Fighting for the Truth as Taking the Ring

Another hard part of taking the ring involves fighting for the truth. While Frodo struggled towards Mordor with the ring, eventually going alone with just one companion, his other friends became involved in desperate struggles against evil. These battles were thrust upon the peoples of Middle-earth by the forces of Sauron (the Dark Lord) and his followers, who attacked free and peaceful peoples in order to subdue them to his will. Because Sauron's attention was drawn away from his own land while he conducted these battles, Frodo's friends who engaged in these battles were supporting his effort to take the ring.

Engaging in conflict is not pleasant. Yet sometimes it is necessary. Some conflicts are forced upon us, and we must defend the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is why, as I write about taking the ring, I will sometimes be taking part in the struggle for the heart of the two mainline denominations to which I have belonged, the PC(USA) and the Episcopal Church.