Epiphany in Middle-earth
Each of these little epiphanies in Middle-earth are like the star the magi saw arise in the sky, a light that reflects and points to Jesus who is the Light of the world.
Contributors
Sam P. Schuldheisz
Samuel P. Schuldheisz is Pastor at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA. He and his wife, Natasha, have two children, Zoe and Jonah. His reading, research, and writing interests focus on The Inklings, Imaginative Apologetics, and the intersection of theology and literature.
The Tolkien Option: Consolation and Eucatastrophe
Consolation is the breath of life filling our lungs, hearts, and minds with the fresh, incorruptible air of the new creation.
Our God: the God of Failures
God is the God of failures, for He became one for you. There is no failure of ours that is bigger than Jesus’ cross, no sin of ours that can overshadow the cross.
The Tolkien Option, Part 3: Escape
Jesus is the great Houdini of the grave for us. And through His death, He gives us the Great Escape from death that leads to the great joy of the Resurrection.
Luther the Storyteller
Above all, Luther understood the importance of the Biblical narrative as the story of God’s love and man’s salvation revealed in Christ Crucified.
The Imaginative Luther
The Lutheran Reformation was a reformation of the Christian imagination alongside its theology.
The Tolkien Option, Part 2: Recovery
Recovery helps us see beauty in the ordinary; the miracle and wonder of creation in the oak leaf or the evergreen needle.
The Tolkien Option—Introduction
What do the events of good stories, like The Lord of the Rings teach us about the rise and fall of civilizations in our own world?
Jesus' Ascension: Behold, I am Making All Things New!
Forty days after His resurrection from the dead, Jesus ascended.
The Great Eucatastrophe
Eucatastrophe combines two Greek words: ‘eu’ meaning ‘good’ (as in eulogy or euphoria), and ‘katastrophe’ for destruction.
Yearning for the Heroic Sacrifice
Sacrifice is the beating heart of the Scriptures, but also of our Christian faith.
Is Batman Fulfilling His Vocation?
In Christian terms, this is a perfect example of the doctrine of vocation, where God calls us to serve our neighbor.
What If The Freedom Found In Fairy Tales Was True?
True freedom, Luther discovered, is found in Jesus crucified who sets us free.
Hobbits and the Greatest Story of All
Fairy tales are but one chapter in the book we call storytelling. We may prefer reading other kinds of stories (mystery, science fiction, and so on).
Heidelberg and Hobbiton: Theology of the Cross in Middle-earth
As the story unfolds we see Luther’s Heidelberg theses on display, even before the Fellowship leaves Rivendell.
The Great Easter Entmoot
On this night of nights, Christ arises victorious and sends the devil’s hordes running with no darkness to find cover; death’s dark shadow is gone
The Lord of Hosts' Bounty in the Shire
The only thing Hobbits love more than a good meal, is good company with whom they can share it.
Is Your Worldview A Peaceful One?
We shouldn’t be surprised when the worldviews of the sub-creators (or their characters) show up in movies, television, books, theater, music, and other works of art.
A Christian Guide to the Movies
How to enjoy the movie on its own merits.
Hobbits and Evangelism: Friendship
I have found that Gandalf’s words above ring true, not only in Middle-earth, but in our world as well.
Does The Resurrection Even Make Sense?
In reality, Easter equals good news for you. And our world needs some good news. Maybe we’re not even sure what’s wrong, but we know this world is broken.
Legos and Apologetics: Imagination, Art, and Sub-Creation (Part 2)
It is Tolkien's adept ability at combining imagination with Sub-Creation to give his fictional world of Middle-Earth that ‘inner consistency of reality’ which points to the truth of the Gospel.
Sundays are for the Walking Dead
There are several reasons why I nerd out when it comes to AMC’s The Walking Dead.
Baptism Is Your Damascus Road
Paul's conversion is a death and resurrection story. And in reality, so is every conversion, whether it was an awe-inspiring experience like Paul's or not. Dead to sin and alive in Christ.
Legos and Apologetics: Imagination, Art, and Sub-Creation - Part 1
Every child builds. Some build castles out of wooden blocks handed down from an older sibling. Some construct forts out of blankets, chairs, and miscellaneous living room artifacts.
Good Storytellers Make Good Apologists
God wired us to be storytellers. God made man in his own image and that image includes a rational mind that communicates in large part through stories.
Legos and Apologetics: Imagination, Art, and Sub-Creation (Part 4)
But there’s more to this movie than excellent Lego graphics and artistic; in other words, imaginative storytelling.
Legos and Apologetics: Imagination, Art, and Sub-Creation (Part 3)
What do imagination, Lego bricks, and Sub-Creation have to do with apologetics?