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A light in dark places.
September 10, 2004
Submitted By salean
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When the fellowship is in Lothlorien, Galadriel gives them all a present. Her present to Frodo is a small crystal phial, caught with the light of Eärendil's star. In a way this gift is like the gift of the Holy Spirit that God has given us. In the same way that Frodo uses the light in Shelob's lair, so we use our light in our troubles and trials. `May it be a light for you in dark places.' Galadriel says to Frodo. Jesus had promised the gift of the holy spirit to the disciples. He said that although He was leaving this world his Spirit would remain in His followers. That's why the Holy Spirit is so precious, just like the phial of Galadriel.
When people think of Jesus they sometimes imagine Him as a normal person who shines with a bright light. It is not hard to imagine it. After meeting Gandalf the White it is not hard to see how some people would remember him as an old man who shines with a bright light. After all, it does say many times that Gandalf did indeed shine with a bright light if he needed to. If you were in Middle Earth what would you remember Gandalf as? The minds of people are picky, they remember some things and forget others. A thousand or so years on Gandalf would probably only be remembered as Gandalf the White, few traces would remain of Gandalf the Grey. It is like this with Jesus, we do not remember the carpenter Jesus, just the Jesus that saved us from our sins and gave us new life.
We need to let Jesus become our light. We need to let Him shine His light and lead is out of the darkness of our lives. We need to follow Him, putting all our faith in Him and we will not fall. We need to be fixed on Jesus.
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... 13 Comments
I love your outlook on this. I always look for ways LOTR tyes in the Bible and this is perfect. I also love how you put the Gandalf/Jesus statement. When I think of Jesus I think of my Saviour, just as many would have thought as Gandalf as Gandalf the White many years later. Good thoughts.
Comment by 1eowynfanshieldmaiden - September 23, 2004 @ 7:09 PM
Sweet article, my friend!!
Comment by *~Linsul~*~Songbreeze~* - October 2, 2004 @ 2:36 PM
I agree with your summation. Jesus is indeed the light that shines in dark places.
Comment by Calime - October 5, 2004 @ 2:14 PM
But tieing the bible and Lord of the rings together is wrong. Of course in some ways these people remind you of stories in the bible. But in reality Lord of the rings has nothing to do with the Bible. IT IS a brilliantly written Fantasy-fiction. I would never think to tie in The Bible (written by God in ways) with something written by a person that was a sinner like us. It is what turns people against books like these.
Yes Jesus is the light that shines in Dark places, but I don't need the book the Lord of the rings to tell me that.
Wlore
Comment by White-Lady-of-Rohan=Eowyn - January 3, 2005 @ 10:15 PM
I understand that LOTR is not scripture, it was not written by God as the Bible was. However, that does not mean that it isn't in any way related to the Bible. In fact , there are numerous references to the Bible and Biblical stories within LOTR. It is the same as with the Chronicles of Narnia. Many Biblical references are found within the Narnia stories. That doesn't mean that it is scripture, but that the author wanted to have Christian themes within his books. These books are great ways to talk to people about Christianity and God, and they are wonderful books in general.
~worshipgod
Comment by worshipgod22 - March 11, 2005 @ 9:38 PM
Christian elements yes, but that can be in Harry potter! Christians should not think that Lord of the rings can teach them anything about Christianity. And no they are not good ways to talk to people about christianity. It ties in way too much with magic. They are better to be used as an example, In any case you could use anything as an example. I could use charmed in a talk as an example of an aspect, and think about what is charmed.
These books were not written to teach us about God they were written to entertain.
God would be dissapointed if we used anything other than the bible to learn. Sure use these books and movies as an example of something if someone doesn't understand.
But it is a Blasphemy to think these books talk to us about God!
Wlore
Comment by White-Lady-of-Rohan=Eowyn - April 11, 2005 @ 2:54 AM
A very good piece of worship towards our so gracious god. I often myself submit poetry and stuff with the hint of God in it, but seldom would I break out into the clear light proclaiming "I am faithfully devoted to God!"
Well done, I say, I should definitely try it sometime.
Comment by Gorlim19 - April 25, 2005 @ 4:54 PM
I'm not Christian but I found themes of faith in LOTR, Tolkien interpretted his own beliefs into a book that he loved, to be taken by anybody as a sign of what they wish. Yes there are religious tones and yes some of the stories tie in with the bible (smeagol and deagol meaning Cain and Abel for one) but its all about interpretation on the individual. There is a big difference between faith and religion and LOTR is an expression of both
Comment by Lanzy - September 19, 2007 @ 10:10 AM
Have any of you fanatical !@#$s ever managed to notice the distinct lack of religion in Tolkien's works? Or the discernible failure of any of his characters to practice, observe, or even acknowledge religious rituals? Or even gods? (Incidentally, when Tolkien did write about gods in 'The Silmarillion,' his vision was pantheistic.)
In fact, the only characters Tolkien mentioned who were practitioners of any type of religion at all were the people of Númenor, who blindly worshiped a fallen angel and were cast into the sea as a result of their hypocrisy and pride.
Tolkien was an extremely well-educated Catholic, and also a philologist. He was also the leading medievalist of his day. As such, his books were informed by the body of world myth -- of which, sadly enough, the depressingly derivative Christian canon will forever be a part. For example, if you think that Jesus had a corner on the resurrection market, try Googling "Baldur." (For a beginning.) (Tolkien would've known quite a bit about Baldur.) Simply because Tolkien himself was 'religious,' that doesn't mean his books are as well; in fact, I'd say they represent a new tradition that is in exact opposition to conventional ideas of the modern practice of faith. Maybe if you read something other than that ridiculously illegitimate bible of yours, you'd know that.
Christians have no business poaching 'The Lord of the Rings.' Instead, please stick to discussing what you know about life and the world -- which is, of course: Nothing.
Comment by Emma - December 28, 2008 @ 8:44 PM
Thank you for you thoughts. I wonder if you can help. I am looking for a clip from Lord of the rings to illustrate dark & light in the Christian sense ( for an Advent assembly at a high school), which is how I came across your comment. Can u help ?
Comment by helen - September 25, 2009 @ 12:45 PM
To whoever said we shouldn't tie the Bible and the Lord of the Rings, you are wrong.
Wrong in the sense that we cannot make comparisons to other literary works. LOTR is not the word of God, but Tolkien was Christian, as was C.S. Louis, and their works were influenced by christianity, i.e. the Bible. This comparison is in every way innocent, if not wonderful. :)
I am a LOTR lover and a strong christian, so this speaks to my heart.
Comment by Caitie Bendall - February 18, 2010 @ 3:03 PM
To whoever said we shouldn't tie the Bible and the Lord of the Rings, you are wrong.
Wrong in the sense that we cannot make comparisons to other literary works. LOTR is not the word of God, but Tolkien was Christian, as was C.S. Louis, and their works were influenced by christianity, i.e. the Bible. This comparison is in every way innocent, if not wonderful. :)
I am a LOTR lover and a strong christian, so this speaks to my heart.
Comment by Caitie Bendall - February 18, 2010 @ 3:05 PM
and Emma, I think you should rethink that statement.
www.reasonablefaith.org
Comment by Caitie - February 18, 2010 @ 3:06 PM