Christianity and the Lord of the Rings
by David Ketter
Frodo Baggins: Christ In Disguise?
First, a little background information. Frodo and Sam were both residents of the Shire before they were thrust upon the quest to destroy the One Ring of Sauron, Lord of Mordor. Frodo is the wealthy heir of Hobbit adventurer, Bilbo Baggins, who had disappeared years before to leave for a "vacation." He had left Frodo the Ring (its properties, he knew nothing save that it could render its bearer invisible) and it was not until their friend Gandalf the Grey had discovered its identity that Frodo knew he must leave their home in the Shire to destroy it. Samwise, who had been "dropping eaves" on Frodo and Gandalf's conversation was put "to a better use" and accompanied Frodo for the rest of the journey.

Throughout the Trilogy (from now on, used to refer to the Lord of the Rings), there are characters and events that seem to reflect the Bible and it is not surprising, knowing that Tolkien was a follower of the Lord Jesus. Frodo, for one, bears the Ring to free the people of Middle-Earth of it, just as Christ bore our sin to free us. This is one of the most obvious "mirrors" of Middle-Earth.

Another one similar to the above is how Frodo mirrors Christians. Both are thrust on a journey with its various trials and tests. When Frodo used the Ring in Bree, it drew the Enemy's servants to him and he payed for it at Weathertop when the Witch-King stabbed him. It is the same for us when we sin. During our journeys, there are times of rest, like Rivendell and Lorien for Frodo and church services, retreats or other activities for us.

There are companions: some are only with us for a length of the journey, like Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf, Merry, and Pippin or others who are with us from start to finish, like Samwise Gamgee. They keep us going, they support us, they assist in fending off the Enemy's attacks.

Oh yes, there's always an Enemy. Sauron himself may not be able to come for Frodo personally but his cronies can, and boy did they try! Chief of his servants were the Nazgul, the Dark Riders of Mordor. Frodo couldn't manage them all, but with the help of others, he escaped their grasp and fulfilled his mission "at the end of all things."

It is much the same for us. Our Adversary, our accuser, wants to have us; but with the help of others and our Heavenly Father, we can overcome. And when we reach the end of our journeys, we "go into the West" as Frodo did, to a far greater end than we can imagine.
NEXT
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1