J.R.R.Tolkien
wrote the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings in order to create a mythology
that would transmit timeless virtues to a culture that he feared was
losing its soul as it hurdled toward modernity. Tolkien a life long
friend and colleague of C.S. Lewis, also used his devout Christian faith
as a source of the virtues he wanted to share with through his stories.
These facts make the stories wonderful sources to illustrate the nature
of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.While in contrast to Lewis' Narnia,
no one figure represents Christ, each virtuous character in Tolkien's
works represents Christ in some way despite their faults and weaknesses.
Whether
or not we need morality seems to be an open question for people today.
Since the latter 19th century many have questioned the idea of
morality. The philosopher Nietzsche in his work "Beyond Good and Evil"
advocated a radical honesty of human motivations that relegated
morality to being a mere social convention that kept a person from
reaching his or her full potential. Ayn Rand in the 20th century, would
build on this foundation write the influential novel "Atlas Shrugged"
which posits that the highest good is one's free choice, no matter what
the outcome. The notion of doing the right thing for the right reason
seems to be relic of a bygone time, our culture seems to be living in a
post-moral age.
In
Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" there is an underlying moral counter
argument to the utilitarian view of modernism in his day and the moral
relativism of ours. We saw Tolkien's underlying view of morality in
full display in this week's scene where two hobbits, Merry and Pippin
attempt to enlist the support of the Ents (tree like beings, who are
very strong and powerful) in the war against the demonic forces that
threaten middle earth. They respond with an answer that is so familiar
to each of us "this is not our war" (not my problem!). The narrative
will show that this is a false statement; the war will come to threaten
all eventually, but even if it didn't the right choice would be to
actively help others in their struggle against the evils that assail
them.
Do
not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your
power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you. Proverbs 3:27-28
We
often think of morality in negative terms. Don't smoke, or drink to
much, or lie or steal. While this indeed important, it is not the most
important aspect of a true Christian morality. The most important way
to view morality for the person of faith is in positive terms. Asking
the question "How can I help?" is a very moral thing to do. In this
scene the Ents are not acting morally, the response: "This does not
concern me"is not an option for the true disciple. The minimum
response is prayer to examine what is in our power to accomplish aided
by the spirit of God.
If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. Luke 6:33
Jesus
primarily taught a positive view of morality. In both the Sermon on
the Mount and the Sermon on the Plain Jesus teaches that the real good
that people do is something more than a mere exchange of favors done for
one's pure self interest. There is ultimately a difference between
survival and faith. Self preservation is not discipleship. Discipleship
involves trusting your life to God and taking the risky road of
actively coming to the aid of our neighbor. The retreat from danger, to
sit in a comfortable life and hide from the problems of the world like
the Ents would like to do can never be held up as anything more than a
mere expediency.
But
love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your
reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; Luke
6:35
Christ
calls us to do active good for others, even our enemies. This is why
Christians are concerned for the well being of all God's people. Jesus
called for us to take up our crosses and follow him. The oft missed
aspect of Jesus’ exhortation above is the last clause. How we treat
others, whether or not we come to their aid in their need shows how
close you are to God. Your willingness to do concrete acts of love
reveals that you are connected to God!! For since the start of the
Jesus story it has been about all the world coming in contact with the
healing we brings. Luke quotes Isaiah when describing the ultimate
point of John the Baptist’s mission to introduce Jesus. We read that
one day “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” Luke 3:6
Indeed,
rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good
person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for
us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8
In
the end a Christian morality is always grounded in the person and work
of Jesus Christ. The story of why we don’t retreat and hide in our
personal caves when others are in need has its beginning in the story of
Jesus. Nothing we do can change God. God could say to the world “not
my problem”, but God did not. When the hobbit Merry tried enlist the
support of Treebeard the Ent, he cried “but you are part of this world.”
God when sending Jesus says much the same thing. God wants to be in
the world with all of His children, God said your problems do concern
me and Jesus came to bring healing hope and salvation to us all. So we
love because we have been loved. Indeed a true Christian morality is
nothing more, or nothing less than actively loving our neighbors and
world.
Keep the Faith,
Pastor Knecht
J.R.R.Tolkien
wrote the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings in order to create a mythology
that would transmit timeless virtues to a culture that he feared was
losing its soul as it hurdled toward modernity. Tolkien a life long
friend and colleague of C.S. Lewis, also used his devout Christian faith
as a source of the virtues he wanted to share with through his stories.
These facts make the stories wonderful sources to illustrate the nature
of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.While in contrast to Lewis' Narnia,
no one figure represents Christ, each virtuous character in Tolkien's
works represents Christ in some way despite their faults and weaknesses.
A
central theme found in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings is how people are
seduced by evil. The Ring of Power is the metaphor for the struggle
with evil found in the human heart. In the narrative many come face to
face with the ring and give in to its seductive power. Some give in
to the the greed for outright raw power, but others fall for the more
alluring trap. The real pitfall portrayed in the story is the trap
that comes when people wanting to do good believe that the Ring can be
used by them without corrupting them. They believe that they are
different than other people and that they are not capable of falling
prey to evil. Much harm has been done in our world by those who
thought they were doing good. For example many despots and dictators
thought they were doing the right thing when they grabbed their
country's reins of power. One of the ways that we are seduced by evil
is when we become blinded to our own limitations. We overestimate our
abilities, we become blind to our true motives, and we come to believe
that we are the sole arbiters of right and wrong. In the scene we
watched on Sunday we see the wizard Gandalf refuse to take the risk of
guarding the Ring. He shows his wisdom by being aware of his own
weakness and faults. He knows that if he used the ring even out of a
desire to do good it will corrupt him. St. Paul says something similar
in the following verses.
For
I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can
will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want,
but the evil I do not want is what I do. Romans 7:18-19 NRSV
The
Bible reminds us in multiple places that the fear of The Lord is the
beginning of all wisdom. One reason we fear the Lord in the first place
is because we are aware of our finitude and limitations. It is when we
forget these that we get in trouble. When the serpent tempts eve in
the garden, he speaks only of potentialities and possibilities and not
of her limitations. He encourages her to believe that she can really
do anything with no downside. Paradoxically, it is our recognition of
our limitations that opens us to the power of God's Grace. St. Paul
continues:
Who
will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus
Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God,
but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin. Romans 7:24-25
Paul
reminds us that we are as Martin Luther explained simultaneously saint
and sinner. We have need for God and others to complement us so that
together in community we are able live in fruitful, life-giving and
virtuous ways. It is this knowledge that can act as a vaccine and
immunize us from the seduction of evil. When we have a realistic idea
of what it is we can and cannot accomplish we guard against falling into
the trap of believing we are the only ones capable to act. The danger
of falling into this trap is heightened when times are tense. When
stressed we may obsess that we need to do something and that we are the
only ones capable. This is where the end time teaching of the Bible
can be a word of grace.
People
will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Luke 21:26
One
of the great things about the eschatological (end-time) writings of the
Bible is that it teaches us how to respond in healthy ways to times of
heightened stress and anxiety. In the Gospel lesson this past Sunday,
we read of Jesus teaching about the end of the temple in Jerusalem in
Luke 21. He taught that it will be a time of great and profound fear
and worry. It is in these times that one is susceptible to panic,
curving in on oneself and acting out of the more primitive places of the
mind. These are actually the times when we should be really engaged
in higher level thinking of planning, problem solving, and risk
assessment. So look at what Jesus recommends:
Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:28
The
disciple is to embrace anxious times boldly, depending on the God of
grace and understanding that while there may be cause to be wary, there
is really no cause for alarm. One of the false ideas that has gotten
into people’s heads through some fundamentalist end time preachers is
the idea we have to do something in order make God come, so they come up
with all kinds of ridiculous and irrational schemes to make this come
about. (like breeding red cows, supporting the sabotage of the mideast
peace process and so on) What they have failed to understand is that
they are not being faithful to actual biblical witness. In the Bible,
God never comes because people are somehow ready for God. God comes
because those whom he loves need saving. So by definition every time
God has intervened in history the people have not been ready. Those who
teach the contrary have fallen prey to the seduction of evil, that
they are somehow immune to sinfulness and limitation, and that they may
even need to act for God. The faithful Christian trusts in God to act
and to show us the way.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. Romans 8:15
The
real answer of how to avoid the seduction of evil is “communion”. In
some ways I do mean it in the sacramental sense, but in others I mean
something deeper. In Tolkien’s Lord of the RIngs no one person could
keep evil at bay by him or herself, they needed to work together.
Gandalf could not carry the ring, Frodo could not make his way to
Mordor without the fellowship showing him the way, Aragorn could not
defeat Sauron without the destruction of the Ring by others. In the
church we realize that in order to safeguard against evil we need to be
in communion with God and others. If you look at times when we in
church have failed (and there have been many) it is because we have
become isolated, insulated and retreated into our own bubbles. The
idea of communion reminds us that we are interdependent upon one another
and upon God. We are adopted members in a community, which makes
accountable to other members of the community and to God who heads it.
This idea of communion with God and others also guards us against
passivity in the face of anxious times. We do go forward and do things
to help and show love but we do them through a process of spiritual
discernment. Historical examples of this can include the abolition,
women’s suffrage, and anti-child labor movement all founded by
Christians seeking to do good at God’s direction. In order to help
foster wellness and wholeness, some say “it takes a village” others say
“it takes a family” for Christians it takes a “body”, the body of
Christ.
Keep the Faith,
Pastor Knecht
J.R.R.Tolkien wrote the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings in order to create a mythology that would transmit timeless virtues to a culture that he feared was losing its soul as it hurdled toward modernity. Tolkien a life long friend and colleague of C.S. Lewis, also used his devout Christian faith as a source of the virtues he wanted to share with through his stories. These facts make the stories wonderful sources to illustrate the nature of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.While in contrast to Lewis' Narnia, no one figure represents Christ, each virtuous character in Tolkien's works represents Christ in some way despite their faults and weaknesses.
Aragorn is character that readers of the Bible should find eerily familiar. The setting of the novel Lord of the Rings is a place called Middle Earth. This place was once one kingdom; it was then divided into a northern half and a southern half. The northern half quickly falls apart while the southern survives. Then a promised king comes out of the wilds of the collapsed northern kingdom. If you feel you have heard this story before you have, maybe even in Sunday School. Tolkien based this part of the narrative on the Bible. Israel once united, divides into a northern kingdom and a southern one. The messiah though born in the south would emerge out of the long defunct northern kingdom from an obscure place called Nazareth. So the character we witnessed this week's scene is clearly based on some of the people we meet in the Bible.
(1 Samuel 16:12) He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one."(NRSV)
In many ways Aragorn reminds us of David. The one who leads and is confident of victory because the ultimate cause is just. David has a heart for God, Aragorn has a heart for doing good. Like David, he begins to assume his calling of kingship long before the official coronation. The scene we watched this past Sunday portrays this as he receives a sword from his future father in law Elrond. He is made aware of the urgent need and his role in the fulfillment of a providential plan of rescue for a besieged people. Just like a biblical judge or king, Aragorn goes forth to fight for the good even if it means going through the shadow of death.
(1 Peter 3:18-19) For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, (NRSV)
Aragorn like David in the Bible is fallible and in need of healing and redemption. Aragorn often feels weighed down by the burden of his forbears. His ancestor Elendil is the one who failed to destroy the Ring of Power that now threatened to destroy the world. He would fail to protect his friends at times and felt great guilt. He has a need of redemption for himself in order to be whole again. Aragorn assumes the kingship by taking the Dimholt road- which runs through the place of the dammed and unfaithful. He needs to take this dark road in order to help those who because of their sin have failed to be faithful. I am convinced that this part of the narrative was inspired by the verse above and the line in the creed "And he descended into hell." The Elf-lord Elrond tells Aragorn the only way he can have enough people to fight the battle against evil is to summon the unfaithful to his banner. In other words those fallen away from a right life are needed to help, so they must be redeemed. Unless the unfaithful are redeemed there is no victory. Otherwise, there are not enough righteous to make a real difference. The character of Aragorn teaches us about the necessity of forgiveness in our leaders.
(John 18:36) Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." (NRSV)
In many ways Aragorn looks the part of the messiah we all would like to see someday. The handsome warrior rides in on his white horse, shows his martial arts moves, kicks out the bad guys and all is right with the world. Yet the most effective weapon in his arsenal would be no weapon at all, it would be a promise, a promise to the unfaithful that they could be redeemed. He gives his word and the unfaithful come to his side. We often want a leader to be tough and mighty, but true Christian leadership takes compassion and forgiveness. Leadership without forgiveness is false leadership. Jesus himself led by healing and forgiving. As even the most casual of Christians knows, Jesus was the unexpected Messiah. He brought no sword, no army, but walked alone to accomplish an act of redemption for the world. The true King is to bring healing and wholeness to our world and that can only be accomplished through redemption. We know this in our bones, one of the reasons we admire Lincoln so much as a leader is his ability to use the gift of redemption to help lead the country through the Civil War.
In the Lord of the Rings, Aragorn will show not just the possibilities of human leadership but also its limitations. In the end of the narrative he can not defeat evil on his own even with his large armies, he will need the efforts of the entire community of the faithful along with a good dose of divine intervention. We learn that real Christian leadership will always acknowledge its limitations and dependance upon God as much or more that our own efforts. In the book and the films Aragorn leads by showing the way toward redemption, and it is impossible to redeem oneself it always takes another to help you along.
(John 18:37) Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." (NRSV)
The Christian leader embraces the truth and does not try to change it, hide it or spin it. This starts with a self awareness for his or her own need of redemption. Whether you lead in your home, workplace, church or voluntary organization, fogiveness, reconciliation, and redemption will be the most useful and most loving of skills you can use. Jesus came to reveal the shortcomings of human leadership and at the same time affirm the love God has for those same human beings. We are blessed to have a leader, messiah and king like Jesus.
Keep the Faith,
Pastor Knecht
J.R.R. Tolkien wrote the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings in order to create a mythology that would transmit timeless virtues to a culture that he feared was losing its soul as it hurdled toward modernity. Tolkien, a life long friend and colleague of C.S. Lewis, also used his devout Christian faith as a source of the virtues he wanted to share with through his stories. These facts make the stories wonderful sources to illustrate the nature of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. While contrast to Lewis’ Narnia, no one figure represents Christ, each virtuous character in Tolkien’s works represents Christ in some way despite their faults and weaknesses.
"I have to believe I can come come back"
Our attempts at Christian compassion are rooted in the understanding that we are all in a common humanity. Each of us is created in God's image, and each of us is in someway broken because of disunion with God, others, and self. Christians more easily enter into a compassionate way of life when they make connections of events from their own lives with the lives of others. In the scene we viewed this week we find Frodo demonstrating compassion toward the creature Gollum. Frodo has realized that it was Gollum's carrying of the Ring that led to his change from ordinary being to monster. He sees the danger that he too may become like this, a scared and broken shell of a person. He hopes for Gollum's healing because he can see his own hope in it. This is a deep Christian idea. We care about the healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation of others because we can see hope for ourselves in the redemption of others. We can love others more easily when we see, feel and understand what they are going through.
But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
The true source of our compassion is the compassion of Jesus Christ. The word compassion is itself a perfect expression of the Gospel. It is a word derived from Latin that means "to suffer with". It is a perfect expression of what God did through the sending of his Son Jesus. It explains both the incarnation (Christmas) and the Cross (Good Friday and Easter). God proves his compassion for us by demonstrating that God knows what it means to be human, because God has lived as a human. The moment Jesus cries out the words "my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", we see that Jesus is not only God's Son, but one of us. God has compassion for us, because God has lived with us and knows what we are going through, all of it, our burdens, joys, successes, failures,victories, and most poignantly our wounds.
“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! Mark 12:38-39
Compassion is also a knife that cuts through our thoughts, actions, and behaviors. The presence of compassion in our lives confirms the presence of God. The Pharisees are not criticized by Jesus because of their piety, they are criticized for their hypocrisy and their lack of compassion. The simple truth is no compassion, no relationship with the living God. Compassion is the default mode of true Christianity. It is how we can discern the spirits of our lives and see whether or not our spirits walk with God's Spirit. Compassion is also more than mere sympathy. It must contain concrete acts of love and sacrifice for it to be genuine. Compassion is love concretely expressed. Frodo demonstrates compassion for Gollum by learning his real name, trying to share his food, and even extending his trust at times. In the wake of the recent storm we have seen compassion at work in almost every neighborhood in our area.
Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” Mark 12:43-44
In Tolkien’s mythological world of Middle Earth compassion plays a primary part in driving the virtues actions of its heroes. This is most plainly seen in the actions of the main characters of the drama, the hobbits. Hobbits represent the little people. Ordinary folks who go to work, make respectable homes, and enjoy life’s simpler pleasures. Tolkien modeled them on the regular people he met in his day to day existence. One of the main themes of the Lord of the Rings is that little people fueled by compassion can accomplish great deeds. Where the great and powerful will fail because of tragic flaws, the little ones will succeed because they are fueled by compassion. Compassion is a powerful thing. In the above quote from Mark 12 we see how compassion fuels a simple “little” widow to put it all on the line for God. Jesus sees and admires the woman because he knows compassion and he knows what it means to be from an ordinary little place. In many ways Jesus was a “little guy”, he grew up in a small town backwater, practiced a trade where he worked with his hands. Compassion became the fuel that drew him to proclaim the coming Kingdom of God, heal the sick, and take the long walk up the hill to Calvary to do the greatest deed of all, the cross and resurrection. So as Christians we should never fear to take a risk to be compassionate, for compassion is the fuel of our ministry. It is the reason ordinary people are capable of great deeds.
Keep the Faith,
Pastor Knecht
Do
not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your
power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you. Proverbs 3:27-28
Indeed,
rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good
person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for
us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8
