Zombie Companies & Christians

Peter’s Plan

The disciples were trying to figure Jesus out. He had just told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I’m going there to wake him up.”

They all nodded. “Oh, that’s good.”

"I’ve been reading about mental health," Thomas chimed in. "Sleep is so important."

Jesus stopped walking, turned around, and said flatly, “Lazarus is dead.”

The group went silent. Dead? Then why were they going? Just to comfort the family? Just to sit and mourn?

That’s when Peter, always quick with his theories, leaned in close to the others. “Guys, I know exactly what’s going on. I’ve figured out Jesus’ plan.”

They all looked at him. “What plan?”

Peter’s eyes widened. “He’s going to raise Lazarus as a zombie!”

The disciples stared at him, dumbfounded.

“No, seriously! Think about it. It’s been four days. Everyone knows three days is the limit for a real resurrection. Four days? That’s zombie territory. Jesus is about to raise up an army of the undead. Imagine it—hundreds, maybe thousands of zombies marching through Israel, storming the Roman garrisons. No soldier could stop them! You can’t kill what’s already dead.”

All the disciples just shook their heads.

But Peter was convinced. “C’mon, remember Ezekiel’s dry-bone skeleton army?! Zombie apocalypse, Roman Empire destroyed, Kingdom of God established. We’re about to change the world! Trust me. Jesus is brilliant. This is the ultimate plan.”

Of course, that wasn’t Jesus’ plan at all. He didn’t call Lazarus out of the tomb to be a zombie. He called him out to be fully alive.

Jesus calls you and me as well. Yet I wonder how many people are zombie-Christians.

Zombie Companies

First, let’s talk about zombie companies.

No, these are not the parent companies of Halloween stores.

A zombie company is a business that really should not exist anymore. It looks alive but is dead inside. It doesn’t make enough money to survive on its own—it only keeps going because it’s being artificially propped up. The service it provides is not as good as it should be, but because of past success and substantial size, it continues existing due to inertia and outside support.

Often that support comes from new loans. They qualify for these loans because of their size and history, and because banks thrive on new debt. The company’s cash flow isn’t strong enough to allow it to grow, so it uses the new loans just to pay its bills. Then it slowly raises prices over time (thanks to inflation), which enables it to cover the debt.

They take out new loans not to grow but simply to pay off old bills. It’s like using a new credit card to pay the minimum on another.

And you thought you were clever when you did that. Ha! They’ve already mastered it.

They also survive off government subsidies—when the government labels their product or service as “too important to fail.” So the government promises to finance part of their expenses to keep them alive.

They aren’t keeping their doors open because people love their product. Growth and innovation are stagnant because of bureaucratic bloat or a lack of vision and creativity. The government sometimes props them up (with even more guaranteed debt) because at least they know how to lobby.

On the outside, they look fine. Inside, there’s no spark, no innovation, no life.

This is a distortion of reality. They consume resources that stronger, healthier companies could be using. They also increase vulnerability. When an economic downturns hit, they are the first to collapse, often dragging others down with them.

The Zombie Christian

A zombie Christian—we’ll call him Mr. ZC—appears outwardly active in his faith, but inwardly he lacks vitality and growth. He runs on external support, consuming resources but producing little fruit in his life, his church, or his community.

Mr. ZC is heavily reliant on pastors, energetic Christians, and special events to sustain him. Without this constant propping up, his faith weakens and stagnates.

He struggles to grow spiritually and lacks personal prayer, study, and the effort to apply faith in daily life. His participation in church is passive. He consumes but rarely contributes.

He requires significant attention from pastors, peers, or church resources but doesn’t reinvest these into others. His inertia can even hinder newer or more genuine believers who are eager to grow.

And he is vulnerable—highly susceptible to doubt, sin, and discouragement because his faith is shallow. Challenges like unanswered prayers, relationship conflicts, or disappointments can easily cause him to falter or disengage.

I could go on, but I think you get the picture.

ZC, Come Forth!

We can see how an economy filled with zombie companies is doomed. The same is true of a church or society filled with zombie Christians.

So what’s the solution? Let them crash and burn?

I can’t speak for companies, but I can speak to Christians: the solution is resurrection life. Walk out of the stagnant, dead place and into the challenge of living.

I’ve never walked out of a grave wrapped up like a mummy. But I can imagine it was awkward.

Lazarus had to walk out of that tomb on his own, moved by the voice of Jesus. That’s the call for every one of us: “Come out of the tomb, shed the grave clothes, and live free.”

Mr. ZC has to hear God’s voice directly—not wait for someone else to drag him along. He must recognize his dying condition and realize his only hope is to walk toward the voice calling him. He has to pursue the presence of Jesus.

This happens through personal Bible reading and study. Through private prayer. Through personal evangelism and faithful, disciplined Christian living.

He must stop relying on others to hand him faith and encouragement. He must put in the effort to develop and sustain his own walk with God.

And he must begin to contribute. A dead man is of no use. He must provide encouragement, service, and value to those around him. He must stop draining resources and become a resource himself.

As Jesus said: “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living”.

Zombie Christians drain life. Resurrected Christians give it.