When Dogs Meow

In a meeting this week, a man gave a group of us a nugget of profound wisdom - ‘A dog does not bark to be a dog, but barks because he is a dog.’  In a folksy way, he was simply saying that being and doing belong together; one is not separate from the other.  Dogs bark because that is what dogs do.  They are not trying to be dogs by barking, but barking is part of what it means to be a dog.

In the same way, followers of Jesus do certain things because that is what they do.  When a woman surrenders to Jesus, she becomes a new kind of person.  John says she is born again of the Spirit.  She performs acts of love not to become a Jesus follower; she loves because of a changed nature.   

James, the brother of Jesus, talks about this truth in terms of faith and works.  He asks, “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but has no works?”  The answer is that talk of faith is useless - unless there are works.  A bit later he says, “someone may well say, ‘You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works’.”  In other words, works are not imperative for faith, works are indicative of faith.

Thus far, this is straightforward and clear, and yet, there is an uneasy question - What does it mean when a dog meows?  Well, if a true dog meows, then either it has a severe psychological problem, or it is attempting to be something it is not.  Quite possibly it thinks cats are cool or more fulfilled, have a cushier life (and they certainly do) or are a superior species in the animal kingdom, and thus aspires to be a cat.  If dogs compare themselves to cats and then imitate their behavior, they do something very unnatural, even weird.  A true dog may try to meow, but its meows will be unconvincing and bizarre, because that is not what dogs do.

When followers of Jesus conform to the sounds and looks of the world, they do something that is against their nature.  Ways that were at one time second nature to them are now uncomfortable and strange.  Greed, power-grabs, consumption, hatred, jealousy, and abuse are contrary to their new nature.  If a follower of Jesus consumes and accumulates without thought of the needs of others, then he is like a dog that meows.  If this and other uncharacteristic behaviors are the instinctive and constant patterns of the Christian’s life, then possibly the dog is not a dog but just a cat desiring to be a dog but not yet a dog.  The professing Christian should have feelings of disconnect and dissonance when their behavior does not match a changed nature.  If not, then possibly they have only aspired to imitate Christianity and have not experienced re-birth. 

As a follower of Jesus, I am in a process of being transformed through God’s grace from the inside out.  And though I am far from perfect, I am a new creature.  Old things have passed away and all things have become new.  My new nature compels me to speak and live the confession that Jesus is Lord.