Trained or Tamed

I watched a circus animal tamer teach wild animals to obey his commands. An animal tamer is described as one who tames wild animals. I wonder if the term is a misnomer, an incorrect or unsuitable name. If the wild animal is really tamed, its nature is different. If it is only trained, it will obey commands but revert to its original nature given a different set of circumstances. I prefer to use the term trained for circus animals as I have read of too many incidents where the animal being trained turned on its trainer and in many cases the result was serious injury or death.

As professing Christians, I wonder if we are tamed or trained. We know the language of the church, and when to use it during the sermon, and how to adjust our posture to the mood of the service, e.g., hands up for praise and worship, head bowed and knees bent for prayer, etc. Jeremiah 13:23 asks the question - Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? The implied answer is "No"!

But there is hope for if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature or creation. The outward physical appearance does not necessarily change but the inside does. Would you rather hold a cat in your lap that has been tamed or domesticated or a tiger that has only been trained?