This is an important chapter, very deep and full of substance. It comes very close to the tone of Paul's letter to the Galatians.
Christian struggles along the path alone, feeling the heavy weight he carries on his back. A man named Mr. Worldly Wiseman approaches and meets him on the path. Worldly engages Christian in conversation with the intent of turning him from the path. At first Christian talks encouragingly of his journey to the gate, but Worldly distracts him by asking about his family. Christian deflects the question, but when Worldly offers him advice, Christian agrees to listen to it and continue the conversation. Worldly asks how Christian came to be with his burden and who sent him in the path, and Christian tells him about Evangelist and his book. Worldly curses Evangelist for offering Christian foolish advice which will result in his death. He lists ten dangers facing Christian on the road ahead, ending in his death. As for the book, Worldly says, "I thought so, it has happened to you as to other weak men who suddenly fall into such distractions by meddling with things too high for them. Those distractions not only strip men of manliness, as I perceive they have done to you, but also cause them to undertake desperate ventures to obtain things they know nothing about." Now that Christian's confidence in Evangelist, his book, and his own intelligence have been shattered, Worldly moves in for the kill. He asks Christian why he should seek this way to ease his burden when there is another way which would be much easier, and which would result in safety, friendship, and contentment. Christian replies, "Please, sir, reveal this secret to me."
Worldly tells Christian of a nearby village called Morality, where a gentleman named Legality lives. If Legality is not home, he has a son named Civility who will serve just as well as his father. He also tells Christian he can call for his family to come and join him there and they can live with honest neighbors in favor and style. Christian asks, "Sir, which is the way to this honest man's house?" Worldly directs Christians attention to a high hill and says that Legality's house will be found there.
So Christian departs from the Way and proceeds to Mr. Legality's house for help. But the path quickly becomes treacherous, the hill is so high. There is also such a high overhang over the path that Christian begins to fear for his life. Flashes of fire come out from the hill, and Christian becomes paralyzed with fear.
At this point, Evangelist appears and says to Christian, and asks, "What are you doing here, Christian? Christian is speechless. Evangelist asks, "Aren't you the man I found crying outside the walls of the City of Destruction?" "Yes, Sir, I'm the man", admits Christian. "Didn't I advise you of the way to the small Narrow Gate?", asks Evangelist. Christian then stammers out the story of how he met Mr. Worldly Wiseman, and how he was turned from the way. Evangelist's tone then becomes very serious as he explains Christian's error, "Pay more careful attention to the things I tell you. I'll now show you who deluded you and who it was also to whom he sent you..."
He continues, "Now there are three things in this man's counsel you must absolutely despise. First--his act of turning you out of the Way; second--his work to render the Cross offensive to you; and third--his way of setting your feet in the path that leads to the administration of death." Evangelist then proceeds to elaborate on these three points, and then proceeds to tell Christian the character of the people he was going to meet.
"He to whom you were sent to find ease is named Legality. He is the son of the 'slave woman' that now exists and who is in bondage with her children. The slave woman is symbolic of Mount Sinai--this mountain you feared would fall on your head. Now, if she and her children are in bondage, how can you expect to be made free by them? Therefore, Legality is not able to set you free from your burden. No one has ever been delivered from his burden by him; no, nor is it ever likely to happen. You can't be justified by the works of the law, for no one living can be loosed from his burden by the deeds of the law."
Evangelist then cries out to heaven to confirm his words and the mountain replies, "All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."
Christian, very shaken by his error, asks if it is too late for him. Evangelist says that his sin is very great, but that the man at the gate will receive him, as he favors mankind. He warns Christian to not depart from the path again, however, or he will perish from the Way. Christian then hurries back to the Path, ignoring any he passes lest they distract him from his purpose.
Thoughts on this chapter
The mountain is Mount Sinai of course. Christian is distracted by that doctrine which says that we will be fine if we are just good enough, taught by every religion on earth, including those Christian churches who emphasize good works over The Cross of Christ. Evangelist's tone mirrors that of Paul in his letter to the Galatians,
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain if indeed it was in vain?
Galatians 3:1-4 (NKJV)
Underline this
Evangelist: "I say, therefore, when anyone works to persuade you that following God's instructions will cause your death, when the Truth has said you cannot have eternal life without doing so, you must despise that person's doctrine."
No posting tomorrow, see you Monday, at The Gate finally!
Posted by joelfuhrmann at March 8, 2003 10:01 PM