Season 5 Podcast 79 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 22 Chapter 5 A, “Christian Meets Faithful.”

A New Voice of Freedom

Season 5 Podcast 79 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 22 Chapter 5 A, “Christian Meets Faithful.”

In last week’s episode, Christian speaks of two giants in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, Pagan and Pope, which once prevented Christians from continuing their journey to the Celestial City. However, the giant Pagan was dead, and the giant Pope was too old and decrepit to be a threat. Thus concluded Chapter 4. In this week’s episode, which begins Chapter Five, Christian meets Faithful who is being chased by The Avenger of Blood.

Now as Christian went on his way, he came to a little ascent which was cast up on purpose that pilgrims might see before them: up there, therefore, Christian went; and looking forward, he saw Faithful before him upon his journey. Then said Christian aloud, "Ho, ho! so-ho! stay, and I will be your companion." At that Faithful looked behind him; to whom Christian cried, "Stay, stay, till I come up to you." But Faithful answered, "No, I am upon my life, and the avenger of blood is behind me."

Having compassion on Faithful, Christian catches up to him; however, in his boastful rashness, it is Christian who falls and must be helped by Faithful. This is a very subtle lesson for Christian. Because of his success he, perhaps, has grown a little prideful, but discovers that humility is always necessary, and he still has much to learn.

“At this Christian was somewhat moved; and putting to all his strength, he quickly got up with Faithful, and did also overrun him: so the last was first. Then did Christian boastfully smile, because he had gotten the start of his brother; but, not taking good heed to his feet, he suddenly stumbled and fell, and could not rise again until Faithful came up to help him.”

Pilgrim’s Progress is about the journey that every Christian must make to reach the Celestial City. Regardless of how much one may grow, one is never independent. One is never able to stand alone or to make the journey alone. Bunyan makes it abundantly clear that God is mindful of us and places people in our path who can help us; however, we must always be humble and accept their help. It turns out that it was Christian who had abandoned Faithful, thus making Faithful take the trip alone.

Then I saw in my dream, they went very lovingly on together, and had sweet talk together of all things that had happened to them in their pilgrimage; and thus Christian began:

CHRIS. My honored and well-beloved brother Faithful, I am glad that I have overtaken you, and that God has so tempered our spirits that we can walk as companions in this so pleasant a path.

FAITH. I had thought, dear friend, to have had your company quite from our town; but you did get the start of me, wherefore I was forced to come thus much of the way alone.

In his subtlety Bunyan is reminding us that often we bring upon ourselves our own misery. After so long in the journey Christian discovers that he had out run Faithful whereas they could have been companions from the beginning. Instead look at the companions Christian did meet: Obstinate, Pliable, Worldly Wiseman, Mr. Legality, Civility. Man of Despair, Simple, Sloth, Presumption, Formalist, Hypocrisy, Timorous, and Mistrust.

Of course, other companions were necessary for Christian to even continue his journey: Evangelist, Goodwill, The Interpreter, The Shining Ones, Watchful, Discretion, Piety, Prudence, and Charity.

Christian has also met those who would destroy him: Beelzebub, the evil one; Apollyon, the Destroyer; and Abaddon, who symbolized destruction or doom.

Christian quizzes Faithful, who, though he had left the City of Destruction after Christian, was actually ahead of him in the journey till only now does Christian catch up and meet him. One gets the impression that had Christian traveled with Faithful, both would have been further advanced.