Boiling Water

In the old example, the frog jumps clear from the container when it discovers the water is too hot for it to survive. So, it either boils to death or jumps to live. On the other hand, a frog will sit, stay and die in the same container of water if the temperature is slowly increased to the same boiling point as before.

Why am I saying this? What’s the parallel with the frog? Let me explain, and please stay with me because I might ruffle a few feathers and upset some friends, but neither of these is my aim or purpose. Let’s make the analogy to our church, its beliefs, and the individual members. Let’s say one of the members goes to church year after year, checks out the beliefs and fully accepts the theology. The water in the tank is just right, and that’s ok. Then someone in leadership adds, removes, or alters, one of the basic beliefs you had accepted. This doesn’t feel right, and the water slowly gets warmer still. Then another person you respect and trust accepts and adopts yet another change fully and the water continues to boiling point. What to do now?

If this ‘old’ member stays against their better judgement, they will spiritually die in the slow change of temperature as it rises. However, if that same old member senses the sudden temperature change and acts quickly to leap from the tank, he or she is saved and can find another tank where the spiritual atmosphere and temperature is just right, and that ‘frog’ will survive.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27

In this parable Jesus says that the storm came in increasing intensity. The rain, then the floods, and finally the winds. At each point the house owner had the chance to react, but the foolish man built on a soft foundation and chose not to move. He had the same circumstances as the wise man. The difference was in the sure, unchangeing foundation of his belief. Which storms would you or I survive? Based on the ‘frog and the boiling water’ example, who do you see as the wise frog? It comes down to this, would you jump or die?

Repeats

Like a dog that returns to its vomit, a fool does the same foolish things again and again.

Proverbs 26:11

Strong words from Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. His writings are preserved for us and we do well to take heed of his thoughts. As I read these words, I couldn’t help but think about Facebook, some posted thoughts, and more significantly, the comments posted in response.

We have all been there. We saw the words from a ‘friend’ and they sounded extreme. Could have been politics, religion, or a recent news item, but we are drawn into the mistake of putting our own ‘correction’ to the ‘foolishness’ expressed by the original person. Of course we are not alone, because others have seen the words and want to express their own views, and it can get messy! Sometimes we even return to our own foolish words and repeat them, or even over-emphasise them to the effect that they sound even more out of order, and just plain daft! Been there? Know someone who has done this? We are not alone.

Solomon compares the fool going over the same wrong things repeatedly, to the dog returning to its vomit. The big difference is that the dog can’t help it, and we can! But true to our base nature, we defend our errors again and again, and to others it all looks and sounds so petty, false, plain wrong, and very unconvincing. Yes, Solomon was a wise man!

Foolish?

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Ephesians 5:3-5 (NIV)

There is no doubt, that at some time in our Christian lives, we have stepped outside the advice given in these verses. If you read the list again, you can easily see that it covers all sorts of activities which are not to be entertained, even in the slightest. Paul makes his advice clear, and we cannot ignore the obvious, because we stake our eternal inheritance on it. Serious words from the apostle.

Cue long faces, and a sorry look on our faces?... NO! I do not hold to the idea that the Christian life is an unhappy one, or one that leads us to avoid jokes which will make us laugh. Who said that God wanted us to be constantly frowning? My dad said I shouldn’t have a ‘face like a Lurgan spade’. I don’t read that I should be ‘Po Faced’ in my Bible. So what’s the problem? My granddaughter even told me recently that Jesus has a sense of humour! I think she is correct.

However, I do think we may have blurred the line of what is considered immoral or impure. What was thought to be against God’s Law 20 years ago, is embraced today. I am not talking about sideline issues like the cinema or dress code on a Sunday. However, I am talking about when we decide that a joke has crossed a decency line. Or how about our ‘street talk’ when church friends are not around to listen? Then there are the jokes we will listen to, and tell, which are close to the bone? There are only a few ways we show our Christ to others. Our words, well chosen, and our actions, purely intentioned. These do NOT need a long face to go along with them, so we should talk and live like our faith means something to us. Then, and maybe only then, will others take notice and recognise that our faith life is real!