Imaginative Theology Archives

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Screwtape Advises: Teach them Modern Worship Songs

My Dear Wormwood,

We have yet to talk about what the humans now call ‘worship.’ While a rather recent phenomenon, it is to our advantage. Help them forget that true worship requires sacrifice, and that the singing of songs is for his glory. The enemy knows that if they don’t give their life up to him, they will worship themselves instead. In contrast, our father knows this tendency and loves it; he is always willing to share his glory unlike our enemy’s desire that they only give it to him. read more

November 28, 2023

Imaginative Theology

The Failure of Frodo

Frodo (a Hobbit in the Lord of the Ring series by JRR Tolkien), the unassuming reluctant bearer of the One Ring reaches the climax of his life-quest: standing at the end, peering into the fires of Mount Doom, he failed. For all the long journey, he did not accomplish the mission. ¹

He couldn’t destroy the ring. He wanted the ring for himself.

It was only a matter of sovereignty and providence that saved him and Middle Earth. In a fateful twist, Gollum was spared from death decades before because of the compassion that Bilbo had for the creature. Inadvertently, Gollum became the agent that destroyed the ring in a violent final attempt to posses it for himself. What Frodo couldn’t do, Gollum accomplished it, but not of his own will. Evil intent was transformed into a great good. The fate of the world hung on a divine insight into the darkness of a creature and the transformed conscience of a Hobbit who had compassion on a monster. Frodo’s predecessor Bilbo spared the creature Gollum and provided the means to the ring’s destruction. In the end, an act of compassion led to salvation. read more

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Image Credit: Image by Wolfgang Orthgieß from Pixabay.

September 1, 2023