The
trials,
and
what is learned from going through them.
Alainna
Norland
College
Prep English
Mr.
Fox
Research
Paper
May,
10th, 2012
Thesis
Statement:
The
trials Christian and his wife deal with cause them to grow in and
portray faith and love in their actions.
Outline:
Ⅰ.
Spiritual growth
A.
Christian
1.
when he leaves the City of Destruction.
2.
how he changes on the way to The Celestial City
B.
Christiana
1.
when she leaves The City of Destruction
2.
how she changes on her journey.
Ⅱ.
The
trials
A.
Christian
1.
Faith
a.
The Hill Difficulty
1.
Christian
2.
Formalist and Hypocrisy
b.
Vanity Fair and the City of Destruction
1.
Persecution
2.
Innocent death of Faithful and the affect it had on the people of
Vanity Fair.
2.
Love
a.
Vanity Fair
b.
The house Beautiful
B. Christiana
1. Faith
a. in the messenger.
1. neighbors
gossip cause her to doubt
2. mercy
comes with her
b. in Great-Heart
1.
protection
2.
his judgment
2. Love
a. Mercy
b. her children
Ⅲ.
how we saw love and faith portrayed in Pilgrims Progress
A.
Love
1.
Christiana and Mercy
2.
the Interpreter shows love to Christian, Christiana, and her
companions.
3.
the occupants of the house Beautiful show love to Christian,
Christiana, and her companions.
B.
Faith
1.
when he leaves the City of Destruction
2.
in the gate keeper when he tells him which way to go
3.
in Christ when he walks through the Valley of the Shadow.
Bibliography
Study
Guide: Portraying Love and Faith In Your Life
Ⅰ.
Speech
Ⅱ.
Actions
Ⅲ.
The visibility or invisibility of God in your life.
Bibliography
The
trials Christian and his wife deal with cause them to grow in and
portray faith and love in their actions.
Their journey begins when a man named Evangelist gives
Christian a book. After much thinking about his life and actions
Christian decides to go on a pilgrimage to the Celestial City. When
he left, two others followed him, Pliable and Obstinate, both telling
him to return to The City of Destruction. However, Christian ignored
their words and continued on his journey. He had separated himself
from all worldly things and set his heart on God. After seeing his
determination, Pliable began traveling with him. However Obstinate's
stubborn heart refused to acknowledge any good in the pilgrimage and
he returned home without a second thought of the matter. When
Christian and Pliable fell into the Slough of Despond, Pliable also
turned back. He had followed Christian simply because Christian's
logic made sense to him. He had not taken time to understand or think
about the journey he was undertaking. Unlike Pliable, Christian had
thought about this journey and even before he left he had changed
drastically. He had separated himself in both his mind and his heart
from the worldliness of the City of Destruction.
Christian
is faced with trials that lead him astray even before he arrives at
the gate so he can go on pilgrimage. The first trial begins when
Christian meets Mr. Worldly-Wiseman. Worldly invites him to his
house where he would be provided with all of his human wants and
wishes. Christian goes along with him, but stops when he reaches the
leaning hill upon which Mr. Worldly-Wiseman's house sits. Though
Christian is unsure about the looming hill, he decides to go with
Mr. Worldly-Wiseman anyway. However, Evangelist comes upon them and
opens his eyes to the danger in front of him. When Christian realizes
his sin, his heart immediately repents.
Christian's
repentant heart is another huge change from the worldly ways of “I'm
right, your wrong”, or “I'm always right, I never make any
mistakes”. Christian changed his heart attitude from prideful, to
one that realized its imperfection. This was a large change from his
secular point of view, attitude, and actions, which he drew from the
people of the City of Destruction. The drastic change in him can be
shown by comparing himself and Obstinate at the present time: a
humble heart verses a stubborn heart.
During
his journey Christian changes from who he was in his old life
because of the different trials he encounters. One of the biggest
changes in him is when his burden is taken off his shoulders and
buried in the tomb at the foot of the cross. This symbolizes his
sins, and the sins of others towards him, washed off of him by the
blood of Christ, and buried in the place of our risen Lord.
Now
Christiana, when she left the City of Destruction, left because of a
summon and a query. Christiana had not been studying the Bible as
Christian had. However, she had observed her assigned demons the
night before she received the summon from the king of the Celestial
City. This caused her underlying questions about Christian's
departure to surface with more questions. Even though she did not
ponder for a long period of time she came to the conclusion that she
and her sons should go on pilgrimage.
Christiana
left the City of Destruction with many questions and fears. However,
as her journey progressed she learned and found the answers to them.
She learned some of these answers at the Interpreter's house, the
foot of the cross, and the House Beautiful. Every time she left these
places there was a slight growth in her confidence. She especially
grew in confidence when she left the House Beautiful. She felt
protected at this point because Great-Heart was now traveling with
her and her company.
Every
time Christian grows spiritually, he changes his attitude towards the
other pilgrims. The first pilgrims he meets on his way are Formalist
and Hypocrisy, whom he does not question or talk with much. However,
when he meets Faithful and is shown that he is indeed faithful he
speaks much with him.
The
first trial Christian faces on the narrow road is the Hill
Difficulty. When he reaches the Hill Difficulty he is traveling with
Formalist and Hypocrisy. These two people are pilgrims who decide to
stray from the narrow way in order to make their way easier. However,
their “easier” paths were the side roads, not the narrow road.
One took the road called Danger, and the other took the road called
Destruction. Their decisions caused them grief, pain, and death.
Both
Formalist and Hypocrisy knew that in order to get to the Celestial
City you had to stay on the straight and narrow path. However, they
ignored this knowledge which was granted them, (indirectly), by God,
and strayed away from what He had said. When they did this they chose
more difficulty and also their own death.“All
transgressions beginneth at the wandering from the word of God” ~
John Bunyan1
1
- Kathleen. M. Swain, Pilgrims Progress, Puritain
Progress: discourses and Contexts
(Illinois, Urbana, University of Illinois Press, 1993) Chptr. The
Scriptural Word pp. 69-80
Christian,
however, stayed on the straight path as he was told to do. Because he
did this he walked on a difficult road. However, he reached the top,
and was safe. “I'll fear not what men say, I'll labor night and
day.”~John Bunyan1
Another
trial is Christians travel through Vanity Fair. Vanity Fair is really
the City of Destruction which Christian spiritually, but not
physically left behind. When Christian did that he was alienated from
the town and viewed as an outsider.2
When Christian and Faithful go out into the town their change is
visible. The fact that they were two new people spiritually caused
the citizens to despise
and persecute them.
Christian and
Faithful were thrown in jail, and brought before a judge, jury, and
“witnesses”. Faithful was accused of “great offenses” towards
the towns people. However, he had not done any of the things the
“witnesses” said he had.
The
people persisted in condemning Faithful for nothing, because of the
bitterness in their hearts. Contained bitterness creates resentment
and hate, and hate leads to destruction. The cities resentment for
the truth in Faithful caused deep lies and sin. The bitterness in the
peoples hearts killed Faithful. “The deepest sources of enslavement
and destruction lay coiled within the recesses of the human heart.”3
Though Faithful
knew he could step out of the clutches of the evil people of The City
of Destruction, he also knew he had to make a choice. If Faithful had
yielded to the peoples accusations, he would have had to give up his
pilgrimage. Faithful chose to be faithful to the path and God he
chose, even to the end of a gruesome death. However, Faithful did not
die in vain. Some of the people realized the atrocity they had
committed against Faithful, and changed their ways. Some even went on
~~
pilgrimage
themselves. Faithfuls death caused a revival in spirit in the City of
Destruction. His death helped them realize their sin and their need
for a savior.
The
people of Vanity Fair saw Faithful die in faith. He had not received
any promises in their sight, but Faithful had received the ultimate
promise at the cross: His sins and shortcomings were forgiven and he
would live eternally with His Father in heaven. Even though the
people of Vanity Fair did not see Faithful receive the promise in
person, they saw the promise fulfilled in his death, and realized the
wrong they committed in killing him. “These
all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen
them afar off where assured of them, embraced them, and confessed
that they were strangers and Pilgrims on the earth.” ~
Hebrews 11:13 (
Blackaby Brothers (ed) The
Blackaby Study Bible
(Nelson Bibles., 1798) )
Christian, though
in the midst of Faithfuls persecution and death, still manages to
love the people of Vanity Fair anyway. He does not become angry with
them for killing his friend. Instead he regards them with love.“But
I say unto you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good
to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and
persecute you.” ~ Matthew 5:44
Now
when Christian stayed at the house Beautiful, he grew deeper in his
love for the word of God. Every night he, Watchful, Discretion,
Prudence, Piety, and Charity would stay up late and talk about the
Word. Christian also loved the people of the house Beautiful. They
were his family in Christ, and they loved him also. The people in the
house Beautiful took him in and provided comfort and food both
spiritual and physical. While Christian stayed there, Watchful,
Discretion, Prudence, Piety, and Charity, took care of him and his
needs showing him brotherly love, treating one another as Jesus
would, with love.“And now abide faith, hope, love, these
three; but the greatest of these is love.”~
1st
Corinthians 13:13 “This is my commandment, that
you love one another as I have loved you” ~ John 15:12
~~
Most of
Christiana's trials are at the same locations as Christians, but the
circumstances are not. Christiana's first trial was deciding whether
or not to leave on pilgrimage. Christiana displayed faith in many of
her trials and decisions.
When
Christiana left the City of Destruction she had faith in the
messenger from the Celestial City. Secret, the messenger, came to her
and gave her a summon from the king, God, inviting her to join Him
and her husband in the Celestial City. Christiana was very uneasy
about leaving on pilgrimage. She had three sons, and she was a woman.
Because “Gender was no protection against religious persecution”4
Christiana had no way of ensuring her children would be cared for.
However, notice that she does not doubt the messenger. When the
messenger comes in and greets her
she does not become
wary of his presence. Instead she becomes excited. Christiana
believed the messenger was sent from God, simply because he said he
had been. She also believed God forgave her for the wrongs she had
done to her husband, which was told her by the messenger.
Even
though she believed the messenger and had faith in what he said she
doubted her decision when her neighbor Mrs. Timorous came to visit.
Mrs. Timorous told her of the perils she would have to face, and
reminded Christiana of her place in life as a woman. By saying these
things Mrs. Timorous brought out the deepest sources of enslavement
and destruction that lay in her heart,5
and the fear that lay in Christiana's. However, Christiana stood her
ground, even though she doubted what to do. Mrs. Timorous left very
vexed from the outcome, especially after Mercy declared she would see
Christiana off. Mercy's accompanying her on her journey encouraged
Christiana. Even when they got to the gate, Mercy's presence
encouraged her to continue.
On their journey,
Christiana and Mercy traveled alone for the most part until they
reached the house Beautiful, where Great-Heart was asked to travel
with them. Great-Heart was going with them to be a source of
protection for Christiana, her children, and Mercy. The road to the
Celestial City was
~~
not
to be an easy one. So when Christiana and her group left the house
Beautiful, they took along Great- Heart who was fully armed, not
merely to suggest a Pauline metaphor, but because the pilgrimage was
dangerous.6
Christiana had faith in Great-Heart for protection. She entrusted
the safety and the lives of herself, Mercy, and her sons, to
Great-Heart.
Christiana
not only had faith in Great-Heart to protect her and her train, but
she had faith in him to guide them along the straight and narrow
path. Great-Heart acts as Christiana's guide, adviser, and protector,
which requires great amounts of faith and trust on Christiana's part.
It requires so much trust that because of the amounts of trust the
relationship between them is almost marital.7
Great-Heart has a
great ability to
sense Christiana's needs. He deals with her needs as quickly and
gently as possible. He advises and protects her and their companions
almost as a husband would.
Though
Christian disregards most things of the world as a devils tool,
Christiana sees that they can be used for good.8
When Mercy makes clothes for the poor, Christiana supports and
encourages her. Christiana does this because she not only believes
that worldly possessions can be used for good, but also because she
loves Mercy. Part of loving someone is supporting the decisions of
him or her if you morally agree with them. However, Christiana did
not just support Mercy, she counseled her as well. When a gentleman
of the world began to court Mercy, Christiana counseled her of the
man's intentions and spirit. She did not wish for Mercy to end up in
a marriage that would cause her misery.
Christiana also
loved her sons in the same ways. She counseled them, taught them the
Word, and stayed by their side when they needed her. When Mathew got
sick from eating the apple, he turned to Christiana for comfort and
support. Christiana constantly looked out for her children. Even when
they were married, she advised them in the Word. She did this because
she loved them.
~~
Christiana
was one of the “Hidden Ones”9
who made “no noise at all in the world”,10
as was Mercy. They did their work silently, making a huge difference,
without making much commotion.
Christiana and
Mercy walked through their life as humble women out to do God's will.
One of the ways
Mercy does Gods will is by showing love and kindness to the poor, for
whom she constantly makes clothes. Mercy is always extending a
helping hand to whoever needs it, and she does it with a cheerful
heart. Mercy's love is portrayed through kindness.
Christiana is an
intriguing character. She is not very prominent, but she is at the
same time. Christiana does not have a prominent personality. She has
a quiet personality. Christiana shows her love quietly, but
effectively. Christiana walks beside her family every day, supporting
them, advising them, counseling them, and admonishing them.
Christiana's way of loving is by being available for
whatever someone
needs, whether it's a hug, laughing with, listening to, or advising
someone.
Bibliography
Analysis of
Mayjor Characters
(Sparknotes; http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/pilgrims/canalysis.html)
Blackaby
Brothers (ed) The Blackaby Study Bible
(Nelson Bibles., 1798)
Bunyan
John, The Pilgrim's Progress
(Mineola, New York, Dover Publications, INC.) p. 102
Gay, Randall, and
Zinck Awakening Words: John Bunyan and the language of community
(USA, 2000)
Lundin Roger
Introduction Pilgrims Progress (Signet Classics, 1994 and
2009) p. ix- xvii
Newey
Vincent The Pilgrims Progress Critical and Historical Views
(New Jersey, Totowa, Barnes and Nobles Books) 1980 pp. 111-117
Swain
Kathleen. M., Pilgrims Progress, Puritain Progress:
discourses and Contexts
(Illinois, Urbana, University of Illinois Press, 1993) Chptr. The
Scriptural Word pp. 69-80
Weldon
Fay, (aftwd) Afterward a past script to The Pilgrims
Progress. (Pilgrims Progress,
Signet Classics., 1994 and 2009 p. 301-309.)
Study
Guide
Alainna Norland
Love is portrayed
through many of the characters throughout the book. One character in
particular is the Interpreter. The Interpreter shows love to
Christian, Christiana, and her companions by taking them into his
house, taking care of them, and advising them in the path they are
about to take. The Interpreter shows them love by reaching out to
their needs and fulfilling them.
The occupants of
the house Beautiful are givers of love as well. They also show love
to the pilgrims by taking them in and taking care of their needs.
They prepare them for the journey ahead of them. They teach them and
converse about the Word with them, causing them to grow spiritually,
and preparing them for the road ahead. They also take care of their
physical needs. They feed them, take care of them, and when Matthew
becomes sick they summoned a physician to help.
All of these
examples have one thing in common: taking care of someone's physical
and/or spiritual needs. These are the different aspects of love.
There are different ways to portray these aspects. If someone is
having a hard day you can comfort them, helping them in an emotional
aspect, (which affects both the spiritual and physical aspects of a
person), by bringing them a favorite food, giving them a hug, holding
their hand, listening to them, praying for or with them, or by being
available for when they need you.
~~
These
things are all good, but faith is required to allow someone to help
you when you are hurting. The person you want to reach out to has to
have enough faith in you to let you reach in and help them. If they
don't have faith in you, then you could hurt them emotionally and
make matters worse.“Whatsoever
is not of faith is sin.” ~ John Bunyan1
Faith is being
able to trust or believe something, sometimes without any physical
evidence that it is true. There's an example of faith when Christian
left the City of Destruction. He left because he is seeking the
Celestial City. The only evidence he has of its existence is what
Evangelist told him, and what he read. He had no physical evidence
that it existed, but he had faith, and went anyway.
The same thing
applies when he arrives at the gate, and the gatekeeper tells him the
path he must take. Christian does not question him. He acts on blind
faith, and believes the gatekeeper who he does not know, which means
he is unable to know for sure if the man is lying or not.
Christian portrays
a literal blind faith when he walks through the Valley of the Shadow.
When he walks through this valley he cannot see anything, and he can
hear all kinds of evil and dangerous things on all sides of him. Even
though he cannot see, he has faith in a promise from a man he has
never seen, heard, or touched. Jesus promised He would guide us
through the darkest nights and be with us until morning and after.
Christian clings to this promise when he walks through the Valley of
the Shadow, trusting that God will guide him through it.
“Be sure thou
keep close to the word of God; for that is the revelation of the mind
and will of God, both is to the truth of what is either in Himself or
ways; and also as to what he requireth and expecteth of thee, either
concerning faith in, or obedience to, what He hath so revealed.”
~ John Bunyan
~~
Now that we've
seen some examples of portraying love and faith. How can you apply
and portray love and faith in your life? They can both be portrayed
in our speech, actions, how we treat others, and how visible God is
in our lives.
Let's start with
speech. When you speak, you should not allow your tongue to speak
malice, or hurtful things.
“Let
bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from
you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
~ Ephesians
4:31-32
(Blackaby
Brothers (ed) The Blackaby
Study Bible (Nelson
Bibles., 1798) )
The tongue can cut
like a knife; it can be just like an unguarded fire. It can cause a
friendship to end. If your tongue is like any of these, how can
people open up to you and trust that you won't hurt them. If you
speak with a tongue like a serpent's, how does that portray love to
someone? Guard your tongue.
“Want
of reverence of the world is the ground of all disorders that are in
the heart, life, conversation, and in Christian communion.”2
What do your
actions portray? Do they portray love, or do they portray annoyance,
bitterness, or malice? If you are gentle and kind to someone then
your actions toward them portray love. However, if you are constantly
harsh and rough with someone, you could lose their faith in you to
not hurt them physically. Gentle, kind actions build friendship.
Is God visible in
your life? Do you let God shine through you daily? Do you let Him
reach out to others in love through you? Do you let Him portray His
love for someone through you? We are God's messengers. We are the
ones He speaks through.
~~
When someone is
hurting God will usually send someone to go and comfort them. Are you
one of those people? Have you given up your bitterness so you can
love freely? Examine your heart. Look at your actions. Look at your
speech. Are you guarding your tongue? Are your actions gentle and
kind? Let go of your bitterness, and give it to Jesus. He already
carried it to the cross. You do not need to
carry it again. Let
Him have it, and let Him use you to touch someone's life. He will.
“For
there are three that bear witness in Heaven: the Father, the Word,
and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one.” ~ 1st
John 5:7
Bibliography
1
Kathleen. M. Swain, Pilgrims
Progress, Puritain Progress: discourses and Contexts
(Illinois, Urbana, University of Illinois Press, 1993) Chptr. The
Scriptural Word pp. 69-80
2-
Kathleen. M. Swain, Pilgrims
Progress, Puritain Progress: discourses and Contexts
(Illinois, Urbana, University of Illinois Press, 1993) Chptr. The
Scriptural Word pp. 69-80
