THERMOMETERS & THERMOSTATS

Rick Jackson

Thermomoters are regulated or changed by their surroundings. Thermostats regulate or change their surroundings. Are you a thermometer Christian or a thermostat Christian?

Thermometer Christians change to fit their surroundings. They me be "spiritual" around spiritual people, carnal around carnal people, non-religious around the non-religious. Lot was a thermometer Christian. He could sound quite pious around Abraham but put him in Sodom and he fit right in... for a time. Gn. 19:6-22 records the sad tale of a thermometer Christian trying to substitute one sin for another.

Thermostat Christians tend to change their surroundings. When they come around the dirty jokes stop, the cursing halts, the topics might even turn to spiritual things. At any rate, the surroundings are altered instead of the Christian. Acts 16 shows what can happen when thermostat Christians are present.

THERMOSTAT CHRISTIANS:

I. DON'T GO WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T GO [ACTS 16:4-8]

Nothing wrong here with the place. But the time wasn't right. For example, it's right to visit the sick, go witnessing, but NOT during church (except perhaps in emergencies- often it's not an emergency, it's just so we won't miss what we want to do later that we take specified church time). I have had people get upset with me or Clydie because we wouldn't "counsel" someone during church time. Often the very thing they need the Holy Spirit has already led the preacher to preach on or mention in a message!

II. GO WHEN THEY SHOULD GO [ACTS 16:9-14, Philip earlier also)

James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

III. DOES RIGHT REGARDLESS OF THE CONSEQUENCES [ACTS 16:16-25]

IV. REJOICE IN LORD NOT THE CIRCUMSTANCES [ACTS 16:25-34]

V. USE THEIR "RIGHTS" WITHOUR COMPROMISING THEIR CHRISTIANITY [ACTS 16:35-40]

VI. RELY ON THE SCRIPTURES [ACTS 17:1-11]