House of Dog v. House of God

We recently stumbled into an unknown and unexpected place. . . the world of dog shows. After the death of our much-loved large breed dog, we sought out a new large dog and, via fluky circumstances, we adopted Charlie, a Bernese Mountain Dog from a breeder/veterinarian. He was the last available pup in the litter. Delighted, we named him Charlie Scout. Charlie’s registered name is Indian Hill’s Knight Dune Surfer v. Great Lakes.

We didn’t believe the breeder when he said he would gain a half a pound a day. In October, he came to us as a giant ball of fluff weighing roughly 14 pounds. By Christmas he was gaining steam. By February, he was massive! We took him to puppy class and obedience class. He was taught the ropes by his older “sister-by-another-mother,” Winnie, the border collie.  

The breeder told us that Charlie’s litter mate had won a “best in show puppy” at an East Coast show in January. We didn’t have aspirations of popularity for our lumbering puppy who was as goofy as he was clumsy. He would eat anything, including wall molding. He walked funky and would climb on your lap like he was tiny. 

We simply didn’t consider ourselves slick enough for dog shows. Still, the breeder asked us to consider taking Charlie to a few shows. We knew nothing about showing a dog.  But the breeder was willing to help us. This could be fun if not a little interesting. Perhaps we could try.

Then the bombshell came.  

For those of you that love dogs, you know the American Kennel Club’s Super Bowl of dog shows is the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. It happens every spring and, until recently, was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.  In early May, Charlie’s father, Strike, won BOS – Best Opposite Sex – for his breed at Westminster. That meant he placed second for his breed and best male of his breed in the nation.  

Perhaps we had more to think about here? Charlie had potential.

And, so, the training in earnest began. We turned out our dog. We sent Charlie for conformation boot camp at the breeder’s farm, slicked him up as best we could, and sent him off to his first show. Our son was his “handler.”  Charlie was placed in the puppy category and was the only male dog to appear. He won a ribbon just for showing up. It was a nice consolation prize. He went up to the next class and did not rank. 

On day two, he did the same thing. But when the judge went to check his teeth – a common practice in dog shows – Charlie wrenched his head back and almost bit the judge. Biting the judge will get your dog disqualified for all shows, forever. We clearly had some work to do!

In American Kennel Club (AKC) world, “conformation” is the method by which dogs are displayed at AKC shows. It has a very particular set of moves that are meant to show how the dog “conforms” to the breed “standard.” Each breed is defined by its specific breed standard. Simply put, it’s a lengthy set of definitions developed by the AKC that dogs must aspire to be top in their class. Dogs that “conform” to their class are considered great breeding stock. Dogs that are bred should be dogs that do not carry certain diseases or malformations that may plague their breed.  Ideally, this ensures the longevity and the good health of the breed.  

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As we tested this water, I noted that “conformation” also happens in our religious settings.

Conformation is alive and well in my denomination, the Christian Reformed Church. We have a standard – the historic creeds and confessions. We also have the rule book, called Church Order and its Supplements, designed to help us conform to the standards. The AKC also has a complex and lengthy set of rules for dogs being shown that rivals any volume of church order. You quickly note that the evaluation toward conformation seems like the prize in dog shows. If you don’t follow the rules, (if your dog bites the judge!) you might get kicked out.  

“Conformation” though, in and of itself, is not the prize. The prize for our dog, and, really any dog, is in being a dog and becoming the best “Charlie Scout” he can be. When he trots around that show ring or stands so statuesque waiting for his evaluation by a judge, he becomes aka Proud Pup. Something magical happens to him. It’s almost like he puts on the aura of his breed like a crown. Unexpectedly, and with great dignity, Charlie turns from a lumbering doofus, into a noble character created in the image of pure dog. For him, the prize is just showing up. Charlie doesn’t need the ribbons or the accolades. He’s already won.

And so too, we can evaluate ourselves against creeds, confessions, and standards of behavior.  We can split hairs over rule books and methodologies. We can wax eloquently about this item of church order, discussing its merits or its downfalls. We can drive our confessional standards into our hearts and minds. . . and even require compliance by others to be in the club.  

But ultimately, it is God’s Word and the work of the Holy Spirit that makes us become who we are made to be. Certainly, we have lots of growing and learning to do. And anything we become is by God’s grace. But when Christ puts that crown on our head, we become the Best in Show. God looks at us and doesn’t see a lumbering doofus who slobbers all over and messes everything up. Instead God sees a precious and beloved child, created in his image, redeemed by Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit. Miraculously, and against all odds, we meet our “breed standard.”  

Charlie may never be a champion show dog in the eyes of the House of Dog. He is already a champion in my house. For all his fluff and slobber, I’m grateful and I love him just the same. I too am far from perfect but fortunately I am a champion because I reside in the House of God. 

N.T. Wright paraphrases Romans 8: 29- 39 this way,
Those whom he justified, he also glorified. . .So who shall separate us from that love?. . .In all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.