EVANGELIST: What are you doing here? (At this Christian was at a loss for words. He just stood speechless.) Are you not the same person I found weeping outside the walls of the City of Destruction?
CHRISTIAN: Yes, my dear sir, I am that man.
EVANGELIST: Then how is it that you have so quickly turned aside from my direction, for you are now going the wrong way?
CHRISTIAN: Soon after I left the Slough of Despond, I met a very sympathetic gentleman who persuaded me that I could, in the Village just ahead, find a man who was able to relieve me of my burden.
EVANGELIST: Who was he?
CHRISTIAN: He appeared to be such a gentleman in both his appearance and conversation. Eventually he got me to yield to his advice, and so I came here. But when I drew close to this Hill and discovered how it hangs over the way, I immediately halted lest it should fall on my head.
EVANGELIST: And what did that gentleman say to you?
CHRISTIAN: Why he asked me where I was going, and so I told him.
EVANGELIST: And what did he say to you then?
CHRISTIAN: He asked me if I had a family, and I told him. But I also explained on account of being so heavily burdened down, I did not have as much pleasure in them as was formerly the case.
EVANGELIST: So, what did he say then?
CHRISTIAN: He advised me to be quickly rid of my burden, and at this I explained that I really did want the relief that he recommended. I further told of my traveling toward the Gate ahead for the purpose of receiving direction as to how I might reach the Place of Deliverance. So, he said that he would show me a much better and shorter way, being far less troublesome, sir, than that which you counseled me about.
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress
- What do you think about Christian’s excuse for following false teaching?
- Would you say that Mr. Worldly Wiseman is a false teacher? Why?
- Ask yourself, have I ever been led out of the way by a smooth-talking person only to find that they were very wrong? How did it make you feel in the long run?
- What do you think about Christian trying to take the easy way out? Is there one?
“Error always goes to church because Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, infiltrates the systems of religion, particularly Christianity and plants his seeds of error there and a gullible, witless, uneducated, undiscerning church becomes a victim.” – John MacArthur
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