Walnut Hill

Cat & Dog Theology

/ Dennis Griffith / 2 Comments
It seems to be going great.

Our church is in the middle of hosting the Cat & Dog Theology seminar as part of our missions conference. And despite those reservations that would usually be expected when a conservative church hosts a seminar with such a preposterous sounding theme, those in attendance seem to be benefiting from the teaching and experience.

To be honest, this is what I expected when we scheduled the conference. I’ve been familiar with this seminar, and the host agency, UnveilinGLORY, for some time. We hosted this same seminar in the previous church I served, and we used the material that pre-dated Cat & Dog Theology in the church I served before that.

The seminar title catches your attention, but most people are not quite sure what to expect. It’s easy to assume that even if the teaching is kosher, how much depth could there possibly be? But you’d be surprised.

Cat & Dog Theology is based on an old joke about the differences between cats and dogs. It is said that while dogs have masters, cats have staff. And the sad truth is that too many Christians live in relationship to God more like cats who assume God exists simply to provide for us, with little regard for His Glory, His Purpose, and His Mission, except as it benefits us. Dogs, on the other hand, delight to be in their master’s presence. And in that sense we ought to be far more dogged.

What has any of this to do with World Evangelization? That’s a common question, once people understand the basis of the conference, and overcome initial apprehensions and skepticisms.

The fundamental motive and goal of Christian mission should be God-centered: it is for the purpose of declaring His glory among all Nations. While the result of effective mission will be the salvation of peoples from every tribe, tongue, and Nation, the ultimate goal (and result) is the gathering of heartfelt worshippers of the One True God from among all the Peoples of the Earth.

Cat & Dog Theology, by helping unveil the Glory of God, the mission of God (Missio Dei) revealed consistently from Genesis to Revelation, and the call to all Christians to be participants in this mission, not only moves us out into the world, but it reminds us of the ultimate reason we go.

The conference continues and concludes tonight.

If you are in the area I invite you to join us. For readers of this blog who are not part of Walnut Hill Church, I highly recommend hosting the Cat & Dog Theology seminar in your church. It will make a world of difference, as you consider how you can – and why you should – make a difference in the world.

For those of you from Walnut Hill, I invite you to comment on what you learned and what you thought. It should make for some enlightening discussions.

Hello World!

/ Dennis Griffith / Leave a comment

Why am I doing this?  I am not particularly tech savvy.  And I have more than enough things to do with my time. So why am I taking the time to start a blog?

I suppose another question might be: Who am I doing this for?  Both questions are probably pertinent.

1.  To Communicate with Others. 

Blogging will give me an opportunity to communicate with other people.  Who are these people I expect to converse with?  It may be a diverse group.  In my mind’s eye I see several groups of people:

The Church I Pastor 

I have been given the privilege of serving the Body of Christ as a pastor.  And I recently made a transition, moving from a church in Pittsburgh to Walnut Hill Presbyterian Church in Bristol, Tennessee.

My hope is that posting will provide the people Walnut Hill an opportunity to get to know me – my interests, passions, and personality.  At the very least they’ll get to know how my mind works…

My hope is also that blogging will be an avenue through which I can exercise the teaching aspect of my ministry.  It can be a supplement to my pulpit ministry and other teaching opportunities. And because blogging is not a one-sided medium, it can provide a forum to discuss issues that time may not permit in those other, more structured, venues.

Partners in Ministry 

This group may include a vast spectrum, ranging from other pastors to missionaries & parachurch ministers, to anyone else engaged in advancing Christ’s Kingdom.

I am not so arrogant as to assume that whatever I have to say will be a significant treasure.  But I do have a lot of friends who fall into this category.  And I know there is joy in a shared journey. My experiences and thoughts may simply encourage others in their lives & ministries… and, of course, if along the way there are at least occasional tidbits of insight or wisdom, so much the better.

People in Past Ministries (i.e. Old Friends) 

I have had the privilege of serving in churches & ministries in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Virginia, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.  In all of these places we have made some great friends.  I suspect that our friends from those past ministries (and perhaps some “not-so-friendlies”) will pop in to see what is going on…

Passers-by 

I suppose it is also possible that some people will stumble across this blog by accident, or when looking for something else.  Hopefully they will find something useful, and from time to time check back.

2.  To Express Myself 

In a very real sense I am keeping this blog as an outlet for personal expression.  In that sense, as I begin this, I am not certain if it really matters if anyone else ever reads what I post.  Blogging gives me the opportunity to work through and catalog things that interest me, to try to cultivate creativity, and simply to express myself much like as if I kept a journal in a notebook.  (Though I still hope there will be some things posted that are occasionally of interest and/or value to others.)

3. To Honor God 

Since my primary purpose in life is to glorify God by enjoying Him, my hope is that this blog will honor Him.  My life is inseparably linked to this purpose. No facet of my life is outside this scope.  Whatever I do, whatever interests I have, this purpose should always be in view.

Hopefully, not only will the posts themselves honor God but, the accumulated works should be a tangible chronicle of my own life’s journey – one that I pray and trust will have a demonstrable growth in knowledge, progress in maturity and increase of sensitivity to God and His Kingdom. These will be a testimony of His grace at work in my life.