Is there any wisdom in fatalism?

Earlier this month, I was at a gig where the finale was a powerful performance of a song called 'Hope'. As one year ends and another begins, it can be difficult to keep hold of hope when we reflect. It seems so fragile.

Vampire Weekend is an American rock band that, despite being Grammy award-winning, not many people I know have heard of. I had the privilege of being introduced to them by the Generation Z members of my family. This year, they released their fifth album, 'Only God Was Above Us', which one critic described as a journey out of negativity into something deeper. ‘Hope’ is the final song on their album, but its lyrics are anything but hopeful. It contains images of a phoenix that burned but did not rise, of a prophet who is insincere and whose words failed, of righteous anger being nothing but foolish pride. The verses reference injustice, failed systems, broken states, inadequate politics and false religion, finishing with losing faith in a relationship. Yet it has the refrain:

‘I hope you let it go

I hope you let it go

Our enemy's invincible

I hope you let it go.’

Ezra Koenig, who wrote the lyrics, said in an interview with The Guardian: 'I think fatalism taken to its extreme is optimism – some of the happiest people in the world have some element of surrender and acceptance... There’s fatalism – the world is a chaotic place and isn’t that terrible? And then there’s optimism – the world is a chaotic place, and you gotta surf that wave.' ^[1]

This summarised brilliantly the atmosphere at the concert and reflects what I have heard others say - yes, the world sucks, but don’t let it get to you.

Practical wisdom in accepting life is tough

There is some practical wisdom in this. It has echoes in Ecclesiastes, which makes us look at life under the sun and face up to the chaos. In some ways, the sentiment is the same - life is tough, suffering and ageing are inevitable, so make the most of today while you can.

One of the reasons Ecclesiastes is there is to make sure we don’t avoid facing up to the reality that we live in a fallen world. But this philosophy is not hopeful unless we know we live under the heavens because God is above us.

A much-needed message

The Christian hope is enormous. Every enemy that seems invincible is destroyed by Jesus Christ, who puts them all under His feet.

Someone told me that Generation Z are overwhelmed by anxiety because they only hear bad news on all our various media outlets. I’m not sure that the news has ever been about passing on positive stories, but the difference is that we have access to it 24 hours a day now, and it is hard to avoid. Although, increasingly people do get away from it. I know many who steer clear of engaging with any news or politics because they find it too depressing - the enemy is invincible. Our gospel hope is enormous, and maybe we forget just how enormous. We know it is about the forgiveness of sin, the gift of grace and life, but have we grasped what it means to have redemption from our enemies?

If we frame the gospel as personal forgiveness and relationship with Jesus, we only tell part of the story. The book of Revelation shows us the enemies that God will one day overthrow, Satan and his beasts, which exercise their power through political systems, philosophies and false religion. People need to hear this message, too. Every hopeless verse in Vampire Weekend’s song is not resolved by resignation to our powerlessness but by the knowledge that Jesus is the King who has established His throne and sustains it with justice and righteousness; Jesus is the prophet whose words are true and bring life itself, Jesus is the Prince of Peace who will shepherd His flock, tend them and bring them into security. What a glorious hope we have to share!

^{[1] The Guardian , Ezra Koenig Interview by Shaad D’Souza, 23rd March 2024}