People have a long history of scaring and amusing themselves with tales of the animated dead. Frankenstein’s monster, mummies trudging forward with outstretched arms, vampires, werewolves, zombies, and Sinbad’s sword-wielding skeletons have all been as good as an EpiPen at getting the heart going. When it comes to the terror they are intended to instill, there seem to be two categories of monster.
One incites fear of death.
The other fear of death followed by a condition of animated death where the prey becomes the predator. In this genre, vampires, werewolves and zombies are the favorites and this category is an escalation of scary.
Why?
Because to the fear of death is added the knowledge that, after you die, you become the instrument of death to your friends and loved ones. A deadly virus that kills others—all while you continue to look somewhat like yourself.
The Bible has something to say about Zombies. They are not imaginary.
In the book of Jude we are told of men who are “doubly dead” (literally twice dead). They live in churches but are devoid of the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:4-25). The animated dead. The living dead.
And their works?
They grumble, find fault, and follow their own lusts. They revile (abusively criticize) and rail (rage) against authority like “unreasoning animals.”
They creep into the local church and, through flattery, gain an advantage.
The fruit of their wickedness is the division of God’s people and the devouring of sheep.
They are a replicating virus, a corruption that begets corruption.
Zombies who make zombies. Religious zombies.
They prey on subjects vulnerable to their tactics. Those who are not immunized against the “doubly dead” virus. Those who lack faith for acknowledging their own sin and are being hardened by their sin’s deceitfulness (Hebrews 3:12-13). They walk in darkness, yet claim they have fellowship with Christ (1John 1:6).
Liars.
When men and women harbor sin, they begin lying. Continuing in lies, they seek refuge from their own consciences by hiding themselves in the company of liars.
Soon they walk in the counsel of the wicked, stand in the path of sinners, and sit in the seat of scoffers (Psalm 1:1).
They become grumblers, fault finders, revilers, and they rage against authority.
They become zombies.
The animated dead… not alive in Christ.
Using their dark counsels, they go from church to church peeling off souls. Defiling many (Hebrews 12:15).
In 1Corinthians 5:9-13 we are commanded to have nothing to do with such men.
I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES. (emphases added)
I have seen the doubly dead individually, but also traveling in packs. I have witnessed pastors who are doubly dead. One of the surest evidences of such a pastor is his habit of gathering to himself those who have run from the godly discipline offered by faithful believers and churches. Such men are anathema.
God’s word gives a warning quantifying just how much time should be given to one who shows himself to have symptoms of being doubly dead.
Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned. (Titus 3:10-11)
