They were elves, once.
I have never seen it mentioned, but I have to believe I am not the only one to have noticed. Specifically, a minor (ok, major) detail in two of the major battles of Tolkien’s works. The first being the Siege of Barad-dûr, and the second being the Battle of the Black Gate. The thing to notice, if you haven’t, is the size disparity between the different generations of the “Good Guys”. This is only inferred in the books, but rather nicely shown in the films. There, the army of the Final Alliance was truly massive, while the army of Gondor and Rohan was, by comparison, little more than a task force.
Anybody as autistically in-depth on the lore of these books knows that Tolkien never formalized an exact process for orc creation - sometimes even contradicting or retroactively editing details. Sometimes he says orcs were cut from stone and enchanted to life by dark magic, other times he says all orcs used to be elves, but they were corrupted. The movies keep this tradition, showing the Uruk-hai being made from mud bogs in Isengard, while at other points mentioning that orcs come from twisted and corrupted elves. Older films work on this unclear direction in very creative ways. I rather enjoy the way those 1970’s animated flicks show wood elves - known for their aggression and worldliness, as appearing like something half-way to an orc:
Imagine if they had Legolas, a famous wood elf, looking like this? Something tells me his cameo in The Hobbit would have been scrapped.
In popular fan theories, the corruption idea has won out these days, and Tolkin himself gradually leaned into that being canonical. He later started saying the enchanted stone method was how Trolls were made, although I like to imagine trolls are corrupted Ents. (This is plausible, btw). However, returning to my opening comment about army size disparity, this all leaves a rather disturbing realization:
It is not unreasonable to imagine some who fought in the army of the Final Alliance, later were twisted to fight against Rohan and Gondor.
Indeed, it may even be that most of the surviving elves eventually became corrupted orcs that later fought for Mordor. Have you ever noticed how very few of them were left by the conclusion of the Third Age? Once mighty kingdoms were now merely private estates, such as Elron’s House.
Imagine those elves who fought in those final battles of the Third Age. Many of the orcs they slayed likely had familiar faces. Perhaps they were once brothers or sisters, fathers or mothers, cousins, aunts or uncles. In this regard, the fight might be exceptionally hard. You may wonder if you are on the right side at times.
Dear reader, think about those elves. I will return to them.
Much that once was is lost…
If you are someone like me, you’ve likely had several blows to your heart seeing people you respected in your youth gradually become twisted mockeries of themselves. Rod Dreher, once a titan, now reduced to ramblings about uncircumcised genitalia and doxing former friends. David French, once a titan, now reduced to defending progressive issues and rambling for the New York Times. Hans Finne, creator of Lutheran Satire, going a tad bit nuts and blocking anyone who criticized him, and recently, Chris Rosebrough too; Once an avid critic of Peter Drucker, now reduced to attacking young men and calling everyone who questions him an antisemite.
This list is not complete. I can mention US Catholic magazine platforming an advocate for child mutilation, or the Global Southern churches of the Episcopal denomination condemning Westminster for going nuts as well (Bless our Global Southern brothers and sisters for correctly doing so). There are many cases I could mention, but the point in question would remain the same: You likely feel lost. The men and women who shaped you into who you are today, have seemingly broken the mold they used to make you, and adopted a disgusting disfigured mold that terrifies you. You most certainly do not want to be placed in that mold.
…for none now live who remember it.
Dear reader, if you are one such Son or Daughter of our beloved Christian faith, know that your pain is not felt alone. And know that in the grand history of the Christian faith, you are not the first to experience it.
In the Second century, the Christians of Lyons faced a similar crisis. The Romans came in force to persecute the believers, and under immense duress and torture, many of them apostatized to have even a second of peace. The Christian writers use very hard-hitting language to describe the experience:
Then the others were divided, and the first martyrs were assured and ready. These eagerly finished their testimony. But some appeared who were unprepared and untrained. They were still weak and unable to bear the tension of a great contest. Of these about ten in number proved abortions; causing great grief and immeasurable sorrow amongst us and damping the ardor of the others who had not yet been arrested. For these, although they suffered every kind of cruelty, remained nevertheless in the company of the Witnesses and did not forsake them.
The term abortion here shows up occasionally in early Christian writing. When one was reborn and baptized into the faith, it was reckoned that they were born as children of their Mother, the church - the wife of Christ. Likewise, when fate abounded that such who were reborn proved short-lived, they were called abortions. Note here, not abortions by their mother’s will, but by the will of the Lord of the Earth, Satan. Satan who, in Revelation, played the part of the dragon prepared to devour any born of the woman.
The persecution of Lyons has many lessons like these for we who suffer today. Firstly, it is that when Satan sees the testimony of Christians is strong, he will often guide those of a lukewarm faith to live in their midst. Then, when persecution returns, their inevitable apostasy becomes reason of pain for those true to the faith.
Can you imagine, dear reader, those of the brethren who had studied and learned under such men? Those that had thought them spiritual fathers, and elders to guide them in the faith? Indeed, abortion is a correct term to use at the sight of their shipwrecked faith. Likewise, you would have every right to weep at such abortions today.
The reality is that many who we called teacher, rabbi, only a few years ago have cracked under the pressures of the world. A persecution against those desirous of the true faith in Christ’s promises. This wide-spread abortion of our teachers crosses all lines of denomination, language, culture, etc etc. We who have kept in the faith, around the world, have begun to weep greatly for each new abortion we must count. We who watch guard our faith from being shipwrecked in likewise matter. It is hard, dear reader. It must not get in the way of good works and being charitable to those we find hurt along the way to Jerusalem. Like the good Samaritan, we must pick them up and find them some place amongst their own to rest and recover in - and often at our own expense. Yet, we must. We must help all the Golumns and Smegals we see along the way - and pray at least one of them may prove to be a Gandalf or an Aragon.
As things stand, I have no doubt we who dwell on the Earth today will continue to witness the breaking down of men we once respected from this persecution. The truly sad thing to weep over is thus: The physical pain hasn’t even started yet.
Final Thoughts
I am not a pastor, priest, bishop, or pope. I have no right to declare anyone a heretic - although I have. I have no right to declare anyone excommunicated - although I have. I am thinking I will likely teach myself patience and cease from such activities, as I do not wish to be the cause of abortion for anyone’s faith.
A Christian is one who has faith in Christ’s promises, not in the works of men. In my time, I have seen many arguments between people. I have seen men condemned for enjoying the teachings of Peter Drucker, and his Acolyte Rick Warren. I have seen men condemned for enjoying mid-century German literature. I have seen men condemned for enjoying Marxian literature. I have seen men condemned for enjoying the ramblings of 21st century internet pastors. I have seen many men condemned. I have seen very few men saved.
Consider this something of my declaration of neutrality, but not of silence. As we who live on the Earth today continue to witness such abortions, I feel it important to remind myself how the church in Lyons worked through recovery in-between persecutions:
The intervening time did not prove barren or unfruitful to the Witnesses. Through their patient endurance the immeasurable love of Christ was made manifest. For through the living the dead were made alive; and the Witnesses conferred favors on those who were not Witnesses. The virgin mother had much joy in receiving back alive those whom she had given up as dead abortions. But because of the faithful Witnesses most of those who had denied the faith returned as it were into their mother's womb and were conceived again and made alive. They too had now learned to confess. Being now restored to life and strengthened, they went up to the judgment-seat to be again questioned by the governor. God, who does not desire the death of the sinner, but mercifully calls to repentance, put sweetness into their souls. This new examination took place because the Caesar had given orders that the Witnesses should be punished, but that if any denied they should be set free. At the beginning of the public festival which took place there and was attended by crowds of men from all nations, the governor brought the blessed ones up to the judgment-seat. He exhibited them as a theatrical show and spectacle to the mobs. He examined them again. Whoever had the rights of Roman citizenship he beheaded. The rest he sent to the wild beasts.
Now Christ was greatly glorified in those who formerly denied Him; for, contrary to every expectation of the heathen, they confessed. These were examined separately, under the belief that they were to be set free; but confessing, they were added to the number of the Witnesses. But there were also some who remained without; namely, those who had no trace of faith, and no perception of the marriage garment. These did not understand the fear of God. As sons of perdition they blasphemed the Way through their apostasy. But all the rest were added to the Church.
A Christian may enjoy the works of any man, but if he judges a brother’s faith off these things - and not off the testimony of the Lordship of Christ - then he has greatly erred. Indeed, he has become useful to Satan to crush an embryonic faith, making abortions of many. This is the hardest part of Christianity - calling brother and sisters those who you absolutely have no political, economic, cultural, or linguistic similarities to, but who still confess the Lordship of Christ. This has been my metric in judging others. Simply to ask “Is Christ Lord?”. If they say yes, they prove a brother or sister of faith, perhaps in need of some correction. If not, they prove an abortion - someone to weep over and pray for.
As for me, I will continue in the faith I was taught from my infancy. For me that’s the Roman Catholic faith, to which I was baptized, confirmed, departed, and returned in. I will always welcome back those who come back. I will pray for those who are twisted into perversions of their former self. Those that stood at the Black Gate were far fewer than those that entered through it in ages past. But they stood, and they ultimately endured - not by their own abilities, but by the work of God beyond their sight, bringing the objects of the enemy’s power into their own destruction.
This is just a reminder: You never had to fight for Mordor. And you don’t have to continue to. You are wood elves halfway to an orc. Some of you may already be orcs. But, unlike the orcs of Mordor, you can go back. Back to being the respected men I knew in my youth. And the Virgin will cherish you if you do.
Excellent article!
I never really took the time to consider the difference in size between the two armies before. Perhaps the next time I see how few we are in number I'll feel hope instead of despair because of this article. Thank you!