On Friday, my wife and I went to see the new movie V for Vendetta at our local cinema. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I knew very little about the movie beyond television and theatrical trailors for it.
And I knew it was a derived from a DC Comics character, and I’m a sucker for movies based on comics.
The movie was for the most part enjoyable. The storyline has the United Kingdom under the rule of a fascist government which controls the media and pretty much everything else.
A hero-terrorist, ever wearing a Guy Fawkes mask, causes much trouble for the fascist regime, believing people ought to be able to choose their own course. This hero-terrorist, known only as V, causes the destruction of landmarks, executes political leaders and figureheads, and so on.
All the while, he collects banned artwork–including some very famous artwork–which he hides in his underground lair.
V also acquires a sidekick, Evey, who sympathizes with him after he rescues her from several government agents.
They grow to trust each other while V subjects her to a very unique method of training someone, all in preparation for V’s own “Fifth of November” plot–the destruction of the British Parliament building.
The acting was great, the special effects were good, and it was enjoyable.
However, I must look at it from a biblical perspective and share what I see so that hopefully other Christians aren’t surprised by this movie.
The fascist government in control of the United Kingdom seems to be made to represent religion–Christianity in specific. Numerous appeals are made for faith and belief in God, and the national logo or whatever it was is a cross with an extra horizontal beam in the design. The national motto is, “Strength through unity. Unity through faith.” V and his followers often vandalize these posters.
The entire reason V is fighting, however, doesn’t seem to have as much to do with personal problems with the government as it does a vendetta against them on behalf of a woman who occupied a neighboring cell at a detention camp he was held at. This woman–a lesbian–wrote autobiographic notes on sheets of toilet tissue which she passed through a rat hole to the neighboring cell. V read these words of her life, her lesbian lover, and how the church-government forced their separation. (Of course, you cannot portray anything as Christian–especially when mixed with the government–without making it hateful toward the PC-group-of-the-month.)
In the course of the movie, we learn that Evey becomes sympathetic toward the rights of the homosexuals and perhaps even finds her strength to fight alongside V from the same legacy.
In V for Vendetta, anarchy (personified by V) and godlessness are triumphant over the church-state. And the satanic philosophy of “do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law” so long as it does no harm would seemingly become the only law.
So let me just say a few things in response to VfV‘s portrayals:
- The true churches of God have nothing to do with the world’s governments. We are called to pray for our leaders and to obey those that have the rule over us. And we are called to recognize that it is Satan who is the god of this world. Beware of those in power claiming to be a messenger of God.
- The Bible calls us to love our neighbor and to do good to all men. This includes homosexuals.
- Evey, in the climax of the movie, becomes a picture of Eve in the garden in Eden. Evey is given a choice, just as Eve did. And the choice was the same in both instances: anarchy or obedience. Evey, like Eve, chose anarchy–willful rebellion against authority. It does not take a stretch of the imagination to think that Evey’s rebellion is a way of saying that Eve did good to eat the forbidden fruit. In doing so, she freed humanity to live however it wanted.
Eve’s choice, and Adam’s following, brought death upon all of humanity. Only in Jesus Christ is there true freedom. Only in Him can every shackle fall off, smashed and made useless upon the ground.
Only in the blessed Son of God can the freedom sought by so many–including V and Evey–ever be found.
And only in Him do peace, love, joy, and so much more have “at the end of eternity” as their ending point.
Perhaps you should set aside some study of the working of Anarchism, which is not a system of chaos, the character to V which will show he is not a terrorist and the history of your own people which will show that love thy neighbor will not stop your leaders.
According to the American Heritage Dictionary:
Without law, without leadership, there is chaos. Man is not fit to govern himself. Eliminate Yahweh, the King of kings, and you get a group of people sinning and sinning and sinning and sinning. Welcome to America.
“Love thy neighbor” will of course not stop the governments of the world. They are under the dominion of Satan. He is the prince of the power of the air, the god of this world. That’s why I don’t vote. That’s why I’m not an activist. That’s why I’m not worried about the headlines, the news stories, or what Mr. Clinton or Mr. Bush or Mr. Hussein are doing. They’re all pawns of the wicked one, so I’m not going to be surprised if it looks like the world is headed to Hell in a handbasket.
However, rebellion is a sin. V rebelled against his government–whether he did that via bombs or whatever else–he sins a sin that God looks at as He looks at witchcraft. God calls us to be obedient to the authorities over us–including the government. The thirteen colonies sinned against God when they rebelled against England. Iraqis sinned against God if they sided with America in the war against Hussein.
Simple obedience is what God desires of us. Yeah, we may disagree with the government, but we’re to submit. If they prevent us from serving God, then we rebel, as Daniel did when he illegally prayed, serving the King of kings foremost. Similarly, governments which call upon us to sin (i.e., by murdering in war), we should submit to the Prince of peace and stand for righteousness.
V and Evey rejected God and embraced all that He opposes, a world of “self governing,” a world of rebellion, a world of sin.
According to the American Heritage Dictionary:
Without law, without leadership, there is chaos. Man is not fit to govern himself. Eliminate Yahweh, the King of kings, and you get a group of people sinning and sinning and sinning and sinning. Welcome to America.
“Love thy neighbor” will of course not stop the governments of the world. They are under the dominion of Satan. He is the prince of the power of the air, the god of this world. That’s why I don’t vote. That’s why I’m not an activist. That’s why I’m not worried about the headlines, the news stories, or what Mr. Clinton or Mr. Bush or Mr. Hussein are doing. They’re all pawns of the wicked one, so I’m not going to be surprised if it looks like the world is headed to Hell in a handbasket.
However, rebellion is a sin. V rebelled against his government–whether he did that via bombs or whatever else–he sins a sin that God looks at as He looks at witchcraft. God calls us to be obedient to the authorities over us–including the government. The thirteen colonies sinned against God when they rebelled against England. Iraqis sinned against God if they sided with America in the war against Hussein.
Simple obedience is what God desires of us. Yeah, we may disagree with the government, but we’re to submit. If they prevent us from serving God, then we rebel, as Daniel did when he illegally prayed, serving the King of kings foremost. Similarly, governments which call upon us to sin (i.e., by murdering in war), we should submit to the Prince of peace and stand for righteousness.
V and Evey rejected God and embraced all that He opposes, a world of “self governing,” a world of rebellion, a world of sin.
Alhtough – I could be called a Christian – I would like to distance myself from the Watchtower organisation (since it is based on the masonry symbols & ideas – BUT we’ll only know this for sure when the Lord re-appears to save his followers and tell the survivers – what is what) – as a ‘common’ fellow of this author I would like to add my 2 cents.
I generally agree with all your arguments regarding our behaviour as Christians to governments & leaders in this world.
I also had high anticipation for this movie – but this lesbian part of the whole story could ONLY be employed (maybe from the original writer of the comic, or one of the Wachowski brothers) by anyone whose in favour of such behaviour – and – to put it in story with this agenda its just plain ludacris.
Such undertaking ticks me extremely off – they can do what they want – but such stuff has nothing to do in such stories – its like typical Jews whining about the Holocaust. They know why they ‘had it’ THEY killed our Lord – so as a chosen people you get judget quite a bit from our heavenly father if you fail him – and killing a guy who performed so many wonders in their midst – is a pretty good reason to judge them.
Anyhow – to anyone still wanting to watch this waste – be warned – at least you can – as I did enjoy the appeareance of another jewish actress.
AND BY THE WAY: Waiting will surely be over by the end of this year – as soon as you see the US or Israely government ‘DO SOMETHING’ regarding the ‘loon in Theran’ – well – you can surely expect an answer – and this will be a KEY event – for (well… some know it) – Good Luck (you better take the Rev. 16 seriously – because thats whats going to happen – when this ‘HOUR’ comes – NO RAPTURE (as escape) – ALL will go through this HOUR.
This comment was edited while in moderation.
Seeing as how Revelation is mostly chronological, I’m not expecting Revelation 16 to happen until the previous chapters come to pass. And since there’s no biblical reason for the Church to go through the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jews) and the judging of the nations (Gentiles), I don’t expect to have to witness any of it, lest we be allowed to from Heaven.
Most of your comment doesn’t quite make sense to me.
Sorry I had to edit it; I’m not going to be held responsible for allowing profanity here (nor would I be too thrilled if family-friendly ‘Net filters blocked my site simply because of what my visitors say).
Seeing as how Revelation is mostly chronological, I’m not expecting Revelation 16 to happen until the previous chapters come to pass. And since there’s no biblical reason for the Church to go through the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jews) and the judging of the nations (Gentiles), I don’t expect to have to witness any of it, lest we be allowed to from Heaven.
Most of your comment doesn’t quite make sense to me.
Sorry I had to edit it; I’m not going to be held responsible for allowing profanity here (nor would I be too thrilled if family-friendly ‘Net filters blocked my site simply because of what my visitors say).
Dave, I do believe that there is limits on our obedience to the government. If we are first obedient to God, then any subsequent loyalties (governments, masters, teachers, bosses, etc.) would be strictly pending the ability to fulfil our our first priority.
However, outright (and violent, in the case of V) rebellion would not be a suitable means of expressing obedience to God and not man. In defying the government of man in proclaiming the gospel, Paul didn’t fight but accepted his lot when placed in prison. It was God Himself who enabled a way out of it, for He is just and capable of doing such.
Even today, praise God. :)
I saw the movie V for vendetta last week and loved it especially the ending. I see no reason to
find fault with anything excepting the lesbian story which I thought was unecessary and took away
a little from saying it is one of my favorite movies of many years. I don’t know what this author
or commentors believe but my beliefs are constrained and directed by the Bible and Romans 13
is not an imprimatur for all behavior, just check out Acts 5.29 or thereabouts and see that
obedience to a government has limits when it goes against God; ask shadrach,meschack, and abednego
if they should bow down to a king and worship him and that is what can happen when you put all
faith in a government and give them your obedience. Someone here must be a follower of Domionism
and Rushdoony to be offended or think that this film is Satanic or criticizes Christians. If I
ever see Christian Reconstructionist take hold of the US I’ll get my Guy Fawkes mask and join
the rebels to fight any church state alliance. V is flawed and admits as much which is better than
Bush or Cheney do when they admit to no mistakes. His vengance though is wrong since God alone
says he shall repay that vengance or justice is God’s soverignity. Hey this movie is more about
Guy Fawkes blowing up a Parliament buildiing than it is promoting sin and rebellion. You read
way too much into this anti christian screed which I don’t see. Dave Milam Christian since 1972
Dave, I do believe that there is limits on our obedience to the government. If we are first obedient to God, then any subsequent loyalties (governments, masters, teachers, bosses, etc.) would be strictly pending the ability to fulfil our our first priority.
However, outright (and violent, in the case of V) rebellion would not be a suitable means of expressing obedience to God and not man. In defying the government of man in proclaiming the gospel, Paul didn’t fight but accepted his lot when placed in prison. It was God Himself who enabled a way out of it, for He is just and capable of doing such.
Even today, praise God. :)