Vampires, very, very dangerous!
At least that I what I grew up believing as a kid. I learned while watching the Night Stalker on TV, vampires often roamed the dark shadows of city streets driven by thirst, “Va-a-a-anting to suck my blood.” From Bela Lugosi to the suburban creeper on “Fright Night,” I convinced myself never to trust a white-faced, sharp-toothed Count from Transylvania.
But my contempt for vampires was soon to be challenged; my wife brought home a rather innocent looking book with an apple on the front. “What book is that?” She replied, “It is called Twilight, it is about a gorgeous vampire named Edward. He’s so dreamy!” (She didn’t quite say it like that, but that is what she meant). I was appalled. “You mean to tell me, you…like…vampires??”
She went on to explain how vampires are now COOL. Edward and his family only suck the blood of animals, and they are friends to humans. He even is in love with a human girl named Bella because he is intoxicated with the scent of her blood and wants to be her eternal soul-mate. “How romantic!” Well, as most of us know, the Twilight series hit the big-time in book sales & silver screen, and vampire mania went crazy. Now vampires are all the rage, lovable fuzz balls now for us to eagerly embrace; the perfect model of what fathers everywhere hope their daughters would marry. The American people took the monster and domesticated him. A vampire has now become a hero…hence, the vampire makeover.
A few years ago one of the students in my youth group pulled me aside and sheepishly said, “I am really having a problem with my mom.” After a few seconds of silence, I asked her for more specifics. Here is what she said, “Well, the best way to put it is that my mom…well…she is like a vampire. She is one person in daylight, putting on a great show as a responsible mother for all to see; and then when night comes she completely changes. She drags me with her to all the seedy bars & clubs while she tries to be a sensual lady trying to pick up other women. I am supposed to respect her new lifestyle choices, but how can I when she has turned into an irresponsible adolescent driven by lust?” Like a vampire lurking & thirsting in the shadows…
Well, most American experts, teachers, and cultural connoisseurs tell us now not to worry, lust is now a good thing. Sexual preferences now define who people are, they can’t help being thirsty. The contempt we once had for sensual obsessions and perversions has been domesticated; instead of encouraging self-control, it has now become a repressive vice. Self-expression and personal freedom is the moral high ground to claim and fight for…the vampire is now our hero. And God?
Well…he is now society’s primary villain. “Why do you bring charges against me? You have all rebelled against me,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 2:29)
