The other night, my roommates and I were watching The Dog Whisperer. I was excited to see it for the first time, because I thought it would be similar to Dogs in the City, that awesome reality show that followed dog trainer Justin Silver as he helped families and dogs deal with their inter-species relationships. But it was different. And I learned about God.
On the one hand, Justin trains dogs based on pulling out the best in them. For instance, one episode featured a lady who liked to bring her dog to work. She was the head of a company (real estate, I think), and the dog would sit by her desk. The problem was that this sweet pooch would turn into Kujo every time someone came in the door and near her owner.
Justin explained that Pooch was simply trying to protect the owner. In dog world, Pooch saw a safe environment that included herself, Owner, and the safe zone behind the desk. If someone she didn't know encroached, them was fightin' words to her. So she reacted to save what she thought was being violated.
As a result, Justin merely put Pooch on a leash and had the owner get up to greet entering guests. He instructed her to show Pooch that each guest was not a threat. Everytime Pooch reacted calmly, she would get a treat to show her that her behavior was correct. In no time, Pooch realized that everything was ok, and she stopped reacting negatively to company.
On the other hand, The Dog Whisperer trained dogs based on forcing them to do what the owner wanted them to do. The dog in point was nice to his owner when they were outside playing, but reacted negatively when Owner tried to get him inside, sitting down, and being quiet. The owner would try to push the dog's hindquarters down to force him to sit, which elicited rage form Dog. Whisperer came and just constantly used force to make the dog sit. It was heartbreaking to see the dog getting frustrated and angry. Eventually, Dog was broken of his will as Whisperer forced him to sit.. He eventually sat down, though.
But here's the problem I have with Whisperer's methods. Dogs react for a reason. God created them with an instinct to protect when they think something needs to be protected. If you break this internal response, the dog will no longer respond rightly when he actually should be protective.
Sometimes we are tempted to believe that God treats us like Whisperer instead of like Justin. Not that we are dogs; we are His beloved kids. But in any type of relationship, be it God and us, or parents and kids, this dynamic can come into play. God doesn't just force. He is actually not about the outcomes for the sake of outcome. That is, He's not just trying to get you to stop doing something. Jesus conquered sin on the cross a long time ago, so He doesn't need to just make us "act right" so the world doesn't fall apart. No, there's more on His heart when it comes to His Beloved ones.
He is actually trying to help you to see reality so you can be free to choose what is conducive to love (for Him, yourself, and others). With Pooch, she really just thought she had to respond to a threat. When she realized she didn't, she could calm down and stop scaring people away. But this helping her to see reality maintained her right to choose, and it maintained the natural instincts put in her. Now she could save her protective behavior for when there actually was an intruder! The results of this discipline gave her the best of both worlds: appropriate behavior and maintaining of who she really was.
Sometimes we are tempted to think we have to give up everything we think is good so we can follow God. He didn't come to take away our joy, beauty, uniqueness, and fun. Jesus actually said He came so we would have life more abundantly! When He said to deny ourselves, He was talking about denying the impulses of our flesh (in other words, going about satisfying our feelings, which can be deceptive) and making ourselves into our own gods. This is against our nature. Notice that everyone follows something or someone? We all have role models, etc. We were made to follow a good Shepherd. So denying ourselves doesn't mean smashing all our desires or the pure things God put in our hearts. He isn't like Whisperer, training us by breaking our will.
So lean into the truth of His loving and wise leadership. Ask God to reveal to you how He cares for you. He isn't here to defeat you or break your will. He is here to defeat the things that assail you or keep you from Him! Be blessed in this adventure!
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