Alrighty Folks,
Tonight is the 3rd installment of my review and thoughts about Matt Mikalotos's newest book, Night Of The Living Dead Christian. There is so much in this book to cover, that I can't give it all proper justice. So for this post, I am going tell you my thoughts on anything else about this book that comes to mind. (That is a good bit - so you have been warned!)
I want to say that I was grateful for how the author showed off his wife in this book, and the time he spent with her and his children. I appreciated that balance he was showing and working on in his life. It made a very nice contrast to Luther, who has lost his wife, Lara who is an ex-wife twice over, and Hibbs 3000 who is dating a potential wife/mate. My heart broke repeatedly for Clarissa and Renata as well.
While not my only focus for this post, I must cover the Zombies. This (image below) is not exactly the kind of Zombies in this book. Thought dead to sin and alive in Christ is great, we have other issues. Please keep on reading.
This is more like the Zombies in this book.
Before you scream that you don't understand, we need to talk, and you need to read this book! The Zombies in Night Of The Living Dead Christian are Zombies because they are the ones that do not think for themselves.They don't go seek God for an answer, they fall into something that is almost cult like, yet still considered completely Christian. (There is something wrong with that picture!)
I have never been this kind of monster. I don't think in the box like the others. When I was young and in church, and the Pastor said... every one raise your hands... I held back. When the stand up and shout, sit down and sing-- or whatever it was that rolled was issued I just sat there! This caused me some grief because there were those who thought I was- GASP - rebellious!
Meanwhile, I sat and I watched, and I listened. I watched the dear sweet sheep in the room with me do *whatever* the Pastor said with out thinking, with out praying, they just did. It was then I was scared that maybe I was lost and wasn't close enough to Christ because I was NOT comfortable with following the crowd even if that crowd was my own "home" church. I soon sorted out that it wasn't that I was lost, it was that I was working so hard to hear God for myself that automatic actions just because "Simon" said were not going to cut it for me. It I didn't feel it in my heart, then I wasn't going to do it just because everyone else did.
I am more like Matt the character in this book, winding up with a few of my own "pet zombies" that I have worked hard to pray with and help them not be a non-thinking Zombie. I was taught young that if I didn't have myself prayed up and have enough discernment that when the false prophets came with signs and wonders that I wouldn't know the fakes from the real deal. I decided when I was young that I would NEVER be a "Zombie" if I could help it. Things like 2 Timothy 4:3 have always affected me: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths."
I know some other Monsters, and I think the Monster Index at the end of the book was great. I can't tell you what kind of Monster I am- other than I have worked my entire life to not be one. I can tell you that I know I am a child of God, a cracked damaged vessel being molded into what I am suppose to be. That work is still in progress. But that is the great thing about the REAL Christians. We are a mixed up lot, but when we are real and listening we are able to come together. The Zombies, Werewolves, Androids, Mad Scientists, Vampires and others and be made new and whole so that we are Monsters no more but instead we are becoming reflections of God's love. (Yes ---- even toward's Monsters!)
Carol :)
I want to say that I was grateful for how the author showed off his wife in this book, and the time he spent with her and his children. I appreciated that balance he was showing and working on in his life. It made a very nice contrast to Luther, who has lost his wife, Lara who is an ex-wife twice over, and Hibbs 3000 who is dating a potential wife/mate. My heart broke repeatedly for Clarissa and Renata as well.
While not my only focus for this post, I must cover the Zombies. This (image below) is not exactly the kind of Zombies in this book. Thought dead to sin and alive in Christ is great, we have other issues. Please keep on reading.
This is more like the Zombies in this book.
I have never been this kind of monster. I don't think in the box like the others. When I was young and in church, and the Pastor said... every one raise your hands... I held back. When the stand up and shout, sit down and sing-- or whatever it was that rolled was issued I just sat there! This caused me some grief because there were those who thought I was- GASP - rebellious!
Meanwhile, I sat and I watched, and I listened. I watched the dear sweet sheep in the room with me do *whatever* the Pastor said with out thinking, with out praying, they just did. It was then I was scared that maybe I was lost and wasn't close enough to Christ because I was NOT comfortable with following the crowd even if that crowd was my own "home" church. I soon sorted out that it wasn't that I was lost, it was that I was working so hard to hear God for myself that automatic actions just because "Simon" said were not going to cut it for me. It I didn't feel it in my heart, then I wasn't going to do it just because everyone else did.
I am more like Matt the character in this book, winding up with a few of my own "pet zombies" that I have worked hard to pray with and help them not be a non-thinking Zombie. I was taught young that if I didn't have myself prayed up and have enough discernment that when the false prophets came with signs and wonders that I wouldn't know the fakes from the real deal. I decided when I was young that I would NEVER be a "Zombie" if I could help it. Things like 2 Timothy 4:3 have always affected me: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths."
I know some other Monsters, and I think the Monster Index at the end of the book was great. I can't tell you what kind of Monster I am- other than I have worked my entire life to not be one. I can tell you that I know I am a child of God, a cracked damaged vessel being molded into what I am suppose to be. That work is still in progress. But that is the great thing about the REAL Christians. We are a mixed up lot, but when we are real and listening we are able to come together. The Zombies, Werewolves, Androids, Mad Scientists, Vampires and others and be made new and whole so that we are Monsters no more but instead we are becoming reflections of God's love. (Yes ---- even toward's Monsters!)
Carol :)
Here is an interview with the author, or the character, himself!
About the Book:
In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
(Which I am thankful for!)
Book link - http://www.amazon.com/Night-
Author’s Web site - http://www.mikalatos.com/
Participants’ links are below so you can read more than just my thoughts.
Gillian Adams
Julie Bihn
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Thomas Fletcher Booher
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Theresa Dunlap
Amber French
Tori Greene
Nikole Hahn
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Janeen Ippolito
Becky Jesse
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Leighton
Shannon McDermott
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
Joan Nienhuis
John W. Otte
Crista Richey
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Shane Werlinger
Nicole White
Dave Wilson
When I read the part about the zombie church, I, being a Catholic, was reminded of some Catholics who were very enamored of a certain priest whose popular sermons and lectures were often televised on the Catholic channel. And then that priest was accused of misusing the funds of his ministry for personal gain, and his faithful zombies felt lost.
ReplyDeleteWhich is why it's important to remember that it's Jesus we are following and not some pastor--- no matter how good that pastor may be.
Carol, I love that verse from 2 Tim. you quoted.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with Nissa. The important thing to remember is that we follow Jesus Christ.
Great post. So glad you found this book so rich it required all three days to interact with it.
Becky