The Adjustment Bureau: The Philosophy behind the Film

The movie Adjustment Bureau was quite an entertaining film to watch, I love films like this that raise philosophical questions. I could relate to Matt’s determination to beat the system. However I began to have a few objections to the worldview that the writer suggests. Judging from the writers comments he may not explicitly be trying to say that it relates to God but lets just say it is for the sake of my point.

If the chairman is God, the case officers are angels and humanity represent Matt Damon & Emily Blunt. The film would be suggesting that what we want out of life is contrary to God’s plan or will for our lives. That God sets our plans but he doesn’t always get it right but we (humanity) know what is best for our life. The narrator goes on to say that “Free will is a gift you will never know how to use until you fight for it”. In the conclusion the narrator says “One day we won’t write the plan, you will”

Do we know better than what God ?

From day one we have got this idea wrong. In Genesis we read of Adam and eve disobeying God because they were convinced by Satan that God was the enemy and God didn’t want us to eat the fruit because we would become like him and have knowledge of good and evil. Yet God gave them a whole garden filled with fruit to take pleasure in but they were not content until they had the forbidden fruit. They disobeyed God’s will and caused the depravity of mankind, this is when humanity became sinful and ever since then we read of the first murder taking place when Cain killed his brother Abel and many more of the worlds painful atrocities can be traced back to the day Adam and eve thought they knew better than God.

Do we have to fight against God to get what we want?

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matt 7:9

There was a an old Zimbabwean TV Advert for a Crunchie bar, in the advert we saw loads of people eating this bar with others jealously watching, at the end of the advert the guy eating the bar says in a humorous tone, “If you wanted a bite, why didn’t you just say so?” And this is what God is trying to say here, you don’t have to fight God for what you want, just ask. Psalm 145:19 says “He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.” Jeremiah 29:11 goes on to say “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Not enough time to get into this one but, if you fight against God, there is a tiny chance you might not win, ask satan I am sure he knows this more than all of us.

Do we really want a world where we write the plan?

God knows the end from the beginning, he knows everything and is in a better position to make a plan than I am. How many times have we all made plans only to change them based on new information, God doesn’t have this problem, nothing is new to God.

If we have the power to write our own plans that overwrite God’s plans, then how do we have a guarantee that God will protect us from someone else’s evil plan?, after all by writing our own plan we take God’s stage and with all power comes responsibility? I would rather trust God who knows me and has good plans for me.

What is God’s plan for the Christian?

There is a lot that can be said on this topic, in short, Scripture teaches us that God’s plan for our life is that we are sanctified (1 Thessalonians 4:3) I highly recommend reading Kevin DeYoung’s book “Just Do Something”(a liberating approach to finding God’s will) he says,

“specific step by step instruction is not usually how God operates. His way is to show you his holiness, declare us holy in Christ, then exhort us to grow in holiness in daily life” “He wants you to buy a house that will make you holy, if you marry, he wants you to get married so you can be holy. He wants you to have a job that will help you grow in holiness. Count on it: God’s will is always your sanctification” “So go marry someone, provided you’re equally yoked and you actually like being with each other. Go get a job, provided it’s not wicked. Go live somewhere in something with somebody or nobody”

Conclusion

I really enjoyed the love story in this film and the story telling but the worldview behind this movie is unbiblical and nothing new, if you listen carefully the suggestions are similar to Satan’s original deception. “eat the fruit and you will be like God” vs “One day we won’t write the plan, you will” Let’s remember that the real enemy is satan, not God. Satan is the one attempting to stop us from enjoying the pleasures God has for us. Satan is the one who has lied to us that we have to work to be accepted by God. We don’t have to prove ourselves to God in order for him accept us and let us have our way, we have all fallen short of God’s standard and can never please him in our own strength. It is by God’s amazing grace that he made a way for us to be accepted by putting our faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has set the true believer free to enjoy this life to his Glory, so go and live your dreams,

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31