In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, Gríma Wormtongue weakens the kingdom of Rohan not through force, but through whispers, suspicion, and the manipulation of truth. His story offers a striking reflection on the power of words to shape relationships and even destroy communities. Drawing on Matthew 22:15–22, where Jesus confronts those who seek to entrap him through carefully chosen words, Dean Chris explores the corrosive effects of gossip and slander, and St. Paul’s call to speak only what builds up the Body of Christ. What might our families, workplaces, and churches become if our words consistently offered grace rather than suspicion, and helped others discover the dignity and love with which God sees them?
Beware the Wormtongue
How Words Can Build or Destroy a Community
The Very Rev. Christopher A...
Dean of the Diocese of New Westminster & Rector
October 18, 2026
