Dogs are pack-oriented animals. Because Smokey no longer lives with his dog family (that's his canine father on the right, above), he views Michael and me as his pack. We are everything to him: food providers, protectors, and companions. His greatest fear is of separation from us. Michael was sick with a sinus infection earlier this month, so Smokey and I spent several nights sleeping in the spare bedroom to try to avoid infection. Smokey was very distressed that his pack was splitting apart, so much so that on two different nights, he woke me up by vomiting in the corner of the room.
He also insists on trying to protect his pack by warning us of danger, even though we've tried to train him that it's really not necessary to bark at every person who walks down the street. He has transfered his loyalties to us so completely that the one time we left him for a weekend, he was miserable even though he was staying with his first human owners and his canine mom, dad, grandmother, and aunt.
I think we could learn something from dogs in this respect. Too often, American Christianity seems like a solely individual affair. The emphasis is on our "personal" relationship with Jesus, on our individual salvation, and our personal morality.
The Bible seems to me to have a different emphasis. It talks about our becoming members of the body of Christ and stresses how much we need each other.
Our gifts are intended to coordinate with each other, to work together as a whole to represent the totality of Christ. We are his body in this world, but only if we all work together to accomplish his work. And I believe that work involves much more than just obsessing over our own individual righteousness.
The early church shared all their resources in common and made provision for widows and orphans. They cared for each other in wholly practical ways. In difficult economic times like this, the Church should be doing more of this than ever.
Hebrews reminds us that Christian community is meant to provide for our spiritual needs as well: "And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrew 10:23-25
Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot were to say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear were to say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. I Cor. 12:14-20
Our gifts are intended to coordinate with each other, to work together as a whole to represent the totality of Christ. We are his body in this world, but only if we all work together to accomplish his work. And I believe that work involves much more than just obsessing over our own individual righteousness.
The early church shared all their resources in common and made provision for widows and orphans. They cared for each other in wholly practical ways. In difficult economic times like this, the Church should be doing more of this than ever.
Hebrews reminds us that Christian community is meant to provide for our spiritual needs as well: "And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrew 10:23-25
As Christians, we aren't meant to go it alone. To put it in terms that my Smokey would understand, we're meant to be pack animals. I've often heard people say that church isn't relevant to their lives, but I think that since we live in such an individualistic culture, it's more essential than ever.
16 comments:
When I first married Bill (a Jewish man) and went to a Yom Kippur service, I was SHOCKED that they asked for forgiveness from God as a group!
I always felt alone out there with Jesus--at least that's the way I was raised. All by yourself, you might be "left behind" while your whole family went to heaven, each standing before God for his/her own sins.
I'm sure a blend of these two religious strategies is probably the best.
But you're so right about Christianity.....once the disciples made the decision to join Jesus, they were part of a group, a pack.
They left their old pack.
You know, I always think how scary and weird that must have been for them, and almost cult-ish.
I very much enjoy your Dog Parables, Ruth. This post reminds me of Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together...."
We call it "the Christian community" for a reason.
Amen, Ruth! As much as I might occasionally like to run away screaming from my coreligionists, it is only in community that I am FORCED to practice "loving my neighbor" with whom I disagree about almost everything. Church does not allow me to wall myself into a ghetto of the like-minded and convince myself that God hates all the same people I do (h/t to Anne Lamott...).
Pax,
Doxy
I agree completely. Many times on what can only be called less-than-loving Christian blogs I have quoted I Cor. 12 in a comment. Looking on the body of Christ as, well, the body of Christ goes a long way toward defusing "I'm right; you're wrong" bickering.
And, sadly, sometimes not.
Well... I agree with you - but the Bible defines us as the Body of Christ, so the church is the people - not the building or organization. (I know you know that - I'm just thinking out loud). It can be very hard to find a body of believers instead of a social club... I am a little discouraged on that front. But He also says where two or more are gathered in His name, He is there in the midst of them. It is lovely when there are more, though!There's nothing quite like a community of believers that work together as one body.
By the way, Ruth, I did the hymn meme (finally!), but I was "forced" to add more hymns than 5 - sorry, I got it as small as I could. Come see! and tell me what you think.
Yes, humans are pack animals, but sometimes it's hard to find a pack that you fit with.
Kisses to Smokey - his cousin Bitsy is the same way.
love,
fiwa
What you were saying about Smoky being so upset when his "pack" isn't together, made me think about a recent news article I read. There's a new trend in "dog rentals" http://www.flyawaycafe.com/rent-a-dog-option-may-be-good-for-travelers/ that I think must be horrifying for the poor animals involved.
I also agree with you about the deeper point you're making about our need for community.
Tell Smokey I understand his pack problem! I have had a flare-up of my TMJ and this morning, I was a little miffed that Little Eddie preferred to sleep on the recliner rather than cuddle up in the early a.m. with me like usual. Now, of course, I am tossing and turning more b/c of jaw pain, and that might have something to do with it, but I am very used to that early a.m. feeling of Boomer at the foot of the bed and Eddie curled up against my chest! It kind of put me off MY feed this a.m.!
It has only been in the last few years that the whole "covenantal" nature of our salvation has hit home with me. It has really gotten me creeped out about that "Jesus is my personal Lord and Savior" bit.
Right on sistah! I believe that our deepening illusion of separate-ness is a foundational reason the church is dying on the vine in America.
Your sweet Smokey surely does provide inspiration! Skritches for him from me.
I thought I was seeing double for a moment...the Smokster sure looks like his canine daddy!!
Good point Ruth.
I agree that we all need that sense of community. Even two or three people coming together to support each other can make all the difference to a person who has no one.
And Smokey and his papa sure make a handsome pair.
Amen to it all.
You are right Ruth... I remember my dad preaching a sermon that used a stagnant pool as an example of 'non-sharing or participating' Christians. You can add all the fresh water (spiritual food) that you want but if it does not release from the pond (sharing....communing) then the pond will remain stagnant.
I love your parables
I firmly believe we were meant to "expand" and share of ourselves rather than stay in a closely knit "ball" We receive so much when we share the love of Christ with others...one in the same purpose!!!
Your stories are always refreshing!
Wonderful analogy.
You're right, Ruth, we too are pack animals like Smokey. Even people who aren't part of a church do better if they're part of some group. We have a neighborhood association and it has added a lot to our lives, having a circle of friends and neighbors who we can rely on and enjoy being with.
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