Today I had to write an essay on the following quote.... not an easy thing to do, but I eventually...eventually... worked out what to say about it. School work yes, but the essay is a bit interesting. Maybe I should call it "Some Thoughts" and not an essay since to some people it is such a nasty word. So don't think of it as a essay, think if it as something else.

“Indeed in nothing is the power of the Dark Lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all those who still oppose him.”

In Lord of the Rings, Tolkien’s fantasy world, the elf Haldir speaks thus. He is referring to the fact that both elves and dwarves are enemies of Sauron, yet they are estranged from one another and there is a great dislike and mistrust between the races. They are not standing together to fight a common enemy. This shows Sauron’s (the Dark Lord’s) power. 

This reflects back to real life, Satan and The Church. We see Satan’s power when we look at all the different denominations of the church, and the friction between them and within them. Satan encourages differences and uses them to fuel conflict. We are all called to be part of the one body of Christ, yet each denomination thinks its way is best and some condemn other parts of the same body because of it. 

What we should be doing is fighting the “Dark Lord” of this world together. The church is one body so we should work together as one, not try to walk in different directions or push each other away. Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” but we are not. We are estranged from one another, as are the elves and dwarves in middle earth. 

The Dark Lord uses any means to cause division, even the pettiest things. He uses human pride, greed, materialism and self-centredness. Churches disagree over things like how we should worship or whether we should buy carpet or air-conditioning for the church. Arguments are even started because people each want the carpet to be a different colour. Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” We need to do as this verse says, and serve each other for mutual up building.  Matthew 12:25 “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.” If we are divided how can we stand against the devils power? We need to stand united in Christ.