Bombadil, Perfection, and Wesleyan Holiness.

The provided text is an excerpt from a blog post by Jamin Bradley, a pastor, theologian, musician, and author, titled "Tom Bombadil and Christian Perfection: Lessons from Tolkien and Wesley." Bradley uses the character Tom Bombadil from J.R.R. Tolkien’s work, who is unaffected by the One Ring, as a metaphor to explore the Christian concept of sanctification and John Wesley’s doctrine of Christian perfection. The author suggests that while Bombadil exemplifies the potential to be free from temptation and intentional sin, this "perfection" also carries a danger of detachment, making the perfected individual unhelpful or judgmental toward those still struggling with sin, as seen in examples like drug addiction ministry. Ultimately, Bradley argues that while Christians must seek to overcome sin, this pursuit must be holy—producing love and humility—and not result in separating oneself from the world's struggles.

Original post: https://jaminbradley.com/2025/09/27/tom-bombadil-and-christian-perfection-lessons-from-tolkien-and-wesley/