Interesting thought, I like the highness of church as it pertains to Tolkien’s love for nature, the cathedrals are the trees themselves...so I just finished Hunchback of Notre Dame a little while back, different book but it features a church...the novel has a tragic ending where Quasimodo’s skeleton is found in prostrate reverence over Esmeralda’s hundreds of years after their deaths, and as soon as they are found their bones crumble to dust. They are buried in the commoner’s catacombs of Paris, neither has been baptized, neither has received a Christian burial, and yet this image of their skeletons has all of the haunting beauty of the grand cathedral of which this novel share’s its name. The church that has even burned in recent memory the way it burns in the novel, and yet it is still there. Even amidst the decay and corruption of a city full of gentiles there is a church, what else is the church for?
I would like to hear how each of the "fellowship" individuals is searched to the heart to test integrity and faithfulness. Does (should) this happen in our churches? Is there a parallel to the mirror where we can identify and confront our fears?
Perhaps in many churches help is only available from the professionals, who might better be absent as the king and queen were in the story, so members can build up each other. Though the eight pretty much kept to themselves too.
I like this idea and it fits both the story and our story as the church. While Tolkien hated allegory, he simply would not deny the borrowing of ideas from the Bible, his experiences, and nature. This makes his stories relatable to people. How we need to understand the Kingdom of God and our place as the church of called-out ones...to help other believers on their journey.
Interesting thought, I like the highness of church as it pertains to Tolkien’s love for nature, the cathedrals are the trees themselves...so I just finished Hunchback of Notre Dame a little while back, different book but it features a church...the novel has a tragic ending where Quasimodo’s skeleton is found in prostrate reverence over Esmeralda’s hundreds of years after their deaths, and as soon as they are found their bones crumble to dust. They are buried in the commoner’s catacombs of Paris, neither has been baptized, neither has received a Christian burial, and yet this image of their skeletons has all of the haunting beauty of the grand cathedral of which this novel share’s its name. The church that has even burned in recent memory the way it burns in the novel, and yet it is still there. Even amidst the decay and corruption of a city full of gentiles there is a church, what else is the church for?
What a great connection! So often we forget about the importance of physically going to a church building and meeting together each week.
Hear, hear! 🍻 May it be as you say!
This is quite beautiful, and thought-provoking. Great piece.
Thank you! 😊
I would like to hear how each of the "fellowship" individuals is searched to the heart to test integrity and faithfulness. Does (should) this happen in our churches? Is there a parallel to the mirror where we can identify and confront our fears?
Perhaps in many churches help is only available from the professionals, who might better be absent as the king and queen were in the story, so members can build up each other. Though the eight pretty much kept to themselves too.
I like this idea and it fits both the story and our story as the church. While Tolkien hated allegory, he simply would not deny the borrowing of ideas from the Bible, his experiences, and nature. This makes his stories relatable to people. How we need to understand the Kingdom of God and our place as the church of called-out ones...to help other believers on their journey.