Here in the days of COVID-19, with many churches are not yet able to gather, Christians are finding themselves increasingly adjusting to the isolation. After all, there are perks to being able to livestream a service and not have to leave the comfort of your home. Yet virtual relationships are hardly conducive to deep relationships. And podcasts and livestream services are no substitute for accountability and discipleship. As we need to be reminded again and again, this cannot be the new normal. Christians have always needed to be connected in meaningful relationships with other believers in the church. A good reminder of this is found in John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress.
Have you read The Pilgrim’s Progress yet? If not, you’re missing out on one of the most influential books in the English language. It is the story of Christian and his journey from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City, providing an allegory for the Christian life. Now, many people get the impression that this book portrays the Christian life as a largely solitary journey, as Christian travels alone, or with just another companion. But this wasn’t Bunyan’s vision. As a pastor, he understood the importance of the church.
We see this importance immediately following Christian’s conversion. His burden has been released at the cross, he is sent on his way by the Shining Ones, but then the troubles begin. He comes upon the Hill of Difficulties, which must be ascended. After the arduous climb, he falls asleep, losing precious daylight and losing the roll containing the King’s promises. Then he meets fearful and doubtful pilgrims trying to dissuade him from his journey. Then he realizes he needs to backtrack to recover his roll, losing more time. Finally, as night falls, he finds the road blocked by deadly lions. In each of these instances, Christian finds himself isolated and exposed to trouble and temptation. But then, Christian comes to the house Beautiful, built by the Lord of the Hill, and there, Christian finds refuge.
What is it that Bunyan wants us to learn about the church in this part of the story?
New Christians are often fearful when joining a church, but pastors should warmly encourage them to come
So I saw in my dream, that he made haste, and went forward, that if possible he might get lodging there. Now before he had gone far, he entered into a very narrow passage, which was about a furlong off the Porter’s lodge: and looking very narrowly before him as he went, he espied two lions in the way. Now, thought he, I see the dangers that Mistrust and Timorous were driven back by. (The lions were chained, but he saw not the chains.) Then he was afraid, and thought also himself to go back after them; for he thought nothing but death was before him.
But the Porter at the lodge, whose name is Watchful, perceiving that Christian made a halt, as if he would go back, cried unto him, saying, Is thy strength so small? Fear not the lions, for they are chained, and are placed there for trial of faith where it is, and for discovery of those that have none: keep in the midst of the path, and no hurt shall come unto thee. Then I saw that he went on, trembling for fear of the lions; but taking good heed to the directions of the Porter, he heard them roar, but they did him no harm. Then he clapped his hands, and went on till he came and stood before the gate where the Porter was.
Pastors should interview Christians with gentle discretion, focusing on their profession of faith
Then said Christian to the Porter, Sir, what house is this? and may I lodge here to-night? The Porter answered, This house was built by the Lord of the hill, and He built it for the relief and security of pilgrims. The Porter also asked whence he was, and whither he was going.
Chr. I am come from the City of Destruction, and am going to Mount Zion; but because the sun is now set, I desire, if I may, to lodge here to-night.
Port. Well, I will call out one of the virgins of this place, who will, if she likes your talk, bring you in to the rest of the family, according to the rules of the house.
So Watchful the Porter rang a bell, at the sound of which came out of the door of the house a grave and beautiful damsel, named Discretion, and asked why she was called. The Porter answered, This man is in a journey from the City of Destruction to Mount Zion; but being weary and benighted, he asked me if he might lodge here to-night: so I told him I would call for thee, who, after discourse had with him, mayest do as seemeth thee good, even according to the law of the house. Then she asked him whence he was, and whither he was going; and he told her. She asked him also how he got into the way; and he told her. Then she asked him what he had seen and met with in the way; and he told her. And last she asked his name. So he said, It is Christian; and I have so much the more a desire to lodge here to-night, because, by what I perceive, this place was built by the Lord of the hill for the relief and security of pilgrims. So she smiled, but the water stood in her eyes; and after a little pause she said, I will call forth two or three more of my family. So she ran to the door, and called out Prudence, Piety, and Charity, who, after a little more discourse with him, had him in to the family; and many of them meeting him at the threshold of the house, said, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; this house was built by the Lord of the hill, on purpose to entertain such pilgrims in.
The fellowship inside the church should be edifying.
So when he was come in and sat down, they gave him something to drink, and consented together that, until supper was ready, some of them should have some particular discourse with Christian, for the best improvement of time; and they appointed Piety, Prudence, and Charity to discourse with him; and thus they began.
Christians should talk about their salvation,
Piety. What moved you at first to betake yourself to a pilgrim’s life?
Scripture,
Piety. But did you not come by the house of the Interpreter?
Temptation and sin,
Prudence. Do you not think sometimes of the country from whence you came?
Family,
Then said Charity to Christian, Have you a family? are you a married man?
And most of all, about Christ and his saving work.
Now I saw in my dream, that thus they sat talking together until supper was ready. So when they had made ready, they sat down to meat. Now the table was furnished with fat things, and with wine that was well refined; and all their talk at the table was about the LORD of the hill; as, namely, about that HE had done, and whereof HE did what HE did, and why HE had builded that house; and by what they said, I perceived that HE had been a great warrior, and had fought with and slain him that had the power of death, but not without great danger to Himself, which made me love Him the more.
For, as they said, and as I believe, said Christian, He did it with the loss of much blood. But that which put glory of grace into all He did, was, that He did it out of pure love to his country. And besides, there were some of them of the household that said they had been and spoke with Him since He did die on the cross; and they have attested, that they had it from His own lips, that He is such a lover of poor pilgrims, that the like is not to be found from the east to the west. They, moreover, gave an instance of what they affirmed; and that was, He had stripped Himself of His glory that He might do this for the poor; and that they heard Him say and affirm, that He would not dwell in the mountain of Zion alone. They said, moreover, that He had made many pilgrims princes, though by nature they were beggars born, and their original had been the dunghill.
The church should be a place of peace and rest
Thus they discoursed together till late at night; and after they had committed themselves to their Lord for protection, they betook themselves to rest. The pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber, whose window opened towards the sun-rising. The name of the chamber was Peace, where he slept till break of day, and then he awoke and sang,
Where am I now? Is this the love and care
Of Jesus, for the men that pilgrims are,
Thus to provide! that I should be forgiven,
And dwell already the next door to heaven!
The church should be a place of instruction
So in the morning they all got up; and, after some more discourse, they told him that he should not depart till they had showed him the rarities of that place. And first they had him into the study, where they showed him the records of the greatest antiquity; in which, as I remember my dream, they showed him first the pedigree of the Lord of that hill, that He was the Son of the Ancient of Days, and came by that eternal generation. Here also was more fully recorded the acts that He had done, and the names of many hundreds that He had taken into His service; and how He had placed them in such habitations, that could neither by length of days, nor decays of nature, be dissolved.
Then they read to him some of the worthy acts that some of His servants had done; as how they had subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Then they read again in another part of the records of the house, where it was showed how willing their Lord was to receive into His favour any, even any, though they in time past had offered great affronts to His person and proceedings. Here also were several other histories of many other famous things, of all which Christian had a view; as of things both ancient and modern, together with prophecies and predictions of things that have their certain accomplishment, both to the dread and amazement of enemies, and the comfort and solace of pilgrims.
The church equips and trains Christians for spiritual warfare
The next day they took him, and had him into the armoury, where they showed him all manner of furniture which their Lord had provided for pilgrims, as sword, shield, helmet, breastplate, all-prayer, and shoes that would not wear out. And there was here enough of this to harness out as many men for the service of their Lord, as there be stars in the heaven for multitude.
They also showed him some of the engines with which some of His servants had done wonderful things. They showed him Moses’s rod; the hammer and nail with which Jael slew Sisera; the pitchers, trumpets, and lamps too, with which Gideon put to flight the armies of Midian. Then they showed him the ox’ goad, wherewith Shamgar slew six hundred men. They showed him also the jawbone with which Samson did such mighty feats. They showed him moreover the sling and stone with which David slew Goliath of Gath, and the sword also with which their Lord will kill the man of sin, in the day that He shall rise up to the prey. They showed him besides many excellent things, with which Christian was much delighted. This done, they went to their rest again.
The church sends pilgrims out for their mission
Now he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were willing he should. But first, said they, let us go again into the armoury. So they did, and when he came there, they harnessed him from head to foot with what was of proof, lest perhaps he should meet with assaults in the way. He being therefore thus accoutred, walked out with his friends to the gate.
Conclusion
Though the church is here represented as a lodge, Bunyan understood that the church is not a building, but people. In the sequel to Pilgrim’s Progress, Bunyan makes this explicit as Christiana’s journey to the Celestial City is accompanied by a whole band of pilgrims, led by Greatheart, their pastor. Today, even though Christians might be prevented from large indoor gatherings due to pandemic restrictions, the church remains indispensable in the Christian life. Even as churches are unable to meet, Christians still need to find churches where they can join, be cared for, and held accountable. And for those who already belong to the church, gathering restrictions notwithstanding, we must continue to look for ways to welcome in believers, edify one another with spiritual conversations, instruct one another in the Word, equip one another for spiritual warfare, and engage in the mission of the church until we all reach the Celestial City.