The Mines of Moria, the Heart of Man

The Fellowship of the Ring contains more allusions concerning the human condition than many give the famed author J.R.R Tolkien credit for.

While Tolkien’s Christianity was not purposely put on display, it bleeds through the story like ink upon a page – visible and thick. The Mines of Moria are such a case in the Lord of the Rings, those caverns are a direct reflection in regard to the human heart. The dwarf Gimli, son of Glóin, provides the perfect description that any individual might require. The dwarves celebrated there frequently with mead beer, ripe meat, and the Fellowship was assured to be given a royal welcome – yet all the Fellowship is greeted with is the stench of death and suffocating darkness. No celebration, no rejoicing, no welcome - death, and darkness.

According to the lore given by Tolkien, the dwarves were known as mighty craftsmen and miners. The dwarves were widely acclaimed for unearthing fine minerals and exotic metals of gold, silver, mithril, diamonds, and, as seen in The Hobbit, even the heart of the mountain. In fact, their skill was so well known, and treasure so large, even the dragon Smaug was jealous for what they had uncovered. As many fans of the series may recall, Saruman the White, the wizard who betrays the free peoples of Middle Earth and his own order, provides the exposition for what exactly went wrong in Moria:

“Moria... You fear to go into those mines. The dwarves delved too greedily and too deep. You know what they awoke in the darkness of Khazad-dum.”

Gandalf the Grey is very aware of what lies in the deep of Moria and is adamant to not journey through those mines. Terrible and frightening beasts await, sleeping in the dark, waiting to devour those who walk aimlessly through those catacombs. And still, a far more terrible beast of shadow and flame awaits to take them all victim.

The Doors of Durin is the famed entrance for the western entry into the Mines of Moria. For those who have borne witness to the Fellowship, the Doors of Durin provide not only an entrance into the mines but a portal to examine the terrible condition of the human heart. As the dwarves became zealous for all that glittered and gleaned, they dug too deeply – and man too is just as guilty, for it led to utter destruction. What lies deep in the heart of sinful man has run amuck through every corridor and crevice. It scales the walls and clings to the pillars and ceilings and lies in wait within the dark. The heart of man is filled with darkness and death as much, if not more, than that of the mines which the Fellowship was forced to journey through.

Dear reader, are you surprised?

The heart of man is wicked, and none can know it! (Jer. 17:9) All that lay within the caverns of man’s heart gave birth to his own destruction, just as the Reformer John Calvin penned that the heart of man is a perpetual idol factory, and still it has given rise to that far more terrible beast of shadow and flame. That beast, that sin that lies in wait, which crouches as the door waiting to devour you (Gen. 4:7) is dangerous. Even so, that terrible beast must be slain. Here, good Christian, see that the Spirit of Christ must intercede for you! That Great Illuminating one, who finds the lost in the dark bringing light to their minds and their path. He alone can, and must, displace this terrible beast from within man’s soul. For the carnal weapons of earthy discipline, physical buffeting, or “white-knuckled” approach are no match for this beast. Just as swords and bows of the Fellowship were no match for the Balrog of Morgoth. This beast, your sin, feeds and is strengthened by your inner darkness – you give it strength. Do you imagine Christian, that you could slay that which slays you?

Yet, as the Fellowship was forced to travel through the mines of Moria, so too must you embark into the deep caverns.

You must go forth with the Spirit of Christ as your guide, to rid your soul of what desperately longs to destroy you. You must, as John Owen famously wrote, “Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you.” For one greater than Gandalf the Grey ventures with you into the deep. He shrouds himself in unapproachable light, that even shadows and flames dare not oppose. His voice booms louder than the Black Speech of Mordor. And yet he guides you in such light and calls for you by his word. His rod and staff will comfort you as you trek through the deep and will guide you safely out of the dark and into his marvelous light.