Zombies & The Gospel According to 'Warm Bodies'

2/2/2013

Can zombies preach? Of course they can! Just check out 'Warm Bodies'. Its a simple story of boy meets girl ...except of course, this time the boy is 'R', a zombie - one of the walking dead - while his love interest is Julie, a living, breathing girl. Too cute, right!!!! Anyway...
Here are a few themes that reveal the Gospel according to 'Warm Bodies':

1) Before coming to faith in Christ, the Bible Refers to us as the Walking Dead

Yep. Just like R, we all shuffle through this world physically alive yet spiritually dead.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient..(Ephesians 2:2)

2) Because We Are the Walking Dead, We Are in Danger of God's Righteous Wrath

R is a zombie. He eats humans. Of course, humans don''t take kindly to being eaten alive. So the zombies are at the receiving end of the 'wrath of the humans'.
In the same way, our spiritual deadness causes us to do, say and think many terrible and evil things. These things are called sin. They are a direct offense and crime against God. But because God is good and righteous, He must punish all those who sin (hint: that's all of us!). This is the wrath of God.

we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.. (Ephesians 2:3b)

3) But Because of God's Love, We Are Brought to Spiritual Life

Our young zombie friend awakens to new life because of love. In the same way, we too come to life because of love.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved (Ephesians 2:4-5)

4) When We Are Brought to Spiritual Life, We Become Something New

Because he's now alive, R's affections begin to change. He becomes Julie's protector. He puts himself in the line of fire for others. He stops eating human flesh. He begins to communicate clearly. His existence as a zombie is over. His new life has begun.
In the same way, because of Christ, our old existence is over. A new life has begun.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.
(2 Corinthians 5:17)

5) R's New Life Began with Julie, For us it Begins with Christ

R's new life begins when he sees Julie. In the same way, our new lives begin when we see Jesus.

Jesus said: "For this is the will of My Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:40)

Now, I'm kinda certain that the writer of 'Warm Bodies' did not intend to write an allegory of the gospel, but it works.
The dead walk. Love brings them to life. Sinners are saved. A new life dawns.

Pastor Ellery

So, What Now?

Christ came to save sinners like you and me. He did it by living the perfectly righteous life we never could, dying the death we deserved and rising from the dead!
On the cross, He was the recipient of the full wrath of God even though he never did, said or thought anything wrong. He was perfectly good, loving and just.
But God made Him - His Son - to be our substitute!
His perfectly righteous life was given in exchange for our life of evil, selfishness and sin.
He gave us the greatest gift He could give - Himself!
By dying on the cross, He saved us from the wrath of God we deserved! Because of that, the sins of those of us who trust and believe in Him are completely forgiven.
When He rose from the dead, He proved we would also rise with Him to new, eternal life.
He has promised to return and make all things new. Eternal life with Him in a new heaven and a new earth where there is no more sin, sickness, suffering and death is our inheritance.
But we must believe. Believing Jesus did this for you changes your entire life!
It means you who were once spiritually dead, have suddenly been born again. You are now alive. A new life of purpose, incomprehensible love, joy and peace has begun.
Will you believe? If so, pray this prayer:

"God I desperately need you in my life.
In more ways than I can count, I know I haven't done right.
I've made so many mistakes.
But I need your forgiveness.
And because of what Jesus did for me, I know you will forgive me.
I know I'm a sinner. I know I deserve your wrath.
But I believe you love me!
I believe you gave Your Son, Jesus to die on the cross for me.
I believe He rose from the dead and that my life will never be the same.
I turn my back on my old way of living.

If you prayed that prayer, why not let us know?
Leave us a comment, shoot us an email or go to our contact page and send us a note.

4 Comments

Leah Hillman

4/1/2013 11:08:33 am

[NOTE: THIS COMMENT HAS BEEN EDITED BY MODERATOR FOR LANGUAGE. IT WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED ON 04/01/2013 6:48am]

Can I ask you respectfully why you would promote this show? I am going to copy and paste the IMDB content advisory here. Read it, and then tell me- how can you say this show is alright for a Christian to view? I just don't understand. It makes me sad that a pastor would say this is ok.

Episode 1.2, Guts: In the beginning of the episode, a man and woman have sex in the woods. They kiss passionately, then they proceed to remove clothes. She is seen while undressing, and after, in only a bra and panties. He moves behind her and they begin to have sex. She starts to moan and the scene cuts out. No nudity is shown.

In the beginning of a few episodes after 1.2 in re-cap of previous episodes, the scene with Shane and Lori in the woods having sex in episode 1.2 is very briefly shown. Also in 1.6 a man attempts to rape a woman.

Episode 1.6: Rick and Lori are in the shower together kissing, nothing graphic is shown. Later Shane confronts Lori while drunk and against her will, kisses her and shoves his hand down her panties. Nothing graphic, just implied.

Episode 2.4, Cherokee Rose: Glenn is seen looking at condoms in a pharmacy. Maggie asks why he's looking at them and if he's trying something. He replies by saying no. She then says I'd have sex with you. She takes off her shirt and bra, the side of her breast is seen but the nipple is not exposed. They kiss and the scene cuts out.

Episode 2.6, Secrets: A man and woman are driving after an argument, she rests her hand on his groin; he turns to her, stops the car and says "Go ahead." She climbs over on his lap. They start to have sex (scene in the car cuts off when she almost kisses him in the car). It then shows an outside shot of the car in woods, with the horn honking once.

There is a scene in an early episode in season 3 where Carol is going to "practice" a c-section, on a zombie. Once she pulls the zombie's dress up, you can see the abdomen, panties and legs, however it is not sexual and not attractive.

Episode 3.3, Walk With Me: At the end of the episode, the governor walks past his bedroom door and the camera stays focused on a sleeping female, covered with a sheet.

Episode 3.4, Killer Within: Daryl yells for help from Glenn, who is in a watch tower. Glenn comes outside, shirtless. It is implied that he and Maggie were "interrupted" while having sex (completely off-screen/no audio). Nothing is shown. A few jokes are made afterward.

Also in Killer Within, Lori gives birth. See Violence and Gore category for more info.

Episode 3.6, Hounded: Andrea and the governor have sex, toward the end of the episode. Andrea's entire left leg and side of butt cheek are visible. The rest is covered by a sheet. The governor leaves the room, but when he returns he drops his robe, revealing a bare back. Andrea is wrapped in a sheet, her upper back visible. They begin kissing and the scene cuts.

Episode 3.7, When The Dead Come Knocking: While interrogating Maggie, the governor makes her take off her shirt and then her bra. Maggie is seen in pants and a bra, and afterward there are a few scenes where she keeps her arms crossed to cover herself. The governor seems like he is going to sexually abuse her, but he does not, he just slams her on a table, however it is still very disturbing.

The governor returns to his house, where Andrea is getting dressed, shown from the rear, wearing only panties (possibly a thong) and a bra while pulling her pants up. She then puts a shirt on and turns around, though the strap falls down and cleavage is visible while she talks to the governor.

Episode 3.8, Made to Suffer: Axel is talking to Beth, complementing her on being good with the baby, asking how old she is, with just a hint of attraction. Carol pulls him away and tells him to stay away from her, he says that being in a jail for so long with no women, and now suddenly there being women in his life again, he finds it hard to control himself. He also says how he thought Carol was a lesbian by her short hair, she replies that she is not.

Episode 3.11, I Ain't a Judas: Andrea sleeps with the Governor again, and in the middle of the night, gets out of bed to kill him. She is obviously naked, but the room is barely lit, and nothing can be seen besides the side of her butt when light flashes over it and then her back.

Episode 3.13, Arrow on the Doorpost: Glenn and Maggie has sex. You can see Maggie naked for a brief 4-5 seconds, but nothing too explicit is shown.

Fans of the comic book series know that the books are filled with strong language. However, this is not the case in the show.

The strongest word uttered to date is s**t, which is used often.

The word nigger is used three times in one episode by Merle, and once in each other season by the same character.

There is also frequent use of b***h, a*s, b*****d, damn, hell, and religious remarks.

Words like p***y and j**k

4/1/2013 11:10:22 am

[NOTE: THIS COMMENT HAS BEEN EDITED BY MODERATOR FOR LANGUAGE. IT WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED ON 04/01/2013 6:52am ]

(continued)

Shane calls his wife a b***h.

Pastor Ellery link

4/1/2013 11:21:45 am

Leah,
Did you actually read the blog post?
I referred to the movie 'Warm Bodies' - not the television series 'The Walking Dead'.
Also, why would you leave that kind of profanity in the content you copy/pasted?
As you can see, our moderator edited your comments for language.

4/1/2013 11:13:06 am

WOW! Love the Blog - Loved the movie! I guess Ms Hillman didn't really read your post. As a matter of fact, there was an Atheist guy who wrote an article about how he was upset regarding the "Christian Undertone" of this movie "Warm Bodies". Even an Atheist recognizes the Gospel message when he sees it. Amazing some Christians don't.
Keep giving the message of the Gospel to the lost of this culture Ps Ellery! Don't give in to critics.