Monday, January 19, 2009
Zombies On The March
Mark Roberts recently reflected on holiday shoppers:
Of course, some church zombies have a church problem and some of them choose to be zombies among the living, but in either case why do we tolerate it? I go to church to find life!
What to do, what to do? Well, if you find yourself zombified in church, may I suggest a thorough self-examination? You see, even if you are in a consumeristic, over-programmed institution the Holy Spirit is in their somewhere. The life you need may be in the effort to help that church overcome its issues, or maybe you just need an attitude adjustment.
Jesus said: John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly. Zombies in church defy that promise from Christ.
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If the spirit that animates shoppers is, indeed, Mammon, then one might very well say that energetic consumers are just as much zombies as the lifeless, moneyless folk bemoaned by John Morris. Their “zombieness” lies below the surface, however. They look quite alive, but may well be dead on the inside.Interesting imagery, and of course, Mark goes on to talk about the idol of mammon. But the imagery got me thinking - how many "zombies" go to church? They go to church because they do not know what to do with their spare time. The church is, of course, more than willing to provide them with all sorts of opportunities to be there, and so they trudge right in and participate, even if they are not finding what they need. Or in some cases they just come on Sunday, but they sit there, with a sort of vacant look in their eyes, never engaged, just present.
If you go shopping because that’s all you know to do with your spare time, if you wander about in the mall when you don’t even have any money to spend, then you may well have become lifeless zombie. But if shopping for things you don’t really need takes up a disproportionate amount of your time and money, then you may also be a zombie, a person who is alive on one level but missing out on real living.
If you don’t have money for shopping but you go to a mall, what does that say about you? After all, you could have gone to a park, or taken a nap, or painted a picture, or read poerty, or played a game with your children, or . . . . But you went to a mall, not to shop, but just to walk about in a sad, moneyless trance.
Of course, some church zombies have a church problem and some of them choose to be zombies among the living, but in either case why do we tolerate it? I go to church to find life!
What to do, what to do? Well, if you find yourself zombified in church, may I suggest a thorough self-examination? You see, even if you are in a consumeristic, over-programmed institution the Holy Spirit is in their somewhere. The life you need may be in the effort to help that church overcome its issues, or maybe you just need an attitude adjustment.
Jesus said: John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly. Zombies in church defy that promise from Christ.
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