February 2021 Message

I read a book recently called “Cat and Dog Theology.” In it the authors Bob Sjogren and Gerald Robison describe how we all approach our faith in one of two ways; either as a dog would or as a cat would.

               A dog looks at its human and thinks; you pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, you must be God. Whereas a cat will look at these same things and come up with a different position; you pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, I must be god.

               As believers in Christ and followers of God we must all decide which Christian we are going to be. Are we like “cat” Christians; seeing the blessings God gives us and thinking it’s all about me? There are people in the world that see God blessing them and will confess their faith from the highest mountaintop. But when something doesn’t go their way, suddenly God takes a backseat, they don’t feel blessed anymore. They miss that forgiveness, salvation and heaven are God’s best blessings and they can never be taken away.

Are we “dog” Christians? Do we see the work of God in our lives and think how blessed we are? Do we look to him as our Lord and Master? A dog will wait at home while you go to work and greet you with joyful enthusiasm when you return. “Dog” Christians know God is always present even when things don’t go their way. And they look to God with joyful enthusiasm always, knowing “…that for those that love God all things work together for good.” (Rom 8:28) even if we don’t understand it at the moment.   

“Cat” Christians go through their lives thinking God’s purpose is to bless them. They spend their time working for themselves, hardly giving the Kingdom of God a thought. Their prayers are self-centered, asking for material things and overlooking the suffering of others in their prayers. “Cat’s” delight in everything but God while still claiming a Christian life.

“Dog” Christians see the trouble in the world; the poverty, persecution, distress people live with daily. They work to help alleviate these problems; they work to lift up their fellows. “Dog’s” may still pray for God to help them but they also pray for God to send his aid, his strength, his blessing and his presence to others. “Dog’s” see the purpose of their life is to bring hope to others, to work for the Kingdom of God and to be a blessing to others even when they are in pain themselves.

So we must decide. “Cat” Christians want God to work for them. “Dog” Christians want to work for God. Do we look at what we can get from God or do we look at what we can do for God. President John Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” As Christians we can say to each other, ask not what God can do for me, ask what I can do for God.

I pray you know God and his blessing,   

Pastor Jim