If any native Israelite or foreigner living among you eats or drinks blood in any form, I will turn against that person and cut him off from the community of your people. (Leviticus 17:10)

Read: Leviticus 16:29-18:30, Mark 7:24-8:10, Psalm 41:1-13, Proverbs 10:15-16

Relate: “Twilight”. Once upon a time this word would have brought to mind that time after the sun has set but before the night truly grew dark. Now the very word has been preempted to mean a multi-million dollar book and movie conglomerate featuring sexy werewolves and vampires. Its popularity has opened the door for the mass marketing of a bevy of other supernatural movies and series like True Blood, Penny Dreadful, The Originals, Being Human, Vampire Diaries, Underworld, and many others.

In the past decade we have seen vampire lore do a complete 180. There was once a time when vampires were evil. Lilith, Lumushtu, Gallu… They’re demons in early Hebrew or neighboring cultures who had vampire traits. There is nothing new about the idea vampires. The difference is that now they are handsome or beautiful, brooding, misunderstood and tortured souls.  They now have a longing to do evil but there are many among them who are very noble and do their very best to fight against these base impulses. Yes, every now and then they might fall off the wagon and drink someone (or a few dozen someones) dry but nobody’s perfect. They try and because of that we are supposed to consider them noble and good.

React: I understand the popularity. From my perspective there are two things at play here. First there is the “buck the establishment” principle. Everyone says vampires are evil. The parents say it, society says it, church says it, even most of the vampires say it. That is all because  they just don’t know “Edward” like I do. He has such a good heart. He tries and he loves me. The whole world is wrong and I am right and screw the facts. I know it in my heart.

The even greater pull is the fact that we all, in our way, fight the same struggle as these “good” vampires. Every day we are faced with struggle. Temptation surrounds us every waking minute and we want so hard to do what is right. Yes, every now or then we might mess up but as long as we are trying we must be good, right? No. Vampires don’t exist but if they did, the Bible stands clear that they are evil. Yes, I said it. Vampires are evil. So are you. So am I. It doesn’t matter that we try to do good. Results are what count and we fail. And we fail again. And we fail again. That is why we are so desperate for the blood of Christ. His is the only blood that brings life. Everything else only creates death.

Respond: 

Dear God, 

My very nature is evil. My longings, my desires… they are evil. I can try as hard as I might but all I am really doing is counting the minutes until I fail again. Help me to give up this crazy notion that I am actually good. Help me to truly grasp the fact that the only good I can have is the good You place on me. Help me to give up on my nature so that I can take on Yours. Your blood is my life.