And while frogs do not appear regularly my menu, they are on the menus of many animals, like snakes and birds, and yes, frogs,( some varieties anyhow,) are edible to humans. They are even sometimes found on the menus of some of the fanciest restaurants. Apparently, frogs they can be a tasty dish.
Which brings me to the notion of a frog in a kettle. Have you heard the story?
I goes kinda like this: If you put a frog, into a pot of hot boiling water, it will leap out right away in order to escape being boiled for dinner. Supposedly, if you put a frog in a pot that is filled with cool and pleasant water, then he will be comfortable and stay (because frogs love water.) It is where they feel right at home. However, the pot is not for the benefit of the frog, but to the owner of the pot, and as such, once the frog is content, the pot owner can gradually heat the kettle until it starts boiling without the frog even noticing the changes in temperature. Not being perceptive about his need to get out, he goes along with the changes until finally, the temperature is such that even if the frog wanted to, he'd be too hot to be able to hop out because he's half cooked already and all the time, he didn't even know it.
Ahhhh, the wonders of gradual change. You never even realize it until it is to late. for the proverbial frog, the eventual boiling water was his demise.
It is a commonly told, used to illustrate many concepts. Someone even wrote a book about it and marketed tit to the church. George Barna, published this book in 1990.
The idea is behind this little trick to frogs is that it works because a frog's body adjusts its temperature, again and agian, with each gradual change. It adapts itself nicely. People. like frogs are adaptable to change, and as with frogs, in a way, this is good, because everything in life is subject to changes. Without adapting, one might not survive. On the othr hand, this adaptability is just the thing that can lead one astray or to moved off a normal course, because of implemented gradual change. Sometimes people are intentionally lead astray by such a method, and the lying and manipulation that comes with it, is downright satanic.
George Barna writes his book for pastors of churches and many pastors everywhere have read his book. /interestingly, in his book, Barna cites no biblical references for what he is saying; it is just filled with a lot of research statistics. I had heard the reference to this frog in the kettle theory and book by George Barna many times in my church, so I know my pastor read it. George Barna's website refers to the man as the "most quoted person in the church today," and this may just be how it is.
The pastor, to the tune of the frog in the kettle, would warn us as a congregation to take heed, be aware... be aware of deception and how it creeps in around you and then, sometimes, before you even realize it, it is too late. His point was, don't be like a frog in the proverbial kettle. However, instead of holding fast to the truths of God and His Word, the pastor himself began to drift to a place of embracing "Change for the purpose of engaging the culture, the things that Barna and and various leadership experts were forecasting.
In retrospect, it seems as if having all this data from Barna (and others) to work with (the statistics and research, the knowledge of knowing how to use the data and expert advice) made him think himself pretty smart. Soon he was implementing all sorts of change to help him stay ahead of the game and help meet peoples deepest needs. Always trying to remain relevant to the changing culture, while being biblical, just like he'd been taught, he moved into new things and let some things simply fall by the wayside. Soon the old ways were completely gone.... even the old Bible Study methodology.... gone.
Nice sanctuary, big screens, it was cush.
Things that were usual, ceased or morphed or new things were happening in their place. We froggies just keep on doing the next thing, picking up the slack and embracing change. For the most part people just kept on believing the best and trusting God was in control just the same.
What kind of changes? There was a lot of "technology" implemented; bar-codes were used to keep track of kids, a social media was started, eliminating the participation of those in the church who were of an older generation and not tech savvy, or those who did not own a computer system of their own. The sound system that had been invested in financially , was replaced with a "greater" and very expensive sound system so that we could hang on the pastor's every word and host cool concerts and events.
The radio station that had sponsored our pastor ended without announcement. Internet broadcasting of sermons live disappeared. Our church got a "new website" (more than once) and in the end, this was merely a disguise for donning a new church name. The newly built kitchen at church was not making bread for the economic disaster that might come as was the impetus for the funding, but was open for "by donation" for breakfast on Sundays and dinner midweek, (pizza and salad.) Coffee was cheap and soon became "by donation" too.
People who had previously been simply refer, then before long red to as heads of ministry areas, suddenly were dubbed as "elders" in the church. A " board of elders" suddenly appeared. In just a few months the board of elders morphed away.
One day we had one pastor and the next there were four. A new board of elders appeared. Some people we had never seen before in out congregation.
Communion methods changed. Unleavened crackers and grape juice served open and passed around, became to a prepackaged and difficult to open wafer and juice cup, picked up by individuals when they came through the door. This was supposedly help prevent the spread of germs. The bread in the package looked just like a Catholic Eucharistic communion wafer. This two was changed. Communion was served down in front. individuals came forward and picked up a piece of bread which they then dipped in grape juice and returned with to consume at their seat. Change after change, keep occurring and all the laypeople just kept adapting like good-little-frogs.
At one point, a strange book showed up in our book store. "Justification By Works" the title read; the subtitle: "How works vindicate true faith."
When a frog croaked about it, the pastor didn't blink an eye. He ignored the frog and sent a message through an assistant saying that the book should be taken "with a grain of salt."
It became apparent that drift was more than I even could have imagined. My pastor had no problem with the title of this book. He had no qualms about displaying it in the bookstore for people to purchase and read and learn from. I never, ever, thought to see the day when my church and more-so, my pastor, that professed Christ alone and taught the scriptures would embrace such a things as "justification by works."
The last thing I remember as I moved myself from this church was a meeting in which a video lesson was presented to a group I was in, on "doctrine." The doctrine that was being taught was just plain weird and wrong. In in days past someone in our church would be quite able to teach a group lesson like this, but now, apparently, things changed. No one could do this. Now we had a video guest, (a "celebrity pastor" who was from another church altogether, a person not in, nor who had ever been a part of our fellowship,) and this man was not only arrogant, but teaching weird things of which no one in the audience, (I speak for me,) could ever question either publicly or privately.
Things had "changed" for the bad.
Changes are normal and natural, and some changes are to be embraced, however, not every change is a moving in the right direction for life and well-being. If one notices the water temperature rising, feeling strange and bubbly, if you are thinking that things just are not what they are supposed to be, it is time to stop, look and listen. Ask questions, expect biblical answers and loving response. If possible, make a proper change in the right direction, and immerse yourself in God's Word. If you are feeling like a frog in a kettle, as I did, it may be time to make a jump.
I did.
It took the realization that the ice blended frappuccino coffees after a lovely breakfast complete with a cinnamon roll, was a reason for some to come to church on Sunday morning... not necessarily was it for them to hear the word of God. It took the realization that one by one, people who were part of our lovely Christian fellowship and love, would simply "disappear." There was never any explanation. People would appear and be put into leadership too. When I came upon an old friend outside of the church setting, I found them wounded, broken, often limping over to another church. Back at my church, not one dared to talk about it, they just kept sipping their frappuccinos and embracing whatever next change came along.
The changes that came about were often simply perpetrated, done as if the change was something that was not new or different but that it was something that simply had been done all along. The wool was thick over everyone's eyes.
Christians need to learn to stand firm on solid ground, to be rooted and grounded in the Word, to abide in the love of God in Christ and love others. Instead, the church is being sold the concept that the Church must change.
If you're feeling like God's Word is scarce in your congregation and are seeing a lot of strange changes, talk to your pastor about it, maybe he will stand in the crossroads and ask for the ancient paths; (Jeremiah 6:16. ) but then again, maybe not. He might simply tell you to take it with a grain of salt.
If you find that you are being trained to "ribbit" like a "good little froggie," expected to jump when you are told to by your "leader"...or find yourself adapting endlessly to changes being implemented without your understanding or consent, it is time to get out of the dangerous water, seek Jesus and ask God to give you green pasture.
After all Christian, you are not a frog, but a sheep.
