Christian Zombies, Everywhere!

We’re either affecting or infecting the difference.

Imagine a land, covered in the undead. Zombies? Yes. Zombies.

Moving slowly across all regions of what we used to call home. However, these zombies may or may not bite you, and in fact, some don’t mind starting conversations with you.

What? Christian zombies!? What do you mean? Have you been watching too many Netflix shows Greg?

No. Well, yes…but that’s a different topic. For now, let’s get honest.

Lighthouse or Liturgy?

I grew up in a small church, made up of a very close-knit family of families, who took potluck lunches once a month. I learned to play guitar and started to lead out for service. I can say that I started to grow as a youngster in a great church family.

I’ve always loved my home church. They’ve always been extremely supportive of me and everything I’ve aspired to be as a young man. The services are quiet, the music light, and not a lot of drama goes down. Again, even though I now live a state away, I love what that church stands for in many ways.

Let it be absolutely and most importantly said though that church does not make the Christian. Church is a place to come to fellowship, love on other people, express hardships and blessings, and be kicked out the front door to go do church for the world! Please understand the difference. A 1.5 hour service per every 168 hour week does not make any relationship worth having…the same absolutely goes for a Christian who’s walk of faith consists of ONLY church. This is based on religion, not relationship. Religion was that thing that pissed Jesus off so often btw.

As I’ve progressed throughout my life and my walk with God, I’ve noticed something within the various churches I’ve been to. Different churches usually have very different cultures…

Culture has a funny way of weeding out sub-cultures. A lot of the time, church presents a “this is who we are” mentality, rather than a “this is who He is” montra. The difference is everything.

How Do You Worship?

Again, some churches have a very light, quiet, and “respectful” worship service, while others have a Coldplay concert vibe with bright lights, song lyrics placed to motion graphics, and a very involved audience. However different in style, you get the point that when you enter into a house of worship, sometimes you are met with a predetermined culture.

Do you raise your hands because you’re so in tune with worshipping God, or shy away from it because no-one else is raising their hands? Maybe you want to. Maybe you’ve never even thought about raising your hands, and actually find yourself judging that weird new person for getting so excited.

Alas, I’ve noticed something around me in other Christians, and most definitely within myself as I’m a part of this epidemic…

No matter the style of music, 90% of the time, my body language, wondering thoughts, and heart posture, prove that I’m not worshipping Jesus, but worshiping myself and my perception of what others are thinking of me.

Are You A Zombie?

This epidemic moves far beyond worship service though. What is your attitude as a Christian in general? It will literally show the world the posture of your heart. Praising God in church and then cussing out that guy on the freeway talking on his phone doesn’t prove a very strong sense of placing yourself 2nd. Yikes, note to self.

Are you too afraid to act in faith because it isn’t popular to do so? What about even talking about Jesus to friends and family? Is that weird? How about the simple act of raising your hands to the heavens during a worship service because you literally don’t know what else to do? This is the type of situation where someone may be growing in their faith, and is simply trying to fit in. Maybe not. This isn’t an end all be all stereotype, but rather just a call to difference. Being a Spiritual Zombie doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re some malicious person who needs to work at putting on a better face.

However, there is a different type of Zombie that can come across on the attack. This can simply mean you’re extremely transparent about your sense of in-gratitude and the ever questioning of God as King. You’re all about you, never serving someone else.

That kind of numbness and stoic attitude does nothing for anyone and can actually become extremely infectious to others who are struggling to know their identity in God as well. This type of “Christian” can come across as a biter or someone who plays religion. Beware of these types of people. It’s usually stemming from some form of religious bigotry and heightened sense of checking the box; a “Christian” looking for the benefits. The prosperity gospel, which is no gospel at all, may be in full effect here. We all struggle with focusing on ourselves, but this type of persona is usually quite intensely “Christian” for the sense of feeling they’re doing the right thing. This is not at all what being a true Christian is about.

Now, what I’m NOT saying is that a Christian should act happy because everything about being a Christian is perfect! Noooooo!!! Lies, lies, and more prosperity gospel crap. Being a believer and choosing to put yourself 2nd (or do your best to) in this life is extremely hard as it is! And then you add on all those misplaced identities that others place on you…we get it.

Placing your trust in God however, and knowing that He is for you and not against you is a pretty calming realization. We must put our pride aside and actually live like we claim. We can’t carry our sins alone, but bring them before God and man, as both push towards restoration within the hard things in our life. This brings freedom, not shame. So many Christians don’t even know this.

Either God is lying when He says He loves you, or you’re thinking like an illogical and emotional human. The latter is usually prone to wandering more in my experience.

This just hit me, and I’m still processing it myself, so allow me be transparent about something pertaining to the Christian faith in general. What I’m talking about here is the reality of misplaced identity, infecting our fervent focus on Jesus. This infection can cause spiritual apathy, numbness, or even doubting the goodness of God altogether.

This distinction is where we usually find we are affecting others (being that light on a hill), or infecting the people (believers and non-believers) into our miserable self-preserved infatuation. God allows the choice to be ours, but sadly it limits our depth with Him. He’ll let you be your own God, but that never seems to get very far.

So much time is wasted when we place our identity in how cool we are, how attractive we feel, or how successful we prove to be. It’s all fleeting. Here today, and gone tomorrow. Is this new to any of us?! I highly doubt it.

Sourcing the Vaccine

We must realize that our actions and attitudes can be infectious. You aren’t a Christian because you’re happy and it’s a great lifestyle. You’re a believer of Jesus because it’s Truth, you are loved and want to give love back, and every other philosophical explanation known to man seems completely asinine!

With that comes a responsibility. One that realizes that others are watching. Others don’t get it when you move through trials and come out the other side praising God. Others don’t get why you don’t curse God and die. They ask questions, and we present the Gospel. Remember, we are blessed to be a blessing. That’s what’s supposed to happen when you truly love God and want to make Him famous. However, fame for ourselves is extremely temporary and shallow. My point here, we must be authentic with God, ourselves, and with others. Stop trying to save face to look good to others. We’re all carrying our own story, and all of them have ups and downs, hardships, and good times.

It’s time to represent a Christian culture of true love and gratitude to God and man. For believers and non-believers alike, proving that we are for them, and not against them. I want to do such a better job of this!

To do that, we have to allow Jesus to take over our attitudes, outlook, identity, aspirations, and inspirations. Then and only then, will we affect change for a world living in pain, rather than furthering the infection.