The Gospel According to the Walking Dead – Season 4, Episode 7

Is it okay to rob someone to feed your own family? Where do we go to find answers to these kind of moral quandaries? That’s the discussion in this week’s The Gospel According to the Walking Dead.

Rick, Carl, Hershel… Daryl? For the second week in a row we are forced to hold off on that story line and focus instead on the apparent metamorphosis of The Governor. Last week we couldn’t help but wonder if The Governor changed. This week, we find the answer. (I knew it! Didn’t you?)

This series never fails to provide effective springboards for discussion. This week was no exception. Halfway through the episode, in the midst of all the drama, we see three survivors face a moral decision. The Governor and his new friends Pete and Mitch are looking for supplies when they encounter a small group of survivors at another camp in the woods. The three onlookers stealthily assess the situation.

Pete: How many?

Mitch: Ten. Maybe less. They got a lot of supplies though.

Pete: Maybe we should take them in.

Mitch: Are you crazy? We barely got enough to go around as it is. Look Pete, I know you don’t want to hurt nobody and neither do I, but we need those supplies. Let’s just go there, take what we need, and go. No rough stuff.

Pete: You want to rob them?

Mitch: Why not? We need there stuff. Now they have guns, but if we roll up on them quick…

Pete: No. (He pauses, thinking about his decision.) No. We can find our own supplies. Come on.

I’ve never been in a situation so dire where I didn’t know where my next meal was coming from, but I hope I wouldn’t resort to robbing others to help myself.

Mitch and Pete obviously didn’t agree. What about you?

SEASON 4, EPISODE 7 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What is the most hunger you have ever experienced?

2. Why was robbing this group such a temptation?

3. What reason does Mitch provide to Pete as to why they should rob this other group? Explain this reasoning. Is he right?

4. Pete seemed to think the issue was black and white. He even clarified Mitch’s intentions, “You want to rob them?” Was the issue this black and white? Explain.

5. Is it ever right to rob someone?

This situation reminds me of the beginning of the book of Proverbs. This book is so full of wisdom and so incredibly relevant in these kinds of situations. Look at this passage:

¹⁰ My child, if sinners entice you,
    turn your back on them!
¹¹ They may say, “Come and join us.
    Let’s hide and kill someone!
    Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!
¹² Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave;
    let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.
¹³ Think of the great things we’ll get!
    We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.
¹⁴ Come, throw in your lot with us;
    we’ll all share the loot.”

¹⁵ My child, don’t go along with them!
    Stay far away from their paths.
¹⁶ They rush to commit evil deeds.
    They hurry to commit murder.
¹⁷ If a bird sees a trap being set,
    it knows to stay away.
¹⁸ But these people set an ambush for themselves;
    they are trying to get themselves killed.
¹⁹ Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;
    it robs them of life. (Proverbs 1:10-19, NLT)

6. In this passage, what are the sinners enticing this person to do?

7. What does this passage warn us to do when this happens (see verses 10 and 15)?

8. How can we “stay far away from their path”? How does this apply to your life?

9. What does this passage describe as consequences when we do this (see verses 18 and 19)?

10. What does it mean it “robs them of life”? What does this look like?

11. What should have Mitch and Pete done in this situation?

12. What is more important: eating, or doing what is moral and just? Explain.

DIALOGUE WITH TEENAGERS ABOUT MORAL ISSUES JUST LIKE THIS IN JONATHAN’S POPULAR NEW BOOK, THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR TEENAGERS