The life & sayings of Dwight the #theologycat, part V, being an account of his teachings from the summer past into this autumn of the year of our Lord 2023
Highlights from Dwight's #CATechesis, including his theological errors & his Wesleyan week
Gentle reader,
Perhaps you’ve met Dwight, my #theologycat. He often appears on my social media feeds. Below, a collection of Dwight’s CATechesis from June through to the present.
“I trust this cat more than I trust most people!” — a Dwight fan, on Facebook
Dwight reminds us that God can handle ALL of our emotions & questions. Just read the Psalms.
Dwight is quoting the UMC communion liturgy; “when we turned away, and our love failed, YOUR love remained steadfast.” Think about the graciousness of that one!
Dwight says, hey, come read about Barbies.
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Dwight the theologian, misinterpreting the context once again: a common theological pitfall.
Presented with a toy dragon, Dwight the theologian supposes he has conquered evil, blissfully unaware of the evils he can’t see. Common theological error.
A foot off the ground, Dwight the theologian thinks he’s considering the situation from the heights, oblivious to the mantle above him. Common theological error.
“The cat will not be allowed on the counter,” I said. Dwight convinced me otherwise. Theologians can be as persuasive in their persons as they are in their reasoning.
Dwight is pondering the compatibility of human freedom & salvation by grace & thinks he’s catching sight of it, through a glass, darkly.
Dwight thinks grace is like a cat; it’s in the house, killing vermin, before you know it’s there; then, one day, it rubs against your leg.
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Dwight reminds me that communicating theological insight is like trying to photograph a cat. Even when you get a shot in focus, you still won’t capture the full, living beauty of the thing.
Please accept some #CATechesis in which Dwight is a Wesleyan #theologycat. This is his face when asked if he expects to be made perfect in love in this life.
Here is Dwight, continuing his Wesleyan run and contemplating the unity of personal and social holiness.
If John Wesley could preach in a cemetery, Dwight thinks he can bear witness to the living God in this cardboard box.
Dwight continues his Wesleyan streak; “free will?” says he, “sure, absolutely, but you know what’s even more exciting? Free grace!”
Dwight is wrapping up this Wesleyan teaching with John Wesley’s last words; “Best of all, God is with us.” That makes Dwight feel a little like a good head scratch makes him feel.
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Dwight and the puppies got to attend the blessing of the animals in honor of St. Francis. Pastor Daniel blessed Dwight, and it’s possible that Dwight blessed Pastor Daniel.
If the lion is the king of the jungle, if Francis is the patron saint of the animals, if Dwight is the cat-king of our home, these are, always “all creatures of our God & king,” & their kinging & sainting is meant to sing “Alleluia.”
Dwight is keeping cozy in the arms of his person, and he suggests that we’re equally cozy in the arms of the living God.
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Dwight will only sit at my right hand.
I think he missed the memo from Jesus.
(He bites my left hand.)
Dwight ponders my niece while my niece ponders some nice mixing bowls. “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” (When he’s not being a theology cat, Dwight moonlights as a Shakespearean cat. There’s more overlap than you might think.)
Dwight wonders: have you met the One who IS goodness, truth & beauty? It’s not Dwight himself! It’s the Triune God, the Lord who made heaven & earth, the Spirit-revealed Father of Jesus Christ.
Dwight wonders, have you met the LIVING GOD? Not “the man upstairs” or the “big guy in the sky,” being neither a man or a guy nor upstairs or in the sky but being LOVE ETERNAL EVERYWHERE, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
Dwight wonders, have you met the LORD OF HOSTS? Not one among many, but ONE without whom the many would not be. Not a pretty good alternative to other possible gods but the only ONE who IS.
Dwight wonders, have you met the ONE living God, maker of all things, visible & invisible? Including, delightfully, roses!
Dwight wonders, have you met the ONE true God, the Prince of Peace, the Lamb, the one whose prophet told that
"The wolf shall live with the lamb; the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them" (Is 11:6)?
Dwight invites you to grab a free subscription to Church Blogmatics so you don’t miss any #theologycat and his favorite #CATechesis. If you want to support the work at Church Blogmatics (and Dwight’s cat treat fund), upgrade to become a supporting subscriber.
Grace & peace,
BFJ
As always, I’m grateful if you choose to forward, share, or subscribe.
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If you’ve enjoyed Dwight’s #CATechesis, you can find more Dwight here. If you’re a Dwight stan, find Dwight merch here. :)
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