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IN THE LORD OF THE RINGS by Deborah Milam Berkley, Ph.D I've always been a big fan of The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien, ever since I first read it when I was a college student, around 1970. I read it two more times in the 1970's and 1980's. But when the first movie came out a couple of years ago, it had been a while since I had spent any time with the trilogy. I decided to put off my fourth reading of the three books until after I had seen all three movies, so that I could enjoy the films without constantly comparing them to fresh memories of the books. So that is how it happened that I just recently finished reading The Lord of the Rings. The three books were just as thrilling to read as I remembered. But also, as I read them with more maturity, I discovered wonderful depths of meaning that I certainly had not found when I was young and merely enthralled with the exciting story. I shouldn't have been surprised. After all, Tolkien was a Christian. In fact, his conversations with C. S. Lewis were instrumental in Lewis's eventual conversion to Christianity. As I read along in these wonderful books, I found that frequently one of the characters would say something that resonated with me, and felt directly applicable to our situation in the world, and even in the PC(USA), today. I would like to share a few of those quotations and my reactions to them here. IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR LIFE IN THE WORLD The times we live in Near the beginning of the story, Gandalf, a wise and good wizard, is speaking with Frodo, a hobbit (a human-like creature, but only half our size.) Gandalf has just told Frodo some very distressing news about imminent danger to their world, Middle-earth. "I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.I certainly feel the way Frodo does, about our world today! For example, I'm sure we all wish that the events of September 11 had never happened. I wish that the issue of gay marriage were not being pushed in our society. I wish that Christianity were respected in our society the way it used to be, so that, at my very secular workplace, for instance, I didn't have to be constantly on the defensive as a Christian. There are so many things that I wish need not have happened in my time. But that is not for me to decide. All I have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to me by God for me to live in. God didn't create the evils of this time, but he put me in this time, and he has a purpose for me in it. Like Frodo eventually does, I must, although perhaps with regret, cast off the visions of how I wish life might have been, and instead move forward toward God's purpose. That may mean speaking out against gay marriage at the risk of being unfairly called a bigot. That may mean hard work seeking ways to share Christ's love at work that do not violate workplace regulations. But I must do it. God's unchanging Word in our times Aragorn, heir of a line of kings who have been absent from their kingdom for centuries, has just encountered a man named Éomer. Because of Aragorn's heritage, he is a source of wonder to Éomer, as are Aragorn's other companions, an Elf and a Dwarf. Éomer has a difficult decision to make regarding them, particularly because of the evil times in which they are living, and he says: "How shall a man judge what to do in such times?"In the difficult era we live in, we often hear that since times are changing, our views should also be changing. In some respects that is true. For example, the style of music that we use in our churches may change with time, without being a matter of right and wrong. However, our society also sometimes tells us that those of us who still believe in sexual morality need to change our views to keep up with the times. Our culture even tells us Christians that our claim to know the truth is outdated, that we need to acknowledge that all religions are equally true, especially since we have more people who believe in other religions living in the United States now. We even hear this kind of thing within the church, especially from those who espouse "progressive" theology. They tell us that the Holy Spirit is doing new things. They say that not only is the PC(USA) reformed, but that it is ever reforming, and by this they mean that our theology must change with the times. We are told that the Bible reflects ancient points of view that are not applicable to the year 2004. For instance, although the Bible universally condemns homosexual sex, advocates of progressive theology proclaim that now the Holy Spirit is revealing that it is blessed by God. Or, for another example, it has even been said by some feminist theologians that what is sin for men is not necessarily sin for women. How shall we judge what to do in such times? As we ever have judged. Good and evil have not changed since time began. Nor were they one thing in a predominately Christian United States and another in a multi-cultural, multi-religious United States. Good and evil were not one thing in Bible times and another in 2004. They are not one thing for men and another thing for women. As it says in Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and for ever." We can have confidence in our faith that is derived from the Bible, and resist the claims we keep hearing that it must change with the times. IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR LIFE IN THE CHURCH Those who are or may be lost in heresy Gandalf is speaking with Denethor, the ruler of Gondor, a country that borders on Mordor, the land ruled by the Enemy, the Dark Lord. Denethor mentions a way he would have liked to use to save Gondor (but that would not have helped other lands). "You think, as is your wont, my lord, of Gondor only," said Gandalf. "Yet there are other men and other lives, and time still to be. And for me, I pity even [the Dark Lord's] slaves."The PC(USA) is currently torn with controversies. There is much disagreement about issues such as gay ordination. Behind disagreement on these issues lies a more fundamental disagreement: Presbyterians do not agree on the authority of the Bible, nor even on the Lordship of Jesus Christ. With such important differences in theology, some are calling for a division of the PC(USA) into two different denominations. One of their arguments is that believers must separate themselves from an organization where heresy may be proclaimed, and instead keep to a church that is pure. Many groups such as VOW, however, have advocated remaining in the PC(USA) for a number of reasons (see, for example, Contra Schism) Sometimes one might wonder whether this really is good advice. Might it be better to be in a completely evangelical denomination where we would hope to be shielded from heresy? Yet, even if such a thing were possible, we must not think of ourselves only. There are other people, and other lives, and time still to be. If we form two separate denominations, what of the theologically naïve people who stay with the other side, not knowing their spiritual peril? What of the children to be born to the people in that church? And we must pity even those who are already lost in heresy. If we stay, we can perhaps yet win some of them back. Division among our allies Frodo and Aragorn and their friends, including Legolas the Elf, have just entered Lothlórien, a special realm where some of the Elves of Middle-earth dwell. But Haldir and the other Elves of Lothlórien do not trust all of Frodo's companions, and eventually a decision is made to blindfold all of them. "Alas for the folly of these days!" said Legolas. "Here all are enemies of the one Enemy, and yet I must walk blind, while the sun is merry in the woodland under leaves of gold!"As I have just mentioned, some in the evangelical wing of the PC(USA) want to divide the church into two separate denominations; some don't. And there are other differences of tactics and style that we sometimes find between us and our theological allies. We must not let conflicting opinions such as these cause suspicion or animosity between us. After all, we are all enemies of the one Enemy. In nothing would his power be more clearly shown than in any estrangement that would divide those of us who still oppose him. So when we disagree, let us do so cordially, and with an assumption of good will on the part of those who disagree with us, in spite of our differences. OUR RESPONSE Why me? Back in that early conversation between Frodo and Gandalf, Gandalf explains that the danger their world is under comes from a special evil Ring that, seemingly by chance, is in Frodo's possession. This Ring must not fall into the hands of the Dark Lord. Frodo realizes that he himself is going to have to do something about this Ring, and that it will not be easy. Frodo says, "I wish I had never seen the Ring! Why did it come to me? Why was I chosen?" "Such questions cannot be answered," said Gandalf. "You may be sure that it was not for any merit that others do not possess: not for power or wisdom, at any rate. But you have been chosen, and you must therefore use such strength and heart and wits as you have."Again, I sometimes feel as Frodo does. If I consider having to deal with the Ring to stand for God's purpose for my life, sometimes I wonder why it came to me. Why was I chosen? Since I know my sins and failings well, I am sure that it is not for any merit that others do not possess. And it would certainly be easier to go along with our current culture. I wouldn't be left out of the parties that the rest of my co-workers are invited to. I wouldn't risk being labeled homophobic or intolerant. But I have been chosen, and so have all of us who are Christians, and we must therefore use such strength and heart and wits as we have. And when it comes right down to it, that is what I want to do. Because otherwise, as Frodo knew, there will be no world left that is worth living in. Our response Frodo believes at first that he can just give the Ring to someone wiser and more powerful, who will then deal with it while he goes back home in relief to comfort and safety. But at a council of wise and powerful representatives from many peoples and places of Middle-earth, he hears that the only solution is for someone to secretly take it to the heart of the Dark Lord's well-guarded land, and cast it into the volcano where it was first forged. At that point the council is stymied. Who could do that? No one, it seems. At length Frodo speaks, almost in spite of himself. "I will take the Ring," Frodo said, "though I do not know the way."This is my favorite quotation in the entire three-volume story. Again, considering taking the Ring to stand for God's purpose for our lives, it is what every Christian is called to do. Frodo the hobbit is the smallest, least learned, least powerful person present at the council, yet he is the one who steps forward and volunteers, not evening knowing how to accomplish the task. And that should be our response to God. Sometimes we may feel he is asking us to do something too hard for us, or something we don't understand. But if God has asked it of us, he will give us the help we need. Indeed, Frodo received the help of eight companions who accompanied him as he set out for Mordor, including the wise and powerful Gandalf, and more help was given him on the way, but he did not know that he would have that help when he first spoke. When the angel told Jesus's mother Mary that she would have a child before she was married, doubtless this seemed hard to her. But her response was not unlike Frodo's: "I am the Lord's servant," said Mary; "may it be as you have said." (Luke 1:38) I have often thought of that when God's will seems hard. Now when I look at newspaper headlines about the proliferation of
towns issuing marriage licenses to gay couples, and I realize the fight for
Biblical morality in which I take a small part is just getting harder, or
when I read editorials calling Christians intolerant bigots, and feel discouraged
about how I can ever share God's love in such a climate, I also think of Frodo
setting off on the road to Mordor to do a seemingly impossible job, and I
say to God, "Nevertheless, I will take the Ring, God, though I do not know
the way!" |