Pilgrim's Progress: Chapter Four

Pastor's Note: Since it's in the public domain, Pilgrim's Progress is available for free from Project Gutenberg (http://ow.ly/dOe250z0sx7) or can be purchased on Amazon Kindle (http://ow.ly/Y7vW50z0syK) (free for Prime members, $2.99 for everyone else).

I encourage you to pick up a copy of the book and read chapter four before reading the rest of this. The goal here is not to explain the chapter in its entirety; it’s making some observations from my reading and facilitate a discussion amongst ourselves that hopefully results in some learning and Christian growth. Be sure to avail yourselves of the comment section at the bottom of the page to weigh in with your own thoughts so we can talk about them.

1. There are lots of interesting tidbits in Christian’s conversation with Apollyon. The first being Apollyon’s deduction that Christian is one of his subjects. He’s wrong, but only because of timing. Before leaving the City of Destruction, Christian (then Graceless) WAS one of Apollyon’s subjects. What does that say about those who have not come to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ? Whose subjects are they?

2. Apollyon is also loathe to lose one of his subjects, but he doesn’t immediately begin a physical assault. He tries to persuade his former servant to turn back by promising him “what our country will afford.” Why should Satan spend the energy to destroy you when he can entertain you and allow you to destroy yourself?

3. Christian’s defense is that he doesn’t have the right to come back; he’s already let himself to another. I’ve always had this question for those who believe you can lose your salvation: how can you give away something that doesn’t belong to you, namely yourself? If Jesus owns you, you don’t have the right to give yourself to someone else.

4. After his failure at offering Christian pleasure, Apollyon attacks him with fear. Christian can only withstand this because he knows that even if harm befalls him, it would be a glory to him. Christian is under no delusions that his path will be easy. Are we?
5. Apollyon hasn’t been present in the story so far…at least, not as far as we could see. When the time comes to accuse Christian though, he shows that he’s been watching the whole time. Do you think Satan isn’t aware of your life? Fortunately for Christian, the Prince whom he serves is “merciful and ready to forgive.” Do you have the advocate against Satan’s accusations that Christian does?

6. The next men that Christian meet are nameless. They don’t have a part in this story other than turning back and telling Christian why they did. In eternity, those who choose not to walk the way of Christ will end up just like these men: nameless, with the only remembrance of them being they were those who shrunk back.

7. In one of the most amazing lines in the entire book, Bunyan writes: “I took notice that now poor Christian was so confounded that he did not know his own voice; and thus I perceived it: just when he was come over against the mouth of the burning pit, one of the wicked ones got behind him, and stepped up softly to him, and suggested many wicked words to him, which he verily thought had proceeded from his own mind.” Have you ever considered that not every thought in your head originates with you? Have you ever considered that not every doubt comes from your own soul? Satan is the accuser. Sometimes he accuses you to God. Sometimes he accuses you to yourself.

8. How about Pope and Pagan? You don’t have to work very hard to figure out who these two are. I would challenge Bunyan on his assertion they’ve been defanged, though. Pope still holds sway today, and Pagan is making a comeback.

9. Hindsight is 2020. Christian could have a clearer vision of the dangers he had been in when he looked behind himself in the morning's light. Have you ever stopped to look back at your life and contemplate what kind of person you might have become if not for God restraining you? You may think he didn’t restrain you. He did. You could always fall deeper.

10. It took Christian traveling all night before he could hear—not see—someone who walked the road with him. Christians, you are not alone on the road. Even if it feels that way. Also, it feels that way a lot more often if you deprive yourself of the blessing that is membership in a local church.

What are your observations in chapter four?