Preparatio Evangelica [Chuck Colson on The Two Towers]

Breakpoint Online ^ | 12/18/02 | Chuck Colson

[ksen]

Preparatio Evangelica

BreakPoint with Charles Colson

December 18, 2002

The Two Towers

Today, millions of people will go to see The Two Towers, the second installment in the trilogy based on J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. If they pay close attention, they'll see more than an epic adventure. They'll also get a glimpse of Christian truth. It's well known that Tolkien rejected allegorical interpretations of Lord of the Rings—the notion, for example, that the ring represented the atom bomb. But Tolkien's Christian faith was a different matter. And it's no surprise that his faith found its way into the story.

Tolkien wrote to a friend that Lord of the Rings is a "fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision." When, in both the book and the film, Gandalf calls himself a "servant of the Secret Fire," that fire, Tolkien told a friend, is the Holy Spirit.

The good news is that the connection between Tolkien's faith and Lord of the Rings wasn't lost on director Peter Jackson and his co-writer Philippa Boyens. They told columnist Terry Mattingly that while they didn't set out to make a religious film, they understood the role that Tolkien's beliefs played in his life and work.

And knowing what he believed, they decided to honor the things "that were important to Tolkien." Thus, they said, "some of the messages and some of the themes" in the films "are based on his beliefs." Principal among these beliefs is the Christian idea that, as Solzhenitsyn once put it, "the line between good and evil runs through every human heart," and it oscillates back and forth.

The cinematic version of Lord of the Rings is more than a story about good versus evil. It's a story that, as Mattingly puts it, offers modern audiences "another chance to understand the timeless roots of sin." Characters wrestle with the evil within them. Even when they seek to do good they must guard against the possibility of doing the right thing for the wrong reasons or in the wrong way.

Director Peter Jackson told Mattingly that "Tolkien's themes really resonate today." That's right, and they're going to keep on resonating. As he put it, "I don't think humans are capable of actually pulling themselves out of these basic ruts."

Exactly—that's why two thousand years ago the Son of God, whom Tolkien worshipped, became one of us. He knew that only by living and dying as one of us could the problem of human evil, the "rut" Jackson spoke of, be overcome.

In some ways, Lord of the Rings, both the film and the book, is what the Church fathers called preparatio evangelica, preparation for the Gospel. It's a story where the characters, while not possessing the fullness of Christian revelation, can nonetheless glimpse this truth. Understanding their world and their thoughts prepares us to understand the fullness of Christian revelation.

So, three cheers to Boyens and Jackson for honoring what was important to Tolkien.

Go ahead and invite a friend to the movies and then out for coffee and conversation. Let's be prepared to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the interest in Tolkien's world, a world that helps us—and our neighbors—better understand why the Word became flesh.

[ksen]

Thanks Bruce. ;^)

[ksen]

That's a shame that people laughed at Smeagol's struggles. I think that is going to be one of the saddest parts about the movie.

Whenever I read the part where Smeagol nearly wins out and then Sam yells at him thus allowing Gollum to regain the upper hand, makes me a little irked at Sam.

I thought Boromir was an excellent picture of a man consumed by his sin, but then ultimately victorious through his faith in the King.

[LinnieBeth]

Thank you for sharing this with me (us). Every time I've read these books I see deeper and deeper meaning, and as I read them, it is a picture of the Spirit-filled Christian experience.

Thanks again.

[ksen]

You're very welcome, it was my pleasure. ;^)

[SkyPilot]

Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were not only contemporaries--they were great friends. They wrote to each other, and inspired one another greatly.

Both Lewis and Tolkien are (in my mind) the two greatest writers of the 20th century.

[Vast Buffalo Wing Conspiracy]

I saw a midnight showing; absolutely fantastic. The CGI Gollum/Smeagel, acted by Andy Sirkis, is amazing. He has a conversation with himself which is at first amusing, then chilling, then, finally, pathetic. You really do see the evil eating inside Gollum, and his attempt to free himself from it.

[Texaggie79]

Still waiting for YOUR review!

[HairOfTheDog]

I went to see Gangs of New York instead.... Decided I wasn't that "into" The Two Towers.





Heh.

It was really intense Tex... I think you will like it! - Not really ready to write very much about it, have company over and I am going to see it again tonight to try to catch the half of the stuff that I missed the first time!

Developing.....

[Texaggie79]

LOL, almost had me. I can't wait to see it. Hopefull they will have it on the IMAX screen at the Edwards in Houston.

[Ladysmith]

As an atheist twenty-five years ago, I thought the books were wonderful. Now as a Christian, I'm still stunned by the depth of the story I had missed back then.

Thank you, Peter and Fran, for honoring Tolkien's faith and beliefs. It's reflected beautifully in your film.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

The fact that audience members were actually laughing at some of Gollum's conflict scenes was almost as hurtful as watching Gollum get tricked by Frodo and Faramir.

That happened at the theater we went to as well. The first time Smeagol/Gollum had his internal argument, quite a few members of the audience laughed. I didn't; I found it fascinating, hypnotic, even a little frightening, and definitely very very sad. The audience reaction made me long to be watching it on DVD in the privacy of my own home.

But, I noticed something interesting... the second time Smeagol/Gollum argued with himself, near the end of the movie... no one laughed. It was as if everyone understood the seriousness of it now... maybe the fact that Gollum won the second argument made it more chilling to them.

[Vast Buffalo Wing Conspiracy]

I think the audience was simply reacting to the novelty of the Gollum character. Once they "got" what was going on, they quieted down (in my experience).