With all the times I'm going to see 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' within the space of a week, I thought I would try to look at some themes from the movie with a godly perspective (and without any spoilers).
One of the themes is clearly courage. I recently watched the old Don Knotts movie, 'The Ghost and Mr. Chicken,' and something he said stuck with me. Bravery is not just not being afraid, sometimes it's "doing one's duty, no matter what is scaring him personally." That certainly applies to Bilbo, and it's something we can learn from. Integrity means that circumstances don't dictate our actions, character does. We may not feel brave or courageous while doing our duty, but that's what makes it more so. We simply do what we must because we give ourselves no other option. This isn't to say we should be prideful over it, but humbly recognize that we are simply doing our duty. What seems extraordinary to an ungodly culture should be ordinary to a godly man.
Another theme is loyalty. Loyalty is praised over ability, because it results in availability: those best suited for a job are those who are there and willing to do it. If I want to follow Christ's example and show compassion to people, I need to be around them. If I'm not around, I don't know the need, and if I don't know, I can't help. Knowing this, the two options must be avoidance, so I can claim ignorance and not help (self-deceptive and counterproductive), or a hands-on, active compassion, as shown by loyalty, availability, and opening my eyes to the need. This is how Christ lived, and how I need to live.
Finally, I want to look at good vs. evil. All the best fantasy literature, and literature and film in general, have components of this theme in them. It's ingrained in us to root for the side of good to overcome all the obstacles in their way, to win out over evil, and so it should be. The postmodern culture we live in would like to trivialize that, to promote relativism over the ideas of right and wrong, to erase the concept of evil altogether. No matter how loud or vocal their stance, it cannot deny the simple truth which is made plain to every person, that good and evil do exist. Which side you choose is vitally important, as is recognizing that there are sides and actively choosing the right one. As Eowyn said in 'LOTR: The Two Towers,' "...those without swords can still die upon them." The war is very real, and godly men (and women) ought to be fighting for good, and protecting and defending the helpless, rescuing them from the enemy of their souls.
God, let me not turn away from what You have called me to. Let me stand courageously and do my duty, let me be available to help those You call me to, and let me fight to defend, protect and rescue those who are in danger in this spiritual warfare. My sword is Yours, command me Lord. Amen.
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