The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 12 (Faith Under Attack)

As Christian and Hopeful traveled down the mountains along the highway toward the Celestial City, they passed the country of Conceit.  From this country meandered a twisting but pleasant green lane that joined the pilgrims’ highway.  It was here that the pilgrims met a very brisk lad coming from that country, named Ignorance.  Christian asked him where he was from and where he was going. [Of course, he did.]

In this chapter, Bunyan will examine several types of people who call themselves Christians.  Beginning with Ignorance from Conceit, (the very opposite of Knowledge from Humility), he intends to make a point.  He is not talking about ignorance of the inexperienced or dull-minded, but specifically, the self-willed ignorance – a deliberate and willful ignorance of the saving gospel truths.  Those who find themselves in this group have no need to ask directions or ever feel a twinge of doubt about their condition.  This kind of ignorance holds onto everything that is good and has convinced himself of the merits of his deeds and the personal goodness of his character.  As such, his journey to leave the country of Conceit is not motivated by thoughts of destruction or judgment but rather the desire to exchange a good place for a better one.  For Ignorance, the journey from Conceit to the Celestial city is like a pleasant walk in the park, with grassy knolls and soft turf underfoot.  He has never understood the concept of… Christ Alone!

Ignorance: Sir, I was born in the country that lies off to the left, and I am going to the Celestial City.

Christian: But how do you think you will enter in at the Celestial Gate? I think you may find some difficulty there.

Ignorance: As other good people do.

Christian: But what have you to show at the gate that will cause it to be opened for you?

Ignorance: I know my Lord’s will and I have lived a good life.  I pay every man what I owe him; I pray and fast; I pay tithes and give alms; and I have left my country to go to the Celestial City.

Christian: But you did not enter at the narrow sheep gate at the beginning of this way.  Instead, you have come into the way through a crooked lane.  I am afraid that whatever you think of yourself, you will be accused of being a thief and a robber on the day of reckoning, gaining no admittance to the Celestial City.

Ignorance: Gentlemen, you are complete strangers to me. I do not know you.  Be content to follow the religion of your country and I will follow the religion of mine. I hope that all will be well. And as for the narrow sheep gate that you talk of, the entire world knows that it is far away from our country. I cannot imagine that anyone in these parts even knows how to find it, nor do they need to bother since, as you can see, we have a fine, pleasant, green lane that comes down from our country and joins the way directly.

When Christian saw that the man was ‘wise in his own conceit’ he said to Hopeful, whisperingly, “There is more hope for a fool than for him.”  The pilgrims decided to let Ignorance walk on his own to think about what they had said to him.

Christian and Hopeful went ahead and after a little while they entered into a dark lane where they saw a man whom seven demons had bound with seven strong cords. The demons were carrying him back to the door on the side of the hill that the shepherds had shown them earlier.   Christian and Hopeful began to tremble as the devils led the man away. Christian looked to see if he knew the man who was bound and he thought he recognized him as one Turn-Away from the town of Apostasy.  He could not clearly see his face for the bound man hung his head like a captured thief. Once they had passed, Hopeful looked after him and saw on his back a paper with the inscription, “Wanton professor and damnable apostate.”

[The writer of Hebrews warns of the consequences of apostasy. (See Hebrews 6:4–6).  Turn-Away could represent the pretend Christian… he might have once claimed gospel confession, but when stripped away of his pretense, even if he were only fooling himself, there was no substance to his faith; there was never any true gospel conviction. Maybe, this is a reminder of The Man in the Iron Cage, who once also was a great professor of the faith.  (From Chapter 2 at the Interpreter’s house)  That man had left his faith to rush after his own lusts. He had hardened his heart that he couldn’t repent.]

After seeing Turn-Away, Christian was reminded about Little-Faith. [Apparently, we should compare these two.]

He tells Hopeful the story about a good man named Little-Faith from the town of Sincere as follows:

“Upon a part of this highway near us, Little-Faith encountered a road called Dead Man’s Lane, which joins the highway from Broad-Way Gate… This man Little-Faith, who was going on his pilgrimage just as we are now, happened to sit down and fall asleep close by this dangerous lane. Now it just so happened that around the same time, three sturdy rogues named, Faint-Heart, Mistrust, and Guilt were coming down the lane. They saw Little-Faith and came galloping up to him at full speed just as Little-Faith was awakening from his sleep. Being taken thus by surprise, Little-Faith was powerless to run and, being outnumbered, was powerless to fight. The rogues demanded that he stand up and hand over his wallet and money. White as a cloud with fear, Little-Faith stood up but was slow to hand over his money, reluctant to part with it. So, Mistrust ran up to him, thrust his hand into his pocket, and pulled out a bag of silver.

Then Little-Faith cried out, “Thieves! Thieves!” But Guilt struck Little-Faith on the head with a club, knocking him flat to the ground where he lay bleeding profusely. Heedless of the wounded man, the thieves just stood by, counting the stolen silver. But finally, they heard someone approaching, and fearing it might be Great-Grace who dwells in the city of Good Confidence, they ran off and left Little-Faith to tend to himself. After a while, Little-Faith came to and, gathering what strength he had left, got up and tended his wound as best he could and hobbled on his way.  This was the story I was told.”

Hopeful: Did the thieves steal everything he had?

Christian: No, they did not find his jewels that he had hidden. But the good man suffered for his loss… he was left to beg and do what he could as he went on his way. I am told that he was hungry and malnourished for most of the rest of his journey.  It is a wonder the thieves did not steal his certificate. It was more by God’s gracious providence than by Little-Faith’s own endeavors that they missed his certificate.

There is a great deal of discussion between Hopeful and Christian about the story of Little-Faith. Their comments show a little smugness on Hopeful’s part, but Christian’s response shows a little arrogance. The display of their own human nature shows when Hopeful states, “But what surprises me is that in his desperate situation he did not sell or pawn some of his hidden jewels, which may have given him some relief on his journey.”

Christian: What, do you really mean this? Then you don’t see the full picture, like a newborn bird with its shell still on its head. For what should he pawn them, or to whom should he sell them? In the country where he was robbed, his jewels were not considered valuable. Nor did he seek the kind of relief that anyone of that country could give. Besides, had his jewels been missing at the gate of the Celestial City, he would have been excluded from his inheritance (a fact of which he was well aware).  Had he parted with his jewels, he would have been in worse shape than if he had been attached by ten thousand thieves.

Hopeful: Why are you so harsh, my brother?  Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage, and that birthright was his greatest jewel; and if Esau could sell his jewel, then why couldn’t Little-Faith do the same?

Christian: Esau did sell his birthright indeed, and so do many others, and by so doing exclude themselves from the chief blessing.  But you must understand the difference between Esau and Little-Faith and also the difference between their estates. Esau’s birthright was the shadow, but Little-Faith’s jewels were the substance. Esau’s belly was his god, but Little-Faith’s belly was not… Esau could see no further than the fulfilling of his lusts, ‘Behold, I am at the point to die, and what profit shall this birthright do me?’ But Little-Faith, though it was his lot to have only a small portion of faith, was made to see and prize his jewels by faith and not to sell them, as Esau did his birthright.  You do not read anywhere that Esau had faith, not even a little. It is not a surprise that a man, ruled by his flesh, would sell his birthright.  But Little-Faith was of another temperament. His mind was fixed on things divine; what would be the purpose for selling his spiritual treasure in order to possess the empty things of this world?  That is where you made your mistake, my brother.

Hopeful: I acknowledge my mistake, but your abrupt response nearly made me angry.

They continue to discuss the story with Hopeful wondering if Little-Faith could have made more of a stand. Christian reminds him of Peter’s bravado, saying, “He would swagger indeed, and his vain mind prompted him to say that he would stand up for his Master when all others fled for fear. He was so put to the test that by the time these same rogues were done with him, he was afraid of a servant girl.”

Christian tells Hopeful that, “as for footmen like you and me, let us never desire to meet with the enemy or presume ourselves able to do better when we hear about the struggles of others.  When we hear of others who have been sorely tested, let’s not be deluded by thoughts of our own manhood, for those who do so are often the ones who have the worst time of it when they are tested.” 

There are two things that Christian advises for preparing for such spiritual attacks: (1) Go out armed, being sure to take our shield with us.  The Devil has no fear of us at all if he finds us without our shield. (2) It is a good idea to travel in a convoy and request that the Lord go with us Himself. (This made David rejoice when he was in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and Moses would rather have died where he stood than to go one step without his God.)

Scripture: Proverbs 26:12   Ecclesiastes 10:3   Matthew 12:45   Proverbs 5:22   1 Peter 4:18   2 Timothy 1:14   2 Peter 2:9   Hebrews 12:16   Genesis 25:32   Jeremiah 2:24   Psalm 7:2   1 Peter 5:8   Ephesians 6:16   Exodus 33:15   Psalm 3:5-8   Psalm 27:1-3   Isaiah 10:4

Thoughts to Consider:  If we are meant to compare Turn-Away and Little-Faith, Turn-Away was all pretense. Little-Faith is a picture of a true, but very weak Christian.  We are cautioned about making too harsh a judgment about the Christian who has found himself suffering the consequences of a weak faith, guilt, and unbelief. 

We are warned by the story of Little-Faith to stay alert and vigilant, but also to remain humble. The story of Little-Faith could just as easily be our story.  We should avoid any self-confidence or vain pride in our spiritual accomplishments.  These achievements are jewels that remain in our possession only by the grace of God.

The warning in this chapter just make me want to prepare even more! We all know the feeling of faltering faith and this chapter tells us that when we have that lapse, those three attack: Faint-Heart, Mistrust, and Guilt. If we have Little-Faith, we don’t have any to spare to stand courageously. If we have great faith, then perhaps we can stand or more importantly, help others to stand, because that battle is brutal. But God, does step in when the little faith that we have is genuine. 💖