Martin Luther King, Jr., in one of his striking sermons, used the analogy of the thermometer and the thermostat, a kind of dual analogy freighting the concept of merely measuring the temperature (the thermometer function), or meaningfully affecting the temperature (the thermostat function). The application was that the individual is either a passive acknowledger (thermometer) of the culture in which he or she lives, or that person is an influence (thermostat) for change in society.
I am much taken by the weather. Usually in the long distance phone calls in which I am engaged, I ask a weather report from the location of my conversationalist. One of us usually basks in having the better weather of the day than the other. Is it because of any personal virtue in the person with the better weather environment that he has it better today than I do? There sometimes is wafted the idea that he does. But does a context in which the individual lives make any difference? The person, like an analogical thermometer or thermostat, has meaning to the context of life in his or her orbit. This equality of nature’s pattern may lull us into a kind of acceptance.
Most persons seem to prefer the thermometer existence. Don’t become too involved, but become sophisticated enough to know what is going on. Report the context of life faithfully. Live it with knowledge, understanding and wisdom. One may vote convictions, even discuss with some objectivity what is going on in the world, in the neighborhood, in the church, but don’t make waves. Do avoid pressure, save energy for personal interests, and fit into society as best one can. Do not be hot or cold to the culture. Whatever is the case can be managed, and one can get on with decency. It is comfortable, so civilized, so accepting. There is much to recommend it.
Thermostats in society make a difference. The culture is too hot: they influence to cool it down. The culture is too cold: they trigger to heat it up. There is some moving and shaking going on. It may or may not need to be dragged out, but it is happening. It may even be gracious, but may be aggravating. It may be harsh and self-defeating. It may be loud or it may be soft, but it is tenacious. The involvement is likely going to cause some discomfort, not only for others but for oneself. History chronicles the actions of these people. Some are good, and some misguided, but they know that there can be improvement – as they see life. The principle is so great that it is included in the formation of the Christian life. The Christian is to be an agent of difference. He or she may guide large and dramatic programs as Martin Luther King did, or Billy Graham, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther, the Apostle Paul (Saul of Tarsus), and the prophets of old – or Jesus. But most persons do not have the stage, and would not know what to do if they had it. However, they do have means – their words in season to persons; their service to needy people; their support of model ideals; their love of family and neighbors; and their faithfulness to various duties including righteousness, prayer and good works. They invest themselves in obedience to responsibility to God and mankind. They make a difference, touching immortality. The quality of one’s personal life in Christ is first with God, but relationships for family and neighbors are natural seconds. Influencing society, in love and peace, occurs when we fulfill the Christian purpose in the world so to influence for whatever is right (righteousness). This is best done in the missionary call of Christ, so magnificently illustrated in the work of the Apostle Paul and the dedicated continuation of the Great Commission of Matthew 28. In some ways, no matter how modest, we should desire to be a bit thermostatic. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020