Party Like it is 1999 -- in Advent

I find Camus’ notion of revolt to be a defiant affirmation of life and meaning in the face of absurdity, And, I find it to sit well with both Paul’s call to rejoice and Prince’s anthem of celebration, "1999."

Revolt: Living with Purpose in the Face of Uncertainty

For Camus, revolt is the ongoing commitment to live fully and authentically, even when confronted with life’s apparent meaninglessness or the inevitability of death. It is a refusal to succumb to despair or resignation, much like Paul’s exhortation to rejoice and Prince’s call to celebrate life.

• In Philippians 4:1-7, Paul acknowledges that the Philippians face challenges, yet he urges them to respond with joy, prayer, and thanksgiving. This is a form of revolt against anxiety and fear, grounded in faith in God’s nearness and sovereignty. Paul’s peace is not passive acceptance but an active trust in God’s redemptive plan.

• In “1999”, Prince’s declaration to “party like it’s 1999” reflects a form of revolt. Faced with the prospect of global catastrophe (“everybody’s got a bomb”), he chooses celebration, community, and joy as acts of defiance against fear.

Camus’ revolt ties these responses together: both Paul and Prince recognize that life’s uncertainties demand a response. Whether through faith or celebration, they advocate living with intention and rejecting paralysis in the face of the unknown.

Rejoicing as an Act of Revolt

In Philippians 4:4, Paul proclaims, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” This repeated call to joy is a radical act of revolt against despair. For Paul, joy is not contingent on external circumstances but is rooted in the assurance that “the Lord is near” (v. 5). His defiance of anxiety through prayer and thanksgiving reflects Camus’ insistence on affirming life even in the face of suffering and uncertainty.

Prince’s “1999” similarly celebrates joy as a response to the precariousness of existence. The song’s infectious energy and communal spirit reject the fear of annihilation:

“Everybody’s got a bomb, we could all die any day / But before I let that happen, I’ll dance my life away.”

For Camus, this celebration of life in the face of its fragility is a quintessential act of revolt. It does not deny the reality of death or uncertainty but chooses to affirm the value of life in the here and now.

Community as a Source of Strength

Camus believed that revolt was not an isolated act but a collective one. Solidarity with others gives meaning to individual acts of defiance and helps sustain hope. This aligns with both Paul’s emphasis on unity and Prince’s vision of communal celebration:

• Paul’s exhortation to Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2-3) highlights the importance of resolving conflicts and standing together. For Paul, community is a source of strength and a means of embodying God’s peace and joy.

• In “1999,” Prince imagines a communal response to existential dread, where people come together to celebrate life. The act of partying becomes an assertion of shared humanity and resilience.

In both cases, community provides the foundation for resisting fear and embracing life, a theme central to Camus’ idea of revolt.

Rejecting Anxiety and Embracing the Present

Paul’s instruction in Philippians 4:6—“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God”—is an act of spiritual revolt. Anxiety, for Paul, is countered by trust in God’s peace, which transcends understanding. This peace enables believers to live with confidence, even when the future is uncertain.

Prince’s “1999” offers a parallel secular revolt against worry. Rather than succumbing to fear about the future, the song insists on living fully in the present:

“Tonight we’re gonna party like it’s 1999.”

For Camus, this embrace of the present moment, with all its beauty and fragility, is the essence of revolt. It is a refusal to let the fear of what might come rob the present of its meaning and joy.

Revolt as Hopeful Defiance

While Paul’s joy is grounded in faith and Prince’s celebration is rooted in the here and now, both reflect the hope inherent in Camus’ concept of revolt. This hope is not naive optimism but a determined commitment to live with purpose and meaning:

• Paul’s hope is eschatological, rooted in the nearness of God and the ultimate fulfillment of His promises. Rejoicing in the Lord, even in the face of anxiety, is a declaration of trust in God’s redemption.

• Prince’s hope is existential, grounded in the choice to live joyfully and authentically in the moment. His celebration is a refusal to let fear dictate the meaning of life.

Camus’ revolt synthesizes these perspectives, affirming that life’s meaning is created in the act of living it fully—whether through faith, celebration, or solidarity.

Living Between Anxiety and Peace

Philippians 4:1-7, “1999,” and Camus’ philosophy converge on the question of how to live in the tension between life’s uncertainties and its profound possibilities:

1. Rejoice Always: Both Paul and Prince advocate joy as a response to life’s fragility, aligning with Camus’ call to affirm life in the face of absurdity.

2. Reject Paralysis: Paul’s rejection of anxiety through prayer and trust mirrors Prince’s insistence on celebrating life rather than fearing its end. Camus, too, saw fear as the enemy of authentic living.

3. Embrace Community: For Paul, unity in Christ sustains believers. For Prince, shared celebration is an act of resistance. For Camus, solidarity is the foundation of revolt, giving meaning to individual actions.

Conclusion: The Revolt of Joy

In Philippians 4:1-7, “1999,” and Camus’ concept of revolt, we find a shared commitment to living fully and purposefully:

• Paul’s revolt is rooted in faith, finding joy and peace in God’s nearness and promises.

• Prince’s revolt is a celebration of life’s beauty and fragility, rejecting fear in favor of joy and connection.

• Camus’ revolt is the philosophical commitment to create meaning and live authentically, even in the face of uncertainty.

Together, they challenge us to live in the present with joy, courage, and purpose, embodying hope even in the shadow of life’s fragility.