That's Not My Dog, Rev. Dr. Chuck Fisher, Sunday, March 1, 2026

A 1969 farm scene frames a moral test about responsibility and belonging. Guests filled a barn, and a dog left a mess on the floor; a bystander refused to pick it up because “it wasn’t my dog.” That refusal becomes a metaphor for modern complacency: many proclaim unity and justice but balk when called to practical service. Fatigue and frustration in ongoing activism meet a hard truth—calling for change requires endurance beyond short bursts of outrage.

John Lewis’s summons appears as a clarion: “Our struggle is to redeem the soul of America,” framed as a lifelong, even multigenerational effort. That truth reframes impatience. Cause-driven work will exhaust bodies and spirits, so the commitment must outlast seasons and headlines. Readings and music serve as spiritual fuel, converging to sustain resolve and sharpen memory.

Music proves intentional and potent. Selected songs aim to rouse conscience or lull complacency; choices matter because melody and lyric shape public memory and moral imagination. Contemporary protest music—from revivalist Springsteen anthems to Willie Nelson, U2, and Lucinda Williams—continues a lineage that once put Jim Crow squarely on the wrong side of history. Historical protest songs, like Woody Guthrie’s 1944 “You Fascist Bound to Lose,” demonstrate how art can confront racism and mobilize public sentiment toward justice.

Music also reveals complicity when its tone changes: satirical or recruiting songs that glamorize enforcement and detention expose how art can normalize oppression. Contrast that with the Freedom Riders, who used song as prayer and armor when facing violence and arrest. Singing “We Shall Overcome” functioned both as spiritual petition and communal courage bolstering nonviolent resistance. The combination of moral clarity, cultural witness, and steadfast practice offers a pathway through weariness: even if a wrong was not personally made, responsibility for repair remains. The moral community must pick up the work, sustained by conviction, history, and the arts, until “someday” becomes reality.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Refuse the “not my dog” posture Refusing small duties erodes communal trust and moral coherence. When individuals refuse proximate responsibilities, systemic harms persist because personal convenience trumps collective care. Active discipleship looks for the messes one can clean, however indirect the ownership. [31:02]
• 2. Embrace a lifelong struggle Justice work rarely fits neat timelines; it demands patience and stubborn hope. Frustration surfaces when expectations shorten into seasons instead of lifetimes. Faith anchored in purpose sustains action across generations and setbacks. [32:20]
• 3. Recognize music’s moral power Songs shape memory, frame causes, and move hearts toward or away from justice. Music can awaken conscience or anesthetize responsibility; intentional choices determine which. Worshiping truth includes curating cultural sounds that call people into righteous work. [34:44]
• 4. Sing as prayer and resistance Communal song can steady fear, transform anger, and convert protest into prayerful persistence. Singing together turns vulnerability into a visible moral witness that often defuses violence and hardens resolve. Spirit-filled melody becomes a practice that theologizes endurance. [42:22]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [29:10] - Ram Dass’s 1969 farm
• [30:17] - The dog and moral test
• [31:02] - “It’s not my dog” mentality
• [32:20] - A struggle of a lifetime (John Lewis)
• [33:57] - Intentional song selection
• [36:39] - Protest songs that remember
• [37:15] - Woody Guthrie’s 1944 defiance
• [38:07] - “Ice” and cultural complicity
• [42:22] - Freedom Riders: singing as prayer
• [43:31] - Persevere: clean up the mess

Based on the sermon summary and transcript, the core message is about rejecting complacency, embracing lifelong justice work, and understanding the power of music and communal action. While no single Bible passage was explicitly cited as the sermon's text, the themes are deeply rooted in biblical principles of responsibility, endurance, and prophetic witness.

Bible reading

* Galatians 6:2, 9-10 (ESV): Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ... And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
* James 2:15-17 (ESV): If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
* Ephesians 5:15-20 (ESV): Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ...

Observation questions

1. According to Galatians 6, what are we instructed to do when we feel weary, and what is the promised outcome if we don't give up?
2. The story from the barn highlights a refusal to act based on a lack of personal responsibility [30:46]. How does the scenario described in James 2:15-17 mirror this "it's not my dog" mentality?
3. In the sermon, music is described as having a dual power to be both a "stimulant and a narcotic" [34:44]. How does the instruction in Ephesians 5:15-20 to be "wise" and "understand what the will of the Lord is" relate to our choice of music?

Interpretation questions

1. The "struggle of a lifetime" [32:20] can lead to fatigue. How might the command in Galatians 6:9, "let us not grow weary of doing good," serve as both an encouragement and a realistic acknowledgment of the human experience in long-term justice work?
2. The Freedom Riders used song as a form of prayer and armor in the face of violence [42:22]. In what ways does Ephesians 5:18-19 suggest that being "filled with the Spirit" is connected to communal singing, and how might that transform a fearful or angry situation into one of steadfast resolve?
3. James 2 argues that faith without works is dead. If someone proclaims a belief in unity and justice but refuses to take proximate action to help (like the bystander in the barn [30:17]), what does that say about the state of their faith according to this passage?

Application questions

1. Where in your life—your neighborhood, workplace, or family—are you most tempted to use the excuse "it's not my dog" [31:02] to avoid a small act of service or responsibility? What is one practical "burden" you could help bear for someone else this week?
2. John Lewis framed the work as a "struggle of a lifetime" [32:20]. What specific practices or spiritual disciplines (like the intentional choice of music [33:57] or community) do you need to put in place to sustain your energy and hope for the long haul, rather than burning out after short bursts of effort?
3. The music we consume can either "awaken conscience or anesthetize responsibility" [34:44]. What kind of music, news, or media have you been filling your mind with lately? Does it stir you toward love and good deeds or lull you into complacency? Is it time for a change in your playlist?
4. The Freedom Riders sang as a form of prayer when they were afraid they might die [42:45]. When you feel overwhelmed, afraid, or angry about injustice, have you ever turned to song or art as a form of prayer? What song or piece of art strengthens your resolve and reminds you of what you believe?
5. The work of repair continues even if we didn't personally create the mess. What is one "mess" in your community or our world that you feel convicted to help clean up, even though you bear no direct responsibility for its creation? What is a first small step you could take?