In Tolkien's ‘’The 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 allegory.
In the Bible, ATHELAS is the Greek word that means TRUTH.
In the New Testament, the true king is Jesus, but his true identity is veiled because Jesus lives an ordinary life among ordinary people, just like Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings.
In the Lord of the Rings, two heroic characters are stabbed to death with blades empowered by demonic witchcraft, namely Frodo and Eowyn. Aragorn, the king in exile, places the ATHELAS herb in hot, steaming water and applies the medicine to the fatal wounds.
When people are traumatised by dark and terrible experiences, only the truth can heal them.
Many Christians have some understanding of this, but lack the deep wisdom and love to apply the truth in a healing way.
In ‘’The Lord of the Rings‘’, it is the king himself who applies the healing herb gently and with healing skill.
It is not enough to explain the truth about the king to traumatised people. We must bring them with gentleness into the presence of the King himself.
Some severely damaged people can only tolerate medicine in very small doses. Sometimes we need to administer very small doses of truth with much love and patience.
In the New Testament, Jesus did not explain the full truth of who he is to the crowd when they came for healing. He healed the sick and he spoke in parables.
Timing is also crucial. Even with his chosen twelve apostles, Jesus did not begin by telling them that he was the eternal God who came down from heaven. He waited for the Father to reveal it to them.
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. Mt 16:13–17 NRSV
A young woman goes to church in search of God. She was abused as a child and became a prostitute. She feels more like a victim than a sinner and is very confused. How can we help her with love and truth?
The pastor confronts the issue of her sin, but shows little compassion for her as a suffering victim.
Timing!
We need to know when and how to give truth to hurting people.
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: Ec 3:1 NKJV
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Gal 6:1 NIV
Remember, truth must always come with grace and love. Truth without love often makes wounds worse, not better.
There is also a time for confronting sin and for strong preaching, but we must be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the needs of the people we want to reach.
Ultimately, God will judge the world with truth and condemn anyone who has rejected Jesus, but we must never forget that we are not judges. Only God is the judge.
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