Tim Challies recently had a post entitled “The People Who Shape Our World,” spawned by Time magazine’s list of 100 influential people. Included in the list were such deep thinkers as Tyra Banks, George Clooney, and the group experts on international politics and all things presidential, The Dixie Chicks.

Tim used the article as a springboard to discuss heroism – and the lack thereof – not only in our culture but in the church. Whereas past generations had the voices and teachings of such men as Edwards, Spurgeon, Wesley, and others, our present-day millieu of Christian pop stars are not so wonderful. Tim writes,

The heroes and influencers of our culture are rarely heroic. We prefer fleeting fame to grand accomplishment, coverage to character. Sadly, it seems that this lack of discernment is seen within the church as much as without. Many of the men and women who have risen to the ranks of influencers and leaders within the church lack the godliness and character that ought to set apart those to whom we give special honor. How else to we explain T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar and so many other Christian ‘heroes?’”

There is, I think, something else to be noted and it involves one of the many critical themes in The Lord of the Rings. To understand it fully, it is necessary to first provide some background that was ignored in Peter Jackson’s movies and only hinted at in the book. It has to do with size and power, two symbolically significant matters in Tolkien’s masterpiece.

In Unfinished Tales, written by J.R.R. Tolkien and compiled by his son Christopher, an Appendix is provided at the end of the chapter “Disaster of the Gladden Fields”; the subtitle of the Appendix is “Númenórean Linear Measures.” Tolkien explains,

Measures of distance are converted as nearly as possible into modern terms. ‘League’ is used because it was the longest measurement of distance: in Númenórean reckoning (which was decimal) five thousand rangar (full paces) made a lár, which was very nearly three of our miles. Lár meant ‘pause’, because except in forced marches a brief half was usually made after this distance had been covered . . .

“The Númenórean ranga was slightly longer than our yard, approximately thirty-eight inches, owing to their greater stature. Therefore five thousand rangar would be almost exactly the equivalent of 5280 yards, our ‘league’: 5277 yards, two feet and four inches, supposing the equivalence to be exact. This cannot be determined, being based on the lengths given in histories of various things and distances that can be compared with those of our time.

“Account has to be taken both of the great stature of the Númenóreans (since hands, feet, fingers and paces are likely to be the origin of names of units of length), and also of the variations from these averages or norms in the process of fixing and organising a measurement system both for daily use and for exact calculations. Thus two rangar was often called ‘man-high’, which at thirty-eight inches gives an average height of six feet four inches; but this was at a later date, when the stature of the Dúnedain appears to have decreased, and also was not intended to be an accurate statement of the observed average of male stature among them, but was an approximate length expressed in the well-known unit ranga. (The ranga is often said to have been the length of the stride, from rear heel to front toe . . .)” (pp. 285-286)

The point of this long (and perhaps tedious) explanation is to demonstrate that the Númenóreans were a people of large physical stature. Although, as Tolkien noted, they had diminished somewhat by the time the ranga was established, they were still of unusual height even by today’s standards. The average Númenórean – such as many of the Rangers in Middle-earth – would have been 6′4″ at least and, it is assumed, proportionally built: many people above average height are tall because they have long legs, somewhat out-of-proportion to their body. The Númenóreans, too, would have had long legs but their bodies would have been proportionate, making them not only tall but physically big and imposing.

Tolkien adds,

Elendil was said to be ‘more than man-high by nearly half a ranga‘; but he was accounted the tallest of all the Númenóreans who escaped the Downfall (and was indeed generally known as Elendil the Tall).”

Even if we reduce Elendil’s height to more than man-high by one-third of a ranga (since he was not quite half more) he would still have been 7′6″. Now there are a couple of ways to be 7′6″: one could be Manute Bol, the NBA center from Sudan. Manute was 7′6″ and weighed 200 pounds (shown here with 5′6″ Muggsy Bogues). Somehow I don’t think that’s what was in Tolkien’s mind as he thought of Elendil. Elendil and the Númenóreans were fierce and feared warriors that were capable of tremendous feats of strength and great triumphs in battle. Manute, whatever else may be said of him, is hardly fierce or feared.

It is more likely that Elendil and all the Númenóreans were normally proportioned, i.e., having arms and legs that were appropriate to their torsos. That would make Elendil more the size of the late Andre the Giant, although presumably without the extra weight Andre carried in his later years. When in his prime, Andre likely tipped the scales at a svelt 450 pounds or so rather than the 500-plus he weighed towards the end of his life. In the photo on the left, he is playfully choking to death Hulk Hogan, who at 6′8″ may be about the size of Aragorn. It is to be remembered that Aragorn was the Dúnadan and in him the blood of the Númenóreans ran true and strong. Thus, Strider – who went about “at a great pace on those long shanks of his,” according to Barilman Butterbur – would have been an imposing and impressive figure, taller than most visitors to The Prancing Pony in Bree.

But even if Aragorn were “only” a normal-sized Númenórean at 6′4″, it is likely he looked quite different than the movie portrayal of him. Viggo Mortensen is a fine actor and did a good job as Aragorn, but Viggo is 5′11″ and somewhat slight of build. A better image (only with hair) might be the 6′4″ Bill Goldberg, former football player and dominating wrestler for a brief time. The sight of Goldberg might put fear into a foe’s heart, whereas Viggo’s less-than intimidating appearance and countenance might have just the opposite effect, actually giving them hope when seeing his normal or smallish stature. “Araberg” could do battle with an Uruk-Hai whereas Morensen is a bit of a stretch. And Tolkien wanted his myth to be believable.

All that has gone before is simply background for the point I wish to make in this post. The point is not one that is novel or original with me, but it is an important one that bears repeating. Despite the size of the Númenóreans, the power of Gandalf, the immortality and power of the elves, and the gritty determination of the dwarves and others of Middle-earth, it is none of these who actually shape the world of Middle-earth.

While the mighty – Gandalf, Sauron, Aragorn, Éomer, the Nazgûl, great armies and powers – are involved elsewhere, the fate of Middle-earth is determined by the small, weak, and overlooked. It is Frodo, Sam, and even Gollum – the least powerful characters in the story – who strike the deciding blow. Frodo is faithful in his mission, Sam finally gains compassion for Gollum, and Gollum unwittingly destroys himself and his precious, thus assuring the downfall of the mighty Sauron and the changing of Ages in Middle-earth.

Even Merry and Pippin, who seem to be incidental to the Fellowship at the beginning of the quest, make a major difference in the outcome. It is their capture and subsequent escape from the Orcs that brings the Ents into the fray; the Ents not only destroy Isengard and imprison Saruman but also facilitate the victory at Helm’s Deep. All because of two heroic hobbits who chose to be faithful to a friend instead of staying home.

Time will undoubtedly sell a lot of copies of their issue about “people who shape our world,” but it is only an illusion. They are not the truly great or even significant people. It is, rather, each individual Christian who is faithful in her or his walk with Christ that makes a difference. Most of us are simply hobbit-like people, unnoticed by the “movers and shakers” of Christendom, but it is the faithfulness and trustworthiness of the “halflings” in the Body of Christ that will shape and mold the future.

The history of the world ultimately is in the hands and mind of God, regardless of what Open Theologians might profess. Important things happen, not in the visible world but, in the unseen spiritual world. God has a purpose and that purpose will not be thwarted; this is obvious to anyone who reads the Bible cover-to-cover without imposing their preconceived doctrinal biases upon the text (impossible, but still to be attempted).

What is just as apparent is that God, like Tolkien in Middle-earth, will work through unexpected means to accomplish the great events of the future. In God’s case, it seems He always chooses that course or individual through which He achieves the greatest glory.

There are no “little people,” as Francis Schaeffer wrote, in the eyes of God and it is usually through them and not the “famous” or “powerful” that He accomplishes His purposes.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;
27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,
29 so that no man may boast before God.” – 1 Cor 1.25-29 (NASB)



Namárië.