Beware of “Vampire Christianity”

What Causes it…and what Kills it

I once was meeting with a guy who was considering Christianity, and he asked, “So you’re saying I wouldn’t be in charge of my life?” After I confirmed his statement, he continued, “I’ve always felt as if it was up to me to make the right decisions. But you’re saying I can trust God with my life?” Nod. “Well, if that’s true, that would be a huge relief!” When I heard him say that, I knew he was getting close. A few weeks later, he surrendered his life to Jesus, with great joy.

When we surrender our lives to Jesus, we learn the relief of surrender. We’re finally entrusting our lives to the one who is qualified to handle them. We experience peace, because we can trust the one to whom we’ve surrendered. We become confident, because we have the King of the Universe looking out for us. Surrender gives us life without regrets, because we know his plan is best.

But so much discipleship is hindered by people stopping short of surrender. They look at what will be lost, and unlike my friend, they don’t feel relief. The call of discipleship is to surrender control, but with the knowledge that we will get to the end of our lives and say “But it was worth it.”

So many of those who call themselves Christians are on the brink of that. They stand on the bubble of faith. They…