Would it be a sin to believe in something that could be false

[JohnB445]

I did not see the Bible talk about an afterlife for pets, but I find believing there is one, and that Christians will one day be reunited with their pets where the pet can also live for eternity to be very comforting.

Or could it be that after any animal dies that's the end of their life, and the animal doesn't even remember anything or has any consciousness at all after dying.

 

[timf]

There is a useful category between belief and disbelief called uncertainty. This can be defined as needing more information. If God gave us every detail of what after life is like, we would be in a position to judge God. I suspect that one reason there s limited information is because we aren't able to understand completely. The other reason is that we are to have faith as opposed to judge and agree or criticize.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

I did not see the Bible talk about an afterlife for pets, but I find believing there is one, and that Christians will one day be reunited with their pets where the pet can also live for eternity to be very comforting.

Or could it be that after any animal dies that's the end of their life, and the animal doesn't even remember anything or has any consciousness at all after dying.

Ecclesiastes Chapter 3
18I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.” 19For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other— they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile. 20All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust 21Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and the spirit of the animal descends into the earth? 22I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him?

It falls under the category "who are you to claim animals don't have an afterlife?"

The base assumption that Animals do not have an afterlife is according to scripture, "vanity."

 

[FutureAndAHope]

I did not see the Bible talk about an afterlife for pets, but I find believing there is one, and that Christians will one day be reunited with their pets where the pet can also live for eternity to be very comforting.

Or could it be that after any animal dies that's the end of their life, and the animal doesn't even remember anything or has any consciousness at all after dying.

Personally, I believe if we have a pet we can see them in the afterlife. That is my personal opinion. It really does not matter if it is "wrong", God will neither judge you nor me for a tiny error.

 

[com7fy8]

I did not see the Bible talk about an afterlife for pets,

"Test all things; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

So, I am offering ideas I have gotten by thinking about things in the Bible and by observing people and their pets.

And you can see if I offer anything that helps you.

In the Bible there is talk about the lion lying down with the lamb. So, to me this can mean there will be animals.

but I find believing there is one, and that Christians will one day be reunited with their pets where the pet can also live for eternity to be very comforting.

But I am concerned about how people can possibly be able to so love their pets but they are not into loving any and all people like Jesus wants. Also, a pet dog can be very loving of one person who is giving the creature what he or she needs and wants. So both the owner and animal can be mainly about getting their own way.

We need to get into family sharing and caring with other children of God.

So - - in case you are having your most comforting relationship with your pet . . . I think we need to pray for you to grow in the good which comes with sharing with various Christians. And know that even if you do discover problem people, God's love keeps us from getting hurt and suffering, plus we can be good examples to help those who turn out not to be genuinely loving oeople > God's love has us ready for sharing with really caring persons, and ready to help anyone who is wrong.

Or could it be that after any animal dies that's the end of their life, and the animal doesn't even remember anything or has any consciousness at all after dying.

Well . . . there will be the day of judgment. And I would say Jesus will evaluate how we have related with our animals. And they could be present for the feedback we get then.

And if animals could be in eternity with us, possibly they will somehow be judged. Our doggie is so cute and charming and so delights lonely people. However, he seems very much about himself. And for worldly women who so love him, loving him is no substitute for how Jesus wants us to love any and all people.

"if you love those who love you, what reward have you?" (Matthew 5:46)

An animal can be part of God consoling a person. But God's love does us the best good, including while we share as family, and while we reach to people who are lost and do not know God in His all-loving and compassionate and generously forgiving love.

This love makes us strong so we can't be hurt and made to keep suffering. Because God's love is almighty in His own safety > I see how Peter experienced this so he could write 1 Peter 3:13 >

"And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of
what is good?" (1 Peter 3:13)

So, the best comfort is in God's love and also makes us able to comfort others. Take a look at 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.

 

[JustaPewFiller]

I will share this with you.

Some years ago, my niece came to me in tears after Children's Church. My niece was about 7 or 8 at the time.
My niece's Children's Church teacher was a rather stern lifelong Christian lady in her mid 60's.
My niece had a dog she loved recently pass and had made a comment about seeing the dog in Heaven one day.
The teacher decided that was a good time to tell my niece, rather harshly, rather coldly, and in no uncertain terms than animals did not have souls. That the dog she loved would not be in Heaven. That the dog was dead and in the dirt and decaying and was basically a soulless, useless, meaningless thing as far as God was concerned. .. and she told me all this while sobbing with tears running down her little face. Ouch.

I will admit I was MAD and hurt and shocked.

I sat my niece down and dried her eyes.
Possibly not the best thing to say, but I told her 2 true things.
First, I told her that despite her teacher acting like she possessed all knowledge under the sun and in heaven, the fact was the teacher was only one Children's Church teacher in a tiny little church in a tiny little town. People have been studying God's word for 2000 years. Chances were very good that her teacher did not know everything even if she acted like she did.

Second I told about Grandmother on her death bed.
Shortly before she passed she had a vision of the afterlife.
She saw friend's and relatives. She was so happy!
She did not see one of her son's that did not make it and said, "Oh..." in realization when she could not find him.
Then smiled and said "Oh!" in joy and laughed and said "Teco! Oh Teco! I missed you!"
"Teco" was a favorite dog of her's that had passed years before.

I told my niece that there were all different interpretations. People say they know, but really it is just how they interpret it. I told that I didn't understand why but sometimes some Christians become harsh or angry when someone interprets something in the Bible differently than they do.

I told her that as for me, "I'm going to believe Grandmom saw what she said she saw as she was dying" She said she would too.

For those of you that don't believe animals go to heaven and feel that they have no souls.
That is fine. I honestly don't care. You are free to believe what you want. I doubt I could change your mind.
But, I would ask you to remember this story about the harsh Children's Church teacher and the sobbing little girl.

If you are one of those like my niece's teacher whose belief in a particular interpretation is so strong that it has turned hard, harsh and knife edged. Please remember to show the love and kindness of Jesus when a little child turns to you with wide eyes and asks about the fate of their recently deceased and much loved pet.

 

[Jo555]

I did not see the Bible talk about an afterlife for pets, but I find believing there is one, and that Christians will one day be reunited with their pets where the pet can also live for eternity to be very comforting.

Or could it be that after any animal dies that's the end of their life, and the animal doesn't even remember anything or has any consciousness at all after dying.

Anything that is not of faith is sin. That is a lot of sin.

Good news, Jesus not counting our sins against us. Not an excuse to sin because sin has it's own punishment and as his beloved children, God disciplines us, just like you'd discipline your child if it played with fire for you don't want your child to get burned.

That said, I know I will be reunited with all my fur babies again.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

I did not see the Bible talk about an afterlife for pets, but I find believing there is one, and that Christians will one day be reunited with their pets where the pet can also live for eternity to be very comforting.

Or could it be that after any animal dies that's the end of their life, and the animal doesn't even remember anything or has any consciousness at all after dying.

I think its only a sin to believe something that's not stated in the bible if it goes against the core teachings and character of Christ. Isa 8:20

God is a God of love, and He created animals out of love for man. While not stated, I too believe that God might reunite us with our beloved pets. Hopefully, we all can be there at the side of Christ and find out soon enough.