaven, but there is. And guess what, you're pitching next Tuesday."

Unknown said...

I think in heaven we will have left our humanness behind and as such I don't know if we will remember our earthly existence as we will be free of that so its a new frontier and who knows....

John A Hill said...

Amber, good to hear from you. I agree that we will leave our humanness behind and that heaven will be a whole new world.

One of my favorite quotes is by Stephen Covey: "We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey."

Bandit, Of course there will be baseball in heaven. There will be baseball in hell, too...and the Cubs still won't win a World Series!

Sicilian said...

OK you asked. In my end of heaven there will be Gigi, Sabrina, Puddles, my horse Baby, her colt Arrow, and my dad's horse Fruita.
And I know without a doubt that my little rescued Terrier. Dexter,will be right by my side.

Can't imagine a heaven without those wonderful creatures that God created for us.

Ciao

Mike said...

I think baseball mascots will be there.