A New Voice of Freedom

Season 5 Podcast 58 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 15 Chapter 3 G, “Charity.” In last week’s episode, Prudence questioned Christian about the details of his journey from the land of destruction and about the experiences he had along the way up until he had climbed The Hill Difficulty to the Palace. This week we shall listen to Charity who questions Christian about why he left his family. This is a very difficult theological question. In effect, is Christian justified in leaving his family as he seeks salvation on his own? Bunyan appears to be referencing Christ’s teachings in the following parable.“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his across, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27)The question arises, “If his family refuses to accompany him, should Christian remain in the city of destruction and be destroyed with his family, or should he embark alone on the journey to Zion? Can he help his family best by being destroyed with them or by personally taking the journey and showing them the way, hoping they will follow? It is a question that only a parent can answer for himself or herself.As with most questions, in the abstract it is easy to take the high road, but when it involves a member of one’s own family, the question becomes more complicated. For example, if a member or members of one’s family choose a route that goes against the Holy Scriptures, should one side with the rebellious to win their love and condemn the church or should they remain with the church and hope the member or members of the family will one day come back? This was a question that faced Christian 350 years ago. It is even more poignant today as Christianity is under attack and families split and society turns away from the Bible and condemns the teachings of Christ and his apostles and prophets and adopts a different system of ethics. The question is this: Are moral laws absolute, or are moral laws relative subject to popular opinion?   Clearly Bunyan takes a strong stand that moral laws are uncompromisingly absolute. Pilgrim’s Progress is as relevant today as it was 350 years ago.                                                      Charity questions Christian very closely trying to discern if Christian had done all he could to persuade his family to come with him.Char. Then said Charity to Christian, "Have you a family? are you a married man?"Chris. I have a wife and four small children.Christian’s answer immediately puts Charity on her guard for Charity wishes to save everyone. Charity represents the love of Christ. It is emphasized in the following scripture, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”4 LINDAChar. And why did you not bring them along with you?Chris. Then Christian wept, and said, "Oh, how willingly would I have done it! but they were all of them utterly against my going on pilgrimage."Charity is critical of Christian. She chastises him.Char. But you should have talked to them, and endeavored to have shown them the danger of staying behind.Christian, however, comes to his own defense.Chris. So I did, and told them also what God had shown to me of the destruction of our city; but I seemed to them as one that mocked, and they believed me not.Charity is relentless. His answer is insufficient.Char. And did you pray to God that He would bless your words to them?Again, Christian is able to defend himself.