Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes they win.
– Stephen King

As a kid, I loved what were known as “Monster Movies.” I became addicted, despite the nightmares that they sometimes caused. Back then it just seemed like good entertainment, but historically the horror or monster genre has been used to teach about the consequences of our actions. 

It’s seen in cheesy horror movies where the characters who die off are the ones who experiment with various vices. The Bible teaches too that there’s a little “monster” in each of us. Romans 3:23 reminds us, we’re “all sinners.” Too often those monsters come out among Christians and even in the church. So, bear with me as I work through a little tongue in cheek of some monsters that hide in the dark corners among believers. Maybe crank up Monster Mash in the background and let’s work through some of them. 

Dracula

He was known for sucking the life out of others. Sadly, some people are like vampires. Spending time with them feels like the life is sucked right out of you. They point out our mistakes and put us down. They discourage us. If we blow it, it’s like they enjoy watching us struggle. They’re often the first to let others know we’ve failed, sometimes as a “prayer request.” 

Remember that vampires can’t see themselves in a mirror. Believers who act “vampirish” can’t see their sin or their behavior in God’s Word (James 1:23-24). Probably, though the greatest danger to them is that they infect others, turning them into vampires too. 

Werewolves

Maybe the worst thing about werewolves is that you hear them long before they attack you. They’re always “howling” about something. Some Christians are like that. Whether it’s something at church, or at their job or with politics, they’re continually howling. Nothing is ever right. Yet, dare to disagree with them, and they may go for your throat. 

Like vampires, if they bite someone, they can turn them into a werewolf. It’s sad when a church has a pack of howlers, usually off in a corner growling together, though they can be a in a Bible study or small group together. That pack mentality infects others and is deadly for a church. 

Mike Wazowski

Did you watch Monsters, Inc.? It was a great movie. Mike Wazowski is the little green one-eyed monster. Some Christians can be that way, too. They can only see one thing. They have one focus. Sometimes it’s children’s or teen programs. Other times it’s music. In fact, you’ll run into believers who choose a church only because of the music or a children’s program that they like. It can be evangelism, Bible study, prayer, small groups. Ultimately, it’s all about their one thing. 

A healthy Christian and a healthy church need to be well-rounded. God doesn’t call us to focus on “one thing” or to be one string violins.  

Ghosts

Today it’s been dubbed “ghosting.” It happens a lot in the culture. Sadly, it happens among Christians, too…and it happens too often at church. Someone from church calls or texts about a ministry, an opportunity or a need, and the recipient never acknowledges the contact. It becomes very discouraging and wearisome for ministry leaders. 

We tend to justify that we’re “busy,” yet, we all have the same 24 hours. Loving each other means that we’re considerate of each other. While we may not be able to help or serve, we shouldn’t ghost. Christians are to be thoughtful, particularly of each other believers. 

Zombies

They’re always loud. It can be a Christian who is loud about his/her faith but it’s just words. They only consume but don’t live it out. They don’t serve. They don’t give. They don’t share their faith. If they’re part of a church, they think that they’ve done something just because they attend, and the church should be thankful that they do. 

Mummies

They’re totally wrapped up in themselves. It’s all about them – their concerns, their issues, their struggles, their life. If someone doesn’t give them the attention they think they deserve or somehow they’re overlooked, they unravel. 

The Thing

They morph and shapeshift depending on who they’re with and what they’re doing. If they’re with pagans, they act like pagans. If they’re with the church crowd, they act like they’re baptized in holy water. It’s a Sunday only Christian. At church, they act like a committed Christ-follower and put on a “churchy-face.” but you don’t want them working for you and certainly don’t want to do business with them. Their ethics and Christian behavior are skin deep and depend on their environment. 

They hurt the cause of Christ and influence others negatively, often hiding their true nature. They can mimic their victims, adopting traits or behaviors that can disrupt or harm those around them. They’re smart about adapting and hiding their agendas…and they always destroy. 

Cookie Monster

They consume everything “spiritual” with little discernment. If it’s called Christian, then to them, it must be. They don’t think and check out what they listen to or read with Scripture. They’re swallowing anything and everything. 

Predator

These are believers who love to fight. They hardly ever meet an issue they can walk away from. They’re opinionated and usually arrogant on seemingly every subject. Arguing is their default setting. They must win, no matter how many bloody carcasses they leave strewn behind them.  

Godzilla

This monster steps on others and everything. They bulldoze their way through to get their way, unaware of the havoc left behind. These are folk who are destructive to other Christians and churches. 

Gremlins

They seem sweet, even cuddly, but suddenly they’re initiating chaos. They find something to gripe, be annoyed or upset about. It’s like a switch flips. Suddenly, they’re creating drama just when things are going well. It’s a cycle that keeps repeating. After a period of relative calm, they seem to need to stir things up. Maybe they bring up past grievances, find faults in others, or create problems where there were none. It can feel like they are sabotaging their own happiness — in many ways, they are. They seem to love chaos. 

How’s your monster?

If we’re honest, all of us have a bit of a monster inside of us. At usually the wrong place and time, our inner monster is popping out like the creature in Alien. But Jesus came to make us a new creation. Because of Christ in us, we’re to be different. Our monster needs to die and we’re to live a new life in Christ. By God’s grace, 2 Corinthians 5:17, needs to be true of me and you, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.