Zombie Worship

Zombies are dead people walking around. They don’t have personalities. They don’t have feelings. They’re just kinda there… Ok they’re trying to eat you but they aren’t driven because they feel strongly that you should be eaten. No, they’re just doing what they need to do to get by.

Don’t we do the same thing in church? I do.

Sometimes I just don’t want to worship God. Sometimes I’m distracted. Sometimes I’m tired. Sometime’s it’s just easier to act like I’m worshiping.

So here I am in church. I’m listening to the praise band play a song I’ve heard a million times before. I swear I could sing this song in my sleep… So I mouth the words. I hit the right notes. And I even throw in a little fake vibrato to make it sound like I can actually sing. There’s nothing wrong with that right? I mean God gets the point. Or does he?

I’m not saying God doesn’t know he’s great. I’m not saying he needs me to praise him so he feels better about himself. No I’m saying that the idea of a church Zombie is repulsive to God. I’m saying that half-hearted praise isn’t praise at all.

"And so the Lord says, 'These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by route.” – Isaiah 29:13

In Isaiah, God says that just because people say they are his doesn’t mean they are. He says that they’re “worship” isn’t worship. All they’re doing is singing along with everybody else in church.

Zombies aren’t really people, but despite the fact that they may be missing a limb or have blood oozing out of they’re eye sockets, they still resemble people.

However, the unavoidable fact remains: they’re Zombies.

When our worship is “nothing but man-made rules learned by route” it doesn’t please God. He doesn’t enjoy it. God hates Zombie worship.

Real worship is illustrated in Psalm 100

"Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord. Rejoice with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. "

He made us and we are his. When we truly worship, we’re not just singing a song we’re shouting for joy. We can’t contain ourselves! God made us and we are his. Zombies don’t love anybody. They just want to eat your brains. Sheep love their shepherd because he loves them and watches over them. He is their whole world. It makes sense for them to enjoy praising him.

Don’t be a zombie.

Be a Sheep.