Christian and Faithful are now walking along a fairly peaceful part of the path when they come upon another Pilgrim, named Talkative. Faithful engages him in conversation, and Talkative agrees, even seeming to know some considerable knowledge of the Bible and points of doctrine. Some of his character is revealed, however, when he says things like "what is more pleasant and more profitable than to talk of the things of God?" Faithful is impressed with his conversation, but begins to wonder about something -- why Christian is so quiet and walking several feet away, as if he is avoiding Talkative. Faithful approaches Christian and speaks about Talkative, "What a fine companion we've got here...", but Christian has another opinion, "This with whom you're so impressed will beguile with his tongue twenty people who don't know him." He continues to say that Talkative is from their town and has a reputation for being all talk, but very rude and ugly in his behaviour, especially to those closest to him. He is like a painter whose work looks beautiful from afar, but when looked at up close, is more unpleasant. "Just as he talks with you now, he'll talk when he's sitting on the bar stool. And the more drink he has in his head, the more of these things he has in his mouth. Religion has no place in his heart, or house, or lifestyle. Everything he has lies in his tongue, and making a noise with it is his religion."
Christian and Faithful continue talking about true religion and mere talking (the tone is similar to the book of James and his passage on the tongue, including some quotations from that passage). Faithful then wonders how they can get rid of their unfavorable companion. Christian says, "Take my advice and do as I suggest. You'll find that unless God touches his heart and changes it, he'll soon be sick of your company, too. Why, just go up to him and begin some serious discussion about the power of religion. After he has approved of the conversation, for he surely will, then ask him plainly if this thing can be found in his heart, house, or lifestyle."
Faithful does as Christian suggests, and engages Talkative in conversation on the topic "How does the saving grace of God reveal itself when it is in a person's heart?" Four pages later, Faithful asks Christian's suggested question, Talkative is insulted, and after some argumentative words and accusations, says good-bye. Christian is pleased with Faithful's straightforward style, saying "It was a good thing you talked to him plainly as you did, there's not much of this straight dealing with people these days, and that's what makes religion stink in the nostrils of men the way it does...I wish that everyone would deal with them as you've done. Then they would either be made to conform to religion, or the Fellowship of Saints would be too hot for them to remain."
Christian and Faithful now enjoy their own company, and have light hearts, but the path is becoming more difficult as they are now going through a wilderness. An individual comes up behind them, and Christian and Faithful both recognize him; he is their old friend Evangelist (Evangelist is the one who directed Faithful to the Gate, just as he did for Christian). Evangelist asks them all about their journeys, and says, after hearing their tales, "I'm so glad, not that you met with trials, but that you've been champions and have continued in the Way to this very day regardless of your many weaknesses" He goes on with many more exhorting words, but Christian and Faithful, knowing that Evangelist is also a Prophet ask to hear of things that will happen to them and how to deal with them.
Evangelist reminds them that Pilgrims "must enter into the Kingdom of Heaven through many hardships, and again that prison and hardships face you in every city. You can't expect, therefore, to travel far on your Pilgrimage without them in some form or other...Therefore, you will soon enter into a town that you will in time see before you. In that town you'll be severely besieged by enemies who will try hard in their attempts to kill you, and you can be sure that one or both of you must seal with blood the testimony that you hold" He urges them to be faithful to the point of death, and says that it is actually advantageous for the one who faces death, as that fate will complete his journey, while the other will still face many other hardships ahead.
Thoughts on this chapter
Yakkity, yakkity, yak..... Do any of you know anyone like this, or maybe appropriately, Christians like this? All talk, no action? Or worse, all talk in church, then rudeness and arrogance the rest of the week? Maybe everyone can ask themselves a more important question: Am I like this? Maybe I was thinking ahead when I put an update on an earlier post, back in Chapter 9, part 2 , when I said that maybe if someone professed faith but didn't have any works to show for it, I might have cause to doubt their status as a Christian, though, as I said, be careful going there -- But on the other hand, is it ever appropriate to confront someone like this? Christian says it is, and is glad that the deadwood is gone.
It is good to see an old friend again, but unfortunately, his prophecy carries a warning of trouble and death ahead. The town of danger ahead is perhaps the most famous symbol in allegorical Christian literature, Vanity Fair.
Underline this
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. -- 1 Corinthians 4:20 (NIV)