The “Barking Dog Syndrome”
Notwithstanding their inability to demonstrate that salvation has occurred following a profession of dead faith, the idea that works merely prove one’s salvation is a concept that has stuck like peanut butter on the roof of one’s mouth. In teaching this extra-biblical concept, anti-Mormons resort to some interesting analogies that are almost comical in their failure to demonstrate anything. Principle among these is the example we call the “barking dog syndrome:”
A dog does not bark in order to become a dog. He barks because he already is a dog. His barking helps demonstrate the fact. Just so, we do not do good works to become Christians (be saved). We do good works after we are saved (become Christians) to demonstrate the fact that we have been saved. (Illusion, 8)
Notice here that McElveen has presented his definition of what a Christian really is: to be saved here and now. Doing what Christ says does not count. And forget what the rest of the Bible says. Being “saved now” is it.
This dog analogy is commonly encountered in conversations with anti-Mormons. Ed Decker, in To Moroni with Love, also uses this analogy on page 16. Thus, anti-Mormons must feel it has strong merit for their beliefs. It certainly demonstrates their adherence to the “natural outgrowth” doctrine of works. McElveen drifts a few times from dogs to pigs and sheep (see Illusion, 12, for an example), but these are all part of the same analogy.
This analogy, however, raises some important questions. Since a dog always barks, does that mean a saved person always obeys (1 John 1:8)? Also, a dog was always a dog. Does this mean a saved person was always saved? If so, what need do the anti-Mormons have for Christ? If, to correct this defect, the analogy were modified so that the dog changed into a dog from some other animal, will the anti-Mormons allow that the “saved” dog might occasionally go back to his previous “oinking” or whatever “sinning” noises he made as a different animal? If he was once a different animal, is it possible the “saved” dog might revert entirely to his previous animal character?
The Bible tells us Christ and the Apostles had to warn believers to do righteous works (Matthew 3:10, 7:19-21, 10:42, 25:29-46; Luke 12:47-48; John 3:20-21, 14:15; Acts 10:35, 26:20; Philippians 2:12; Titus 3:8; and 1 John 3:22 are just a tiny drop of the ocean of examples available). If we look at some specific cases in the New Testament, such as the ones Jude wrote about (those who misunderstood God’s grace as guaranteeing permanent salvation no matter what they did), we see an entire pack of “oinking” dogs. The obvious suddenly turns to the ridiculous. No obedience “comes naturally” for believers, otherwise there would be no need for exhortation to do good works. There would be no need for the Word of God to give us guidelines for obedience. There is a need for these things, as the scriptures clearly attest, but there is no need to teach a dog to bark. Obviously, this analogy is deeply flawed and proves nothing about the relationship of works to faith (other than, perhaps, an extreme form of Calvinism). This “natural outgrowth” business is a false idea completely foreign to the Word of God and should be rejected by true believers in Christ. If a “saved” dog returns to his previous habit of “oinking,” it only means he has once again become an unsaved pig. And according to Revelation 3:15-16, “oinking dogs” will have no place with God either.
To truly understand biblical salvation we must get rid of the anti-Mormon pick-and-choose approach to the scriptures. We must stop over-emphasizing a single passage (like Ephesians 2:8-9) and start making the rest of the scriptures (including verse 10) something more than mere ancillary decorations. We must discard the idea of doctrines such as “works are proof of salvation,” “natural works,” and “faith alone” since they are not taken from the Bible as anti-Mormons profess. Adhering to these false ideas leads them to read the Bible with invisible stickers, and to harmonize the scriptures according to their personal, extra-biblical ideas. (Alan Denison and D.L. Barksdale, Guess Who Wants to Have you for Lunch? A Missionary Guide to Anti-Mormon Tactics & Strategies and How to Deal with those Who Have Been Influenced by Them [Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research, 2002], 67-70)
