Fully Human vs. Sub-Human | Children vs. Dogs

And now it’s time to talk about dogs. I venture into a topic that I am hesitant to write about in a formal setting. I’m going to share an example of God-given dreams. Dreams are not only written throughout the stories of the Bible, but they are also promised for the Pentecostal renewal (Joel 2.28; Acts 2.17).

In my family I am a 3rd generation Pentecostal. I have a rich heritage of divine interventions from the miraculous to dreams to visions to angel visitations, etc. So for me to have a God-given dream is not unusual.

There are many dreams over time I can choose from. However, I had one just this week. I can’t believe I’m sharing this.

the dream

I was indoors by a window with my back to it.

All of a sudden I heard my second son screaming.

I turned around and looked out the window.

He appeared as he did when he was a young boy.

A road ran in front of the window.

A pickup was pulling a trailer down the road. My son had his hand caught in the trailer and was being dragged down the side of the road.

I looked closer and the trailer was carrying a cage. In the cage was a big dog like a Doberman Pincher. My son’s hand was in the dog’s mouth. The dog was pulling my son down the road.

dogs in cages

I woke up from the dream with a sense of real concern. Instantly the Spirit gave me an interpretation.

My son has recently become a Deputy Sheriff. His first assignment for a couple years will be to be a guard at the county jail.

The dog in a cage is like the inmate.

The dog caught my son with his mouth. The warning is to not allow the inmates/dogs in cages to drag my son down with the words of their mouths.

fully human vs. sub-human

As much as I want to see the good in others and recognize the imago Dei, there are some ways people live that are diametrically opposed to the way we were meant to live.

I’ve seen people who are demonically possessed and I have been part of exorcisms.

But does that warrant calling someone a dog – basically saying that person is sub-human?

Let me explain further before bringing up a Scripture. I believe God created us in His image, but before we become Christians His image is marred.

Once we become Christians and the imago Dei is renewed I believe we can become what God created humans to be, to become fully human.

It naturally follows that not everyone is living to be all that God created them to be. With my line of thought, they are not fully human.

Some have been given over to a depraved mind or are even demon possessed, so in effect they are sub-human. There are dogs in cages, unfortunately.

children vs. dogs

Jesus is with His disciples in the region of Tyre and Sidon, one of His few excursions outside of Israel (Matthew 15.21-28).

A woman approaches Him seeking an exorcism for her daughter who is demon possessed.

The exchange goes back and forth a couple times. The disciples want Jesus to send her away. Finally, Jesus says to her:

“He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’”
(Matthew 15.26; see also Mark 7.27)

The children represents the Children of Israel.

The food is actually bread. It represents the Word for Israel, the Old Testament, miracles, signs, and all of the ways God deals with Israel.

What does the word dogs mean? This is a common slang word used by the Israelites at that time to describe the Gentiles. However, in the Greek Jesus may be using a term for domesticated dogs.

We know the rest of the story, but this is a hard saying of Christ. Looking back nearly 2,000 years the saying seems derogatory.

If we are being specific Jesus is drawing a line between the Children of Israel and Gentiles, and perhaps even more specifically demoniac Gentiles.

Is it possible that although everyone bears the imago Dei, not everyone is fully human?

In Matthew 7.6 Jesus says:

“Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.”

Dogs and swine… once again we are uncomfortable with the metaphors Jesus chooses to describe people.

Once again, is it possible that although everyone bears the imago Dei, not everyone is fully human?

It is beyond the scope of this article to fully answer it. However, it is my hope to at least raise the question.