Frog in the Kettle

Recently, while thinking of frogs and plagues and deception, I began pondering the notion of a frog in a kettle.  You have heard the story haven't you?  I had heard about the frog in the kettle several times in my lifetime, preached from the pulpit of a church no less. The story was to teach the congregation about the dangers of complacency.

The story goes, that if you put a frog, into a pot of hot boiling water, it will leap out right away in order to escape the danger; but if you  put a frog in a pot that is filled with  cool and pleasant water, then he will stay, because frogs love water.  It is where they feel right at home, an if you want to kill that frog, cook him and eat him, all you have to do is then slowly change the temperature of the water.   If you heat it slowly, the frog will not notice incremental changes in temperature, and with this gradual change unnoticed, the frog will stay in the pot and meet his demise.

I have never done an experiment to see if this is true, but someone wrote a book about it and marketed it to the church.   The book is by George Barna.... of the Barna Group,   the Barna Group supposedly, will teach readers of their research about the spiritual health of their cities.

But back to the frog...  are frogs really that stupid?  Do they really not notice the change amd desire to get out?

The people promoting the concept say that the frog in the kettle theory is possible because the body temperature  of the frog,with each gradual change, adapts itself nicely.  They say that people. like frogs are adaptable to change.   

As I said, I had heard the reference to this frog in the kettle many times in church.  The pastor was warning us as a congregation to take heed, be aware... be aware of deception, be aware of spiritual drift.  It creeps in around you without you even knowing it.... and then, it is too late.  His warning of not being like the frog in the proverbial kettle was warning us to be aware.  

 It's a great warning.  Change is always taking place and change is something to be aware of because it is not always a good thing.  Change naturally happens and some change is good.... but there is also some change that is not moving in the right direction for life and well being.  It's important to take heed and discern the changes going on around you.

Like a frog in frog life, when you notice strange things in your surrounding, when the water temperature begins rising, feeling strange and bubbly, when things do not seem like what they are supposed to be, do not be a "Fraidy- frog!" Do not be afraid to take action.  Listen, ask questions, find out what is happening to the temperature around you and if necessary,

                                                                jump! 

                                                                                     It might be time to get out.