In Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, ATHELAS is a powerful healing herb. The true King is also a true healer, and he applies the herb ATHELAS to terrible wounds.
This is a Christian parable.
ATHELAS is the New Testament Greek word meaning TRUTH.
In the New Testament the true King is Jesus but his true identity is veiled, as Jesus lives an ordinary life amongst ordinary people, just like Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings.
In The Lord of the Rings, two heroic characters are stabbed with blades empowered by demonic witchcraft, that is Frodo and Eowyn. Aragorn, the King in exile, puts ATHELAS herb in hot steaming water and applies the medicine to the deadly wounds.
When people are traumatised by dark and terrible experiences, only truth can heal them.
Many Christians have some understanding of this but lack the deep wisdom and love to apply truth in a healing way.
In the Lord of the Rings, it is the King himself who applies the healing herb with gentleness and healing skill.
It is not enough to present traumatised people with the truth about the King. We must bring them gently into the presence of the King Himself.
Some badly damaged people can only tolerate medicine in very small doses. Sometimes we must administer very small doses of truth with a lot of love and patience.
In the New Testament, Jesus did not declare the full truth of who he is to the crowds when they came for healing. He healed the sick and he spoke in parables.
Timing is also vitally important. Even with his chosen twelve apostles, Jesus did not begin by telling them he was the eternal God come down from heaven. He waited for the Father to reveal it to them.
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. Mt 16:13-17 NKJ
A young woman goes to church looking for God. She was abused as a child and became a prostitute. She is traumatised and sees herself as a victim.
The pastor confronts the issue of her sin but shows little empathy for her as a suffering victim.
Timing!
We must know when and how to minister truth to damaged people.
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: Eccl 3:1 NKJ
Brothers and sisters, if a person is caught doing something wrong, you who are spiritual should restore someone like this with a spirit of gentleness. Watch out for yourselves so you won't be tempted too. Gal 6:1 CEB
Remember, truth must always come with love and mercy. Truth without love often makes wounds worse, not better.
Ultimately God will judge the world with truth and condemn everyone who rejected Jesus, but remember, you and I are not judges. Only God is the judge.
But what about strong preaching? Don’t we also need that?
Strong preaching is like surgery. Some people need life saving operations.
But even with surgery, we try to minimise the pain with anaesthetics, gentle after care and pain relief.
There are some preachers and some Christians who approach every situation like a surgeon.
Supposing a family doctor routinely and repeatedly sends all his patients to hospital for major operations. He will kill people and lose his license to practise medicine.
If you are an evangelist, you are gifted and called to confront sin, but don’t do this to the same people over and over again. Jesus was called the friend of sinners.
Truth without grace often does more harm than good.
This is a Christian parable.
ATHELAS is the New Testament Greek word meaning TRUTH.
In the New Testament the true King is Jesus but his true identity is veiled, as Jesus lives an ordinary life amongst ordinary people, just like Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings.
In The Lord of the Rings, two heroic characters are stabbed with blades empowered by demonic witchcraft, that is Frodo and Eowyn. Aragorn, the King in exile, puts ATHELAS herb in hot steaming water and applies the medicine to the deadly wounds.
When people are traumatised by dark and terrible experiences, only truth can heal them.
Many Christians have some understanding of this but lack the deep wisdom and love to apply truth in a healing way.
In the Lord of the Rings, it is the King himself who applies the healing herb with gentleness and healing skill.
It is not enough to present traumatised people with the truth about the King. We must bring them gently into the presence of the King Himself.
Some badly damaged people can only tolerate medicine in very small doses. Sometimes we must administer very small doses of truth with a lot of love and patience.
In the New Testament, Jesus did not declare the full truth of who he is to the crowds when they came for healing. He healed the sick and he spoke in parables.
Timing is also vitally important. Even with his chosen twelve apostles, Jesus did not begin by telling them he was the eternal God come down from heaven. He waited for the Father to reveal it to them.
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. Mt 16:13-17 NKJ
A young woman goes to church looking for God. She was abused as a child and became a prostitute. She is traumatised and sees herself as a victim.
The pastor confronts the issue of her sin but shows little empathy for her as a suffering victim.
Timing!
We must know when and how to minister truth to damaged people.
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: Eccl 3:1 NKJ
Brothers and sisters, if a person is caught doing something wrong, you who are spiritual should restore someone like this with a spirit of gentleness. Watch out for yourselves so you won't be tempted too. Gal 6:1 CEB
Remember, truth must always come with love and mercy. Truth without love often makes wounds worse, not better.
Ultimately God will judge the world with truth and condemn everyone who rejected Jesus, but remember, you and I are not judges. Only God is the judge.
But what about strong preaching? Don’t we also need that?
Strong preaching is like surgery. Some people need life saving operations.
But even with surgery, we try to minimise the pain with anaesthetics, gentle after care and pain relief.
There are some preachers and some Christians who approach every situation like a surgeon.
Supposing a family doctor routinely and repeatedly sends all his patients to hospital for major operations. He will kill people and lose his license to practise medicine.
If you are an evangelist, you are gifted and called to confront sin, but don’t do this to the same people over and over again. Jesus was called the friend of sinners.
Truth without grace often does more harm than good.
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