The Hobbit Letters

How many of you know the story about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien? Yes, there are a multitude of stories… they were great friends…but there is one story that is profound.

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First a brief history:

C.S. Lewis =

Every Christian leader on the planet earth has read something from C.S. Lewis. He was and is one of Christianity’s preeminent thinkers. He wrote “Mere Christianity”, “Screwtape Letters” and “The Chronicles of Narnia”. PLEASE look him up and explore the life of this amazing man.

J.R.R. Tolkien =

Every “geek” on the planet earth has read something from J.R.R. Tolkien. He also was an amazing Christian thinker and, of course, he wrote “The Lord of the Rings.” PLEASE look him up and explore the life of this amazing man.

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The story I am referring to concerns the initial relationship between these two men. When they first became acquainted with each other they had many things in common; of which they were professors at the University of Oxford and they were published authors who had great interest in myth and fantasy literature.

This is then the very interesting part:

C.S. Lewis was an avowed atheist at this time, while J.R.R. Tolkien was an unashamed Christian.

You see, although C.S. Lewis did not believe in Christ, he saw the love of Christ in a man that did not shun him, but greeted him with open arms.

J.R.R. Tolkien did not lambast C.S. Lewis. He became his friend, lived the life of a Christian, spoke to Lewis about their common interests and promoted Christ at every opportunity.

After many long discussions and late night walks, C.S. Lewis was eventually converted to Christianity. It wasn’t overnight (as you will see when you read about his life), but as C.S. Lewis described it: “I came into Christianity kicking and screaming.”

C.S. Lewis credits his friend J.R.R. Tolkien, the Christian author G.K. Chesterton (an outstanding Christian writer!) and the Christian fantasy writer George MacDonald as major influences in his conversion.

NOW imagine if J.R.R. Tolkien would have ignored that atheist named C.S. Lewis!!!

There would have been an unfilled vacuum of Christian philosophy and literature whose emptiness would have been felt till the return of Christ.

 Now think about YOUR life. Who do you influence? Who can you influence? Who can you be the love and image of Christ to?

 Who can you be the Patience of Christ to?

   JESUS IS LORD

Rev. Daniel Gabriel