Are We Saruman?

Or Do We Have the Courage to be Gandalf?

Photo by Kaptured by Kasia on Unsplash

In my last essay I discussed the ways in which the American church has hurt its witness with Gen-Z specifically (see below for that link). I wanted to think about this in more detail and I kept thinking about the scene in Lord of the Rungs where Gandalf has gone to Saruman to discuss how they can work to destroy the One Ring. Gandalf realizes to his horror that Saruman has already been corrupted by Sauron through a desire for power. Saruman mocks the brown wizard Ratagast then attempts to pull Gandalf in to his own surrender to evil.

‘“And listen, Gandalf, my old friend and helper!” he said, coming near and speaking now in a softer voice. “I said we, for we it may be, if you will join with me. A new Power is rising. Against it the old allies and policies will not avail us at all. There is no hope left in Elves or dying Númenor. This then is one choice before you, before us. We may join with that Power. It would be wise, Gandalf. There is hope that way. Its victory is at hand; and there will be rich reward for those that aided it. As the Power grows, its proved friends will also grow; and the Wise, such as you and I, may with patience come at last to direct its courses, to control it. We can bide our time, we can keep our thoughts in our hearts, deploring maybe evils done by the way, but approving the high and ultimate purpose: Knowledge, Rule, Order; all the things that we have so far striven in vain to accomplish, hindered rather than helped by our weak or idle friends. There need not be, there would not be, any real change in our designs, only in our means.” (LOTR 518-519)

Saruman believes that he can control the power and twist it back upon Sauron. Of course Galdalf recognizes the futility of attempting to use the power of the One Ring against its creator, but the lust for power has corrupted and twisted Saruman. Gandalf sees the lust within Saruman’s eyes that could not be contained and realizes that Saruman is lost.

‘He came and laid his long hand on my arm. “And why not, Gandalf?” he whispered. “Why not? The Ruling Ring? If we could command that, then the Power would pass to us. That is in truth why I brought you here. For I have many eyes in my service, and I believe that you know where this precious thing now lies. Is it not so? Or why do the Nine ask for the Shire, and what is your business there?” As he said this a lust which he could not conceal shone suddenly in his eyes. (519)

Gandalf becomes trapped upon the top of Orthanc, the tower of Isengard because he refuses to give in to the same lust for power that has consumed Saruman. Gandalf is willing to be outside the story rather than join Saruman’s descent. That does not mean that Gandalf gives up, but that he is willing to be on the sideline for a while to resist the evil that Saruman has embraced. Gandalf knows that Saruman is naive at best to think that the Power he seeks will come to him rather than destroy him.

Hopefully you see the parallel here. Portions of the American church, including within the Church of the Nazarene (COTN) have been seduced by the possibility of wielding cultural or political power. As I consider why so many can ignore the very real evil present in partisanship and in policies that harm, I believe that there is a misguided belief that embracing the imagined power in choosing a partisan “side” will allow that power to be turned upon the world to reshape it.

But we are New Creation people. We would much better look to the example of Gandalf and be willing to reject cultural and political power rather than give in to them. Our witness would be stronger and we could speak prophetically into a world suffering from Old Creation. Could we make the kenotic move of giving up the lure of power in order that we can be the place those who are rejected by power can come and be transformed?

Of course in the Lord of the Rings, Gandalf is eventually given the mantle and power that Saruman held before his descent. But Gandalf wields that power in pursuit of justice. He does not hold it like a treasure, but pours himself into the fight for Middle Earth. Saruman is eventually defeated by his own hubris and ignorance of nature when the Ents go to war against Isengard and Hobbits lay siege as well. Saruman was so consumed by the pursuit of Power that he misses the threat of trees and Share folk. His disdain for others is his defeat. Ultimately, he dies at the hand of one he twisted. Saruman dies in obscurity in the Shire h saw no value in.

I end with a simple question. Are we Gandalf or are we Saruman?

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