The War for Truth and Tolkien
Communism, persecution, fear, and the Lord of the Rings. This may seem to be a strange combination; but, in fact, it isn’t. In his book Live Not By Lies, Rod Dreher interviewed Kamila Benda, a mother who raised six children in Communist Prague. Christians were persecuted, and truth was suppressed. Despite this, Kamila raised her children to discern truth and not be taken in by lies. How? Dreher writes, “…Kamila made time to read aloud to her children for two to three hours daily… J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings was a cornerstone of her family’s collective imagination. Why Tolkien?…‘Because we knew Mordor was real. We felt that their story’…‘was our story too.’” Whether in fiction or real life, evil exists, and the challenges of facing it are very real.
To Gondor’s Aid
In a similar sort of way, we at Patriot Academy have experienced some of the Tolkien journey as well. Given recent threats and criticisms against our organization, we issued a call to “Be Rohan.” It’s a cry to Americans everywhere to stand up and run to the aid of those who are in the trenches of the culture war, seeking to be lights in a culture of fear and anger.
It’s a cry for help as forces of evil march against all that is good, true, and beautiful in this country because more than anything, this battle we’re in is spiritual. There is a war happening for the hearts and minds of everyone in this country, old and young. The question is: will we succumb to fear, apathy, and tyranny? Or will we boldly stand for freedom, truth, and justice?
The reality of this battle is why we at Patriot Academy educate, train, and engage in civil discourse. Ultimately, culture is not shaped by legislation, but by the truth changing the hearts and minds of people who then write the laws that govern us. In a world and in a country where the family structure is devalued, basic issues of justice are ignored, and an understanding of right and wrong is flipped on its head, we have sent out a call to stand up.
Although it is comfortable to stay on the couch, safely wrapped in the blanket of apathy, that is the reaction of a summer soldier—someone who is only there when the going is easy. The impact of such passive inaction is sure to reach beyond that person to their children and grandchildren. The truth is that what we do today will echo through generations. It’s time to take responsibility, act, and do the things the Lord has called us to do in whatever sphere of influence He has placed us in.
Seeing the Whole Picture
When Sam and Frodo crouch in the dark on the last leg of their journey to Mordor, Sam is comforted by thinking of their tale as only a small part of a greater story, instead of focusing on the misery of what they are currently enduring. While we can take comfort in knowing that Christ is the victor and the greater story will turn out right in the end, we can also be inspired and bolstered by the knowledge that here and now we have a purpose and gifts to use where we are.
Though at times, we will face opposition from those who disagree with us, in remembering the bigger picture—that everything is held in the Lord’s hands— we can find hope and courage to continue. So, in the time we’ve been given and the country we’ve been blessed with, we steward the gifts we’ve been given and proclaim the truth.
Real-Life Examples
As silly as it may seem to use a fictional book, however popular, to describe events and things that have happened to us, the reason we use it is because Tolkien understood human nature, life, and the struggle against evil.
He beautifully crafted role models of courage and character that we relate to today because, in spite of their mistakes and failings, they accomplished great things. And we can look beyond the world of Tolkien to see actual examples of men and women who courageously lived out and shared their convictions.
Below is just a small list of these great role models. Look them up. Study their lives. Discern both their weaknesses and also their strengths that allowed them to make a difference. Let it challenge and inspire you to live your life with courage.
Charlie Kirk – A man of true character and conviction. A man who consistently and courageously spoke out for truth and for the gospel. His life exemplifies someone who was not afraid to say the hard things because he knew that eternity was at stake and he had the ability to reach lives for the kingdom of God.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Although free to live abroad, Dietrich decided to return to Germany to resist Hitler. His writings bear out the fact that he believed that Christians had the responsibility to work for a better future for themselves and coming generations and not lay down that work until the day the Lord called them home.
Clara Barton – From establishing a school for mill children, to working as a clerk and copyist in the U.S. patent office, to being present at every major battlefield in Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina during the Civil War, Barton was a force for good in difficult situations. For her courage as a nurse, she earned the title of “Angel of the Battlefield.” Her work lives on and has impacted generations through her founding of the American Red Cross.
George Whitefield – A powerful speaker, Whitefield and others, like Jonathan Edwards spoke passionately about Christ, the Gospel, and the Christian life. As a result of their preaching, “Godliness swept the colonies, and a love for the Bible and its teachings was renewed among citizens and families.”For roughly 34 years, Whitefield passionately preached over 18,000 sermons to crowds of thousands. Without Whitefield’s courage to stand and proclaim truth in front of thousands, we might be left with a very different America.
The truth is that each of these brave men and women were incredible examples of courage. They were faithful with their talents in their spheres of influence. The same can be true of any one of us. We will never be “exactly like” any one of these heroes. That’s impossible! We’re each different, but we can be inspired by their stories and then passionately live our own lives with courage and character.
Emma Sager is the Marketing Specialist at Patriot Academy. She graduated from Cedarville University with a degree in Communication. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, art, playing violin, and spending time outdoors and with friends.
