The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 8 (Confronting Worldly Attachments)

As Christian and Hopeful left the fair, they soon overtook a man walking ahead of them. They asked him, “What country are you from, sir, and how far are you going on this way?”  He told them that he came from the town of Fair-speech and that he was going to the Celestial City, but he did not tell them his name.

It is on this part of their journey that the pilgrims will talk with those schooled in religious duplicity – the modern Pharisee-types that have nuanced views which allow them to seek all the benefits of religion and keep all the benefits of the world as well.

Christian: Please sir, what is your name?

The man: I am a stranger to you, and you to me, but if you are going this way, I shall be glad of your company, If not, I must be content to walk alone.

Christian: I have heard of this town of Fair-speech and as I remember, they say it is a wealthy place.

The man: Yes, I will assure you that it is, and I have many rich relatives who live there. Almost the whole town is related to me… in particular, Lord Turn-about, Lord Time-server, and Lord Fair-speech.  Others include Mr. Smooth-man, Mr Facing-both-ways, and Mr. Anything.  The parson of our parish, Mr. Two-tongues, is my uncle. And my wife is a very virtuous woman. She was my Lady Feigning’s daughter. She comes from a very honorable family and has arrived to such a pinnacle of breeding that she knows how to act cordially and respectable to all, princes and peasants alike.

The man: It is true that we differ in religion from those of the stricter sort, but only in two small points. First, we never strive against the wind and tide. And second, we are always most zealous when religion goes about in his silver slippers.  We love to walk with him in the street if the sun is shining and the people are applauding him.

Christian steps over to Hopeful and informs him that he is sure that the man’s name is ‘By-Ends’. He is one of the most deceitful rogues to live in this part of the country.  Hopeful said, “Ask him. I do not think he should be ashamed of his name.”

Christian: Sir, you talk as if you knew more than most people in the world, and if I am not mistaken, I would guess that your name is Mr. By-ends of Fair-Speech

By-Ends protested: That is NOT my name, but it is an insulting nickname that has been given to me by those who do not care for me. I must be content to bear it as a reproach, as other good men have borne theirs before me.

Christian: But haven’t you given occasion for men to call you by this name?

By-ends: Never, never! The worst thing I ever did to invite such a name was to have the good luck to jump in and ride the time of the times, profiting thereby from my skill at knowing which way the winds of change were blowing. If this is my crime, then I will count it as a blessing. But I will not let the malicious load me up with reproach.

Christian was sure the name was more fitting than he was willing to admit, but By-ends countered, “Well, if this is what you think, I cannot help it. Even so, you will find me to be good company if you will still allow me to travel with you.”

Christian: If you will go with us, you must go against wind and tide, which I believe is against your principles. You must also stand by religion in his rags as well as when he is in his silver slippers. You must stand by him when he is bound in irons as well as when he walks the streets and hears applause.

By-ends: You must not impose your faith on me. Let me have my views and let me go with you.

Christian: Not a step further unless you will do as I have just proposed, even as we do.

By-ends: I will never desert my old principles since they are harmless and profitable. If I may not go with you, then I must do what I did before you caught up to me, which is to go by myself until someone overtakes me who will be glad for my company.

Christian and Hopeful kept a good distance ahead of him but soon there were three men who caught up with Mr. By-ends. He greeted them with a low bow, and they gave him a compliment. They were Mr. Hold-the-world, Mr. Money-love, and Mr. Save-all; they had all gone to school together in Love-gain, the market town in the country of Coveting.  They were all taught the various arts of getting: violence, fraud, flattery, lying, or putting on a guise of religion.  The newcomers could see Christian and Hopeful in the distance and asked Mr. By-ends who they were and why they were walking ahead instead of in his company.

By-ends: The men before us are rigid and in love with their own notions. They disdain the opinions of others, with a superior attitude that is so narrow that if you don’t agree with them in all things, they throw you out of their company.

Save-all: That is bad. I have read about those who become overzealous in righteousness, judging and condemning everyone but themselves. But tell me, what were the points on which you disagreed.

By-ends: Why, they concluded that it is their duty to rush ahead on their journey in all weather, without waiting for favorable wind or tide. They would risk all in a moment for God, while I, on the other hand, am for taking advantage of all moments to secure my life and my estate. They are for holding their notions, though all other men are against them; but I am for religion so far as the times and my safety will bear it.  They are for religion when in rags and contempt; but I am for religion when he walks in his golden slippers in the sunshine and with applause.

Hold-the-world: Yes, good Mr. By-ends. For my part, I count them fools who lose the things they are at liberty to keep. Let us be wise as serpents; it is best to make hay when the sun shines. You see how the bee lies still all winter and gets busy only when she can have profit along with pleasure. God sometimes sends rain and sometimes sunshine. If they are so foolish to go through the first, let us be content to take fair weather along with us. For my part, I like that religion best that will stand with the security of God’s good blessings to us.  Since God has given us the good things of this life, isn’t it reasonable to think that He desires that we keep them for His sake?  Abraham and Solomon grew rich in religion. And Job says that a good man shall lay up gold as dust. So, he must not have had in mind the men who are before us.

Money-love: You are right. There is nothing more to say about this matter; anyone who does not believe Scripture or reason (and you see we have both on our side) does not know the liberties that he has to see his own safety and security.

To pass the time, these men discuss a hypothetical scenario.  They are so pleased with their own response that they decide to run up to Christian and Hopeful to display their superior doctrine.

Hypothetical scenario:  Suppose a man – a minister or a tradesman or such – should have an opportunity to get a blessing and improve his station in life by becoming extremely zealous in some point of religion. Let’s suppose that this religious point is something about which he has no particular interest, but by appearing to be interested he can gain an advantage, either financial or otherwise.  Can he pretend to be interested and remain and upstanding, honest man?

Money-love: I will endeavor to give you an answer: I see no reason why a minister cannot do this and a lot more if needed, while still remaining an honest man.  And here’s four reasons why: (1) His desire of a greater income is lawful since it is set before him by Providence. He should take advantage without questioning his conscience. (2) His desire for more income makes him more studious, more zealous in preaching, and so on, and this makes him a better man. Yes, it makes him a better man in all aspects of his life, which also is according to the will of God.  (3) As for modifying his views and principles to make himself more acceptable to his people, this says three good things about the man. It shows that he is of a self-denying temperament, of a sweet and winning disposition, and thus more fit for ministerial duties. (4) A minister who exchanges a small thing for a great should not be judged as covetous for doing so. Rather, since his decision results in self-improvement and industry, he should be commended as one who pursues his call.  

Mr. Money-love’s reasoning for a minister was also applied in a comparable way to a tradesman and was highly applauded by the rest of his group.   They called out to Christian and Hopeful to pose the question to them and asked them to answer it if they could.

Christian: Even a babe in religion could answer ten thousand such questions. For if it is unlawful to follow Christ for loaves, as it says in John 6, how much more abominable is it to make Him and religion into a self-serving device for getting and enjoying the world!  Only heathens, hypocrites, devils, and witches are of your opinion.  (This is like Hamor and Shechem convincing all the men of their town to be circumcised because they coveted the daughters and cattle of Jacob.) The hypocritical Pharisees were also of this religion.  Long prayers were their pretense, but their intent was to gain the houses and property of widows, and their judgment was greater damnation from God.  Judas the devil was also of this religion and he would rather have had the possession of the moneybag than Christ.  Simon the witch was of this religion also. He wanted the Holy Ghost for the purpose of his own personal financial gain and you can read in Acts the response of the apostle Peter to his religion. To answer the question as you have done and to accept your answer as authentic is heathenish, hypocritical, and devilish.  You will be rewarded for your works.

Christian and hopeful continued their journey, but Mr. By-ends and his company stayed behind, stunned by Christian’s rebuke.  Then Christian said to Hopeful, “If these men cannot stand before the sentence of men, what will they do before the sentence of God?  And if they are mute when dealt with by vessels of clay, what will they do when they shall be rebuked by the flames of a devouring fire?

Scripture: Proverbs 26:25   Genesis 34:20-23   Luke 20:46-47   Acts 8:19-20

Thoughts to Consider: There is clearly no self-sacrificing devotion in the strangers that Christian and Hopeful meet here. By-ends is ashamed of his name because it identifies him with the world (the ends justifies the means). He has not been able to obtain a new name, which would recommend him as a genuine pilgrim.

For as long as there were men outside of the Garden, there was deceit. (Remember Cain and Abel.) Or in The Gulag Archipelago, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn writes: “The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either — but right through every human heart — and through all human hearts. This line shifts. Inside us, it oscillates with the years. And even within hearts overwhelmed by evil, one small bridgehead of good is retained”

I love his mention of the line oscillating with the years… it explains the reason we see all innocent children as good. It explains our questions of how and when people go bad. It holds out hope for that one small bridgehead of good. Jesus, when he walked among us, reached out to the outcasts, the tax collectors, and the sinners… with love and with truth. He had compassion for where they were at, forgave them, but told them to sin no more. In this time before His return, we are to do the same. We don’t judge people for where they are at right now, but we don’t move God’s standard to accommodate them either.

A small, but more contemporary concept to consider here is talking about World History.  Having a calendar reference BC/AD or BCE/CE, is there a ‘right’ decision for a Christian.  On one hand, the ‘AD’ is a clear designation of calling Jesus, Lord.  (That’s kind of big statement, theologically, and personally.)  On the other hand, using BCE/CE is more inclusive and tolerant of all other religions, including atheism.  (I find it fascinating that the transition from BCE to CE happens to occur simultaneously with the incarnation of Jesus.) So, is the only distinction between the BCE/CE and BC/AD naming conventions, the removal of the association of Jesus as Lord.  (Again, subtle, but significant.) 

The dialogue of Mr. By-ends and his company, is so disturbing because it hits way too close to home. When they talk about Christian and Hopeful being ‘rigid and in love with their own notions’, you realize the words hold equal value when reflected back at By-ends and his crew. There is no reconciliation and no possibility of unity or peace between these men. But what about ‘compromise’… aren’t we taught in this world to show respect to others by compromising? For Christians, the answer always seems to go back to His Word. We do not compromise on His Standard. (We don’t add things to His standard either, otherwise we fall into the same errors of the Pharisees. I use BC/AD as a choice… a sign of respect to my Lord, I don’t judge those who use BCE/CE as a sign of respect to others, who are made in His image. If it comes up in discussion, I pray it becomes an opportunity to share the Gospel.) Note: this is an easy one, since BC/AD and BCE/CE were both conventions contrived by man after Scripture was written.

GotQuestions.Org includes the following in their discussion on compromise. “As believers, we must “see to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ” (Colossians 2:8; see also Hebrews 3:12). We are also commanded to be “prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you …” (1 Peter 3:15). In other words, we are commanded not only to remain faithful to the Word but to defend it and correct those who are in opposition to it (2 Timothy 2:24-25). God is serious about our not compromising His Word with the values of the world—the reason being that those outside of Christ may then “come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil …” (2 Timothy 2:26).”