Friday, June 25, 2010

Cat & Dog Theology


Our small group at church is reading the book Cat & Dog Theology by Bob Sjogren and Gerald Robison and let me just say it is amazing and convicting. The authors basically use the analogies that "Cats" say,"You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, I must be God." Whereas a "Dog" says, "You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, YOU must be God." Throughout the book they challenge you to rethink your relationship with God and how we exist to show God glory. It is not about us (although we all think this at times), but is about delighting in the God who delights in us.

Cat theology is not necessarily incorrect, but incomplete. They are so focused on how they can be blessed by God rather than how to use those blessings for God's glory. In one part of the book, it talks about how we see this incompleteness in our church. Take, for example, Daniel in the lions' den. What lesson do we learn from it? God will take care of us in times of trouble. This lesson is not incorrect, but it is incomplete. Why? It only focuses on what God is doing for us - His desire to bless us. What has been left out is the reason why God blesses us! You remember the story. The king finds out who the bad guys are, and he takes Daniel out of the lions' den and throws the bad guys in. He then writes a memo from his desk and sends it to all the kings of the earth saying, "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel" (Daniel 6:26). What's happening here? You've got a Gentile king who is making God famous to all the other Gentile kings around the world.

We have to see beyond the blessings and look into the reasons behind them! Romans 11:36 sums it up: "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen."

A difference between a "Cat" and a "Dog" is what they are focusing on. A cat focuses on themselves. A dog focuses on giving God glory.

We all want God's blessings. There's nothing wrong with that! So many times I thank God for all the blessings He has given me, but I forget that I need to pass them on and be a blessing to others. The blessings I receive should GIVE GOD GLORY! If I hoard God's blessings to myself then I have the "cat" mentality that it is all about me. I should be making God famous...

This book is VERY good!