Zombie Church
In Ezekiel 37 there is a passage that might be called the zombie chapter. Way before George Romero made the undead famous, Ezekiel wrote about the dead rising back to life. Of course when you read Ezekiel 37, and see how the undead come to life in Romero, there are few similarities. In Romero’s films the zombies are no truly alive, but simply reanimated, they come to life from some unknown source, and they have very base needs. Ezekiel, the dead are made alive, their flesh is regenerated, and their are given life by God. For Ezekiel the Word of God brings us back from death, not to be half human-mobs, but to be sons and daugthers of God, made more perfect, and living with God as our perfect and loving father.
Though most Christians would flinch at the comparison between a B-horror film and the Bible, in reality, many Christians hold to principles that seem to be closer to Zombie Films than to the Old Testament Prophet. Let me explain, in many of these films, the zombies are fixed on one thing: consuming human flesh. These zombies have limited mobility, but are still able to detect their needs and seek them. If you want to attract a zombie all you have to do is make some noise, and in moments they will show up. Many churches look at nonchristians more like the zombies of Romero, than the dry bones of Ezekiel. They think that if they make enough noise or put some meat in the air, that those zombies will come running. This is true across a wide variety of churches, from traditional presbyterians, to 3rd wave pentacostals, they are both looking to attract the zombie.
Spiritually people are alive or they are dead. Though many nonchristians might be offended by this idea, it is true and people who take a honest look at their lives will see the signs of death all around them, the destruction of relationships, the yearning for belonging, the desire to be something they are not, death is all around them.
Unfortunately many churches treat non-christians as spiritual zombies.
In Ezekiel 37, the Spirit of the Lord moves Ezekiel to the bones, the bones don’t come to Ezekiel. So many Christians still think that they are honored in their community just because they are the church, all they have to do is let people know they are around, and the zombies will start coming to them. Ezekiel goes to bones that are dry, and he preaches the word of God, and it is that word that brings the bones to life.
Lets leave the zombie motif behind.
Ezekiel went to the bones, and spoke to the bones, while they were still bones. So many christians today want to see non-christians hold to a certain set of moral standards before they will welcome them. They expect that these dry bones will get up and come to hear the word of the Lord, instead what Ezekiel says is that God sends his people to the spiritually dead to give them the one thing that can bring life.