1984

Hey Peeps, Chicks and Bunnies. As well as my loyal fan. I am a member of my own blog, so I like to give a shout out to myself as my only loyal fan. 

Anyway. This is an essay that I had to write as part of a final exam for this year. I rather liked it, and so I thought that I would post it to see if anyone else would like reading it. Hopefully this is self-explanatory enough to not require the reading of 1984 to get it, but basically, the essay was in answer to the question: "Describe what a Christian response would be to a world of pretended absolute power like the one Winston Smith lives in, in the book 1984." So here it is:

              “Big Brother Is Watching You.”[1] This line describes perfectly the situation in which Winston lives in the novel 1984. In it, as is easily guessed, there is some murky deity, a malevolent all-seeing all-knowing personage intent on keeping you in check at all times. This seems very scary, but how should we as Christ’s children react? Specifically, we should stand strong in our faith, but while the government agrees with God’s commands, obey the government. Once violated, however, we should follow God’s commands above the contrary commands of Big Brother, and finally we should bear up in Christ’s strength all persecutions we come under as a result.

                First, in Romans 13:1-2, God tells us to, “[B]e subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” So we can see that all rebellion for the sake of itself against our governments would be against God’s commands, even if we do not like the government as it stands. Even if Big Brother is watching you all day every day, it does not violate God’s commands to submit and let him. Man’s basic instincts press him on to rebel against all things that are inconvenient or unpleasant, but this is not God’s will. We would resoundingly feel the injustice, but to stand up for something unpleasant, but not damning, in the face of this command would be damning in and of itself because of the sin against God’s commands.

                Secondly, what if Ingsoc, the government in 1984, was endeavoring to make you believe something against God’s commands? For instance, “We control life, Winston, at all its levels…we create human nature.”[2] This is the first time that Big Brother’s view of himself is stated definitively in the book. However insinuatingly this idea was woven into the story, it is only now that we see the utter blasphemy of the entire system. When we see anyone making themselves out as the creators or controllers of life, automatically we know that they are lying, unless it is God speaking. Big Brother is not God, and so we can be sure of his untrustworthiness. However, thoughtcrime committed even by Big Brother does not make grounds for revolution. It is only when Big Brother acts it out, toys with life, and makes himself appear to be God while disposing of life, raising life up, and (he thinks) inventing life that he transgresses God’s commands. In requiring Christians and all people to be accomplices to acting out his blasphemous ego, he instigates the breaking of his laws. Regardless of the habitat we are in, we are to stand firm in the faith, as we are commanded in Ephesians: “[B]e strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”[3] This is a direct command to stay on the straight and narrow and never to swerve, despite outward opposition. Nor should we be afraid that justice will never be done towards the wayward rulers, because as one example, Nebuchadnezzar was told that he, “[Would] be made to eat grass like an ox, and [would] be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time [would] pass over [him], till [he] kn[e]w that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.”
               

                Lastly, how should we act when we are persecuted, imprisoned, and maybe killed for the faith by an entity which knows every bit of unauthorized behavior ever committed? With both feet planted perfectly on the Word of God, just as in any other situation. Even if those in Big Brother’s Ingsoc know everything about you, can kill you, torture you, God will give you all the strength necessary to stay true to Christ. As He says, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” [4] We should rest assured of God’s sufficient Grace and know that however powerful those of this world appear to be, God is bigger than everything, the real Creator, and thus there is no difference in His means for us to overcome their power.

                We should be immensely heartened by this whole treatise on withstanding so seemingly “absolute power” as seen in Winston Smith’s life in 1984. Not only do we have a completely comprehensive plan as to when to break the laws of the land, but we also know how to act when we are persecuted for our faith. Just as Jesus says, “When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.”[5] So we are absolutely equipped for every situation we could think of under any possible kind of absolute human power, and can rest assured in God’s strength. We need only follow God with the strength God provides, and trust him for all things. Our part is easy, and the outcome is assured. So when the Big Brothers of our world come knocking, we can assuredly be Godly men and women and never become his minions, being answerable to the only True Judge of the world.

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[1] Orwell’s 1984 Chapter 1

[2] O’Brien to Winston, Orwell’s 1984 Chapter III Section 3.

[3] Ephesians 6:10b-11

[4] 1 Corinthians 10:13

[5] Matthew 10: 19