Vampires

Watch out for redheads because the redness in their hair is caused by drinking people’s blood! This statement is clearly stupid and offensive. Obviously, people with red hair are not vampires. However, maybe it’s not the truth that I’m after. Instead, what I desire is your emotional response. You’ll either believe me that redheads are vampires and become afraid. Or, you’ll know that I am lying about redheads and become angry. Fear and anger are very useful tools that I’ve established.

The sad fact is that perception is reality. If I can make you feel as though redheads should be feared, the fact that they’re not vampires is irrelevant. If my goal is your skepticism and fear of redheads, then I’ve achieved my goal. An alternative response would be your outrage. While angry, you’ll do me a favor by spreading the “redhead rumor” and some portion of people will buy into it. All the while, it began as an absurd falsehood. No one can prove that redheads are not vampires, so I’ve escaped the negative consequences of lying. 

Unfortunately, there is no incentive to tell the truth. Integrity is what keeps lies at bay. As Christians, we are in the business of truth-telling. Honesty is often the more difficult path to choose. In the constant barrage of misinformation, persuasive tactics, and countless biases, I have no idea how people know anything accurately today. If we are drinking from a firehose of garbage that is filled with conspiracy theories, lies, and deceit, we can become disorientated. If we can’t tell up from down, we will lose our way.

When we are lost, what will be our north star? How will we find our way amidst all the noise? The answer… Christ. Love will light our path forward. The factual details of any rumor or story might be interesting and important to know. But we do not need to know everything to know about love. It doesn’t matter how convinced someone is that redheads are vampires. It might not even be a lie; they may truly believe it themselves. People may even present you with “evidence” or “witnesses” of redheads being vampires. My advice is to listen for love and to follow that impulse.

How will we make our decision on whether or not to believe that redheads are vampires? Calling redheads vampires is not loving! As Christians, we have an alternative way of living. We choose love. We see the goodness in all people. We are quick to forgive. We extend to people the benefit of the doubt. We give voice to the people that others are defaming and silencing. As Christ-followers, we reject cynicism and refuse to be led by fear. Rather than asking what is true or false, I prefer to start by asking… “what is loving or unloving?”

I know love is naive. Love can certainly be taken advantage of from time to time. Love is risky. But, my friends, love is the way of Christ. To place our trust in God is to also place our trust in the belief that God is working in the world. There are no vampires. But if there were, we would be called to love them. Whatever problems that vampires may bring us, the solution would be more love.

Loving redheads too,

Pastor Lucas

Photo by Loren Cutler