DOG: You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me. You must be God.
CAT: You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me. I must be God.
[Why I became a Christian]
CAT: I became a Christian because I do not want to go to hell. What an awful place that must be. I am going to have eternal life in heaven and not have to worry about anything ever again.
DOG: I became a Christian because God bought me. God loves me so much that he wants to spend forever with me in heaven!
[Guarantee of Salvation]
CAT: How do I know if I'm a Christian? Well I prayed the prayer. What were those words again? 'God, I'm sorry for what I've done. I won't do it again. Please make me a Christian.'
DOG: I'm a Christian because I hunger for God. God and I have a relationship and I want to please him. I might not remember the first time I prayed the prayer, but I continue to pray that God will draw me
closer to him. God is making me more and more like him.
[Obedience]
DOG: Obedience is very important to me. I want to obey God. That means I have to listen very carefully to what he has to say to me.
CAT: Obedience is very important to me too. I want God to obey me. Sometimes I wonder if he's listening to me when I ask for stuff because he sure isn't answering me fast enough.
[Quiet Times - Bible reading]
CAT: Do I have read the Bible? Of course I read the Bible. What kind of Christian do you think I am? Let me show you. (flip flip flip)
John 3:16. Oh yes. God loves me so much that he gave his only son to die for me. That makes sense. Of course God loves me. Who wouldn't?
DOG: I have a quiet time every day too. I need to read God's word if I'm going to hear his voice. (flip flip flip)
John 3:16. I think it is amazing that God would love someone like me. Other people need to know this too. This love is for everyone. God wants me to tell people about this.
CAT: Matt 11:28. Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'
Now that's what I'm talking about. God knows I'm worn out and tired. I should take a break. It says so here in the Bible. A vacation will be good for me. God, I'm glad you and I are on the same page.
DOG: Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.'
If I do things God's way, things will be a lot easier for me than if I go and do things my way.
CAT: John 16:33 'I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.'
Whoa whoa whoa. How did this get in my Bible. I'm going to have trouble? I don't want that! Maybe we should skip this verse. The last thing I need is trouble.
DOG: 'I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.'
God doesn't promise an easy life. But God does promise that in the end he wins.
[Quiet time - Prayer]
CAT: God, I've got a lot to do today and any help you can give will be greatly appreciated. In fact, any extra blessings you might have lying around, feel free to send them my way. 'Oh, that you would bless me and extend my lands! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from
all trouble and pain!' That's in the Bible. So you gotta do it. Amen
DOG: God, thank you for all the blessings that you've given me. I know not everyone has a warm place to sleep and enough food to eat. And I know that not everyone has a relationship with you. I want to use what
you've given me and help those who don't have as much. Please help me to be the best example to everyone, so that when people see me, they will see that I belong to you. Amen
[CONCLUSION]
What is the difference here?
The Cat's focus is on herself. It is all about how God is going to bless her. This isn't incorrect. God does want to bless all of us, but that isn't the whole story. God wants us to be a blessing to others.
What the Cat has is an incomplete gospel.
The Dog understands that it isn't the magic words in the prayer that makes him a Christian. It is God who started the process and sent his son, Jesus to die on the cross to pay for our sins. Then Jesus was raised back to life just as we will be after we die. God loves us, and we have to love him back.
What did God get out of having Jesus die on the cross? The cat would say 'Me, of course.' The dog would say that God gets glory, worship, honor and praise out of it.
Dogs have what is called 'Theology.' That is focus is on God. Cats have 'Meology.'; That is focus is on them.
I think it is pretty clear that God would prefer that we are Dog-Christians not Cat-Christians.
Let's Pray
Please forgive us Lord.
For thinking life was about us and not You
For advancing our kingdom and not Yours
For seeking Your blessings more than You
For an incomplete Christianity
For mixed up priorities
For living for ourselves
For not seeing Your glory all around us
We repent. Fill us again with your Holy Spirit that we might live to make you more famous.
Sent in by Daniel Chen
Point:
Different attitudes about Christianity
Author:
Garry Gardner
In categories:
Salvation
Discipleship
Prayer
Joy
Christian Living
Scripture