God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life

Christian and Faithful enjoy a timely encounter with Evangelist, which might strike us as strange.  We are used to thinking about evangelists as those who get us started on the Way, perhaps introducing us to Christ, and instrumental in our conversion.  But here he is again, half way through the Pilgrim’s Progress.  In part this is simply due to the fact that Evangelist is himself first and foremost a Pilgrim.  He too is on his way to the Celestial City, and so an evangelist will be journeying with those they have played a part in leading to Christ. 

But Bunyan’s point is more subtle.  We have too compartmentalized a view of evangelism.  We tie it too firmly and exclusively to the earliest stages of someone’s journey to Christ.  But we’ve seen that Evangelist’s ministry is much wider, rebuking Christian earlier for listening to Mr. Worldly-Wiseman and now, encouraging them in their pilgrimage.   He keeps them in the Way, as well as starting them in it.

And of course, his concern for their spiritual well-being doesn’t end once they become Pilgrim’s.  He reminds them, somewhat ominously that they have many trials to go through if they are to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  This is no abstract exhortation…  ‘You will soon come into a town that you will by and by see before you; and in that town you will be hardly beset with enemies, who will strain hard but they will kill you; and be you sure that one or both of you must seal the testimony which you hold with blood.  But be you faithful unto death and the King will give you a crown of life’.

Evangelist encourages them to remain steadfast, to run in such a way as to gain the prize, to let the Kingdom be always before them.   He calls on them to courage and perseverance, reminding them that martyrdom will mean they will have ‘arrived at the Celestial City soonest’, and that they will escape many hardships that the other pilgrim(s) will have to endure.  ‘Commit the keeping of your souls to God in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator’.  

This is a very different message to the one we are accustomed to hearing from evangelists.  Yet it is far more true to Scripture, and we would do well to remember it as we are sharing our faith with others.  We must warn them of the struggles and hardships of following Christ, that it is a call to take up our cross and follow Him (Matt.16:24); that it is to recognise that Christ is more to be valued than all the treasures or comforts of this world.  Failure here is a dereliction of spiritual duty, and will cause significant problems for those we are seeking to introduce to Christ.

Earlier when Christian has benefitted from the counsel of more mature Christians and minister, he has been plagued by an impatience to get going.  At the Interpreters House, and again at Beautiful Palace, he had to be restrained, bid to stay to learn and experience more that would be of benefit.  It is a sign of Christian’s maturing in his faith and discipleship that he thanks Evangelist, ‘but told him that he would have him speak further to them for their help the rest of the way’.   Spiritual growth is evidenced by a developing desire for fellowship and teaching.

There is a pattern in Pilgrim’s Progress that is true to life.  Before trial and tribulation there is often a time of especial encouragement.  Before his battle with Apollyon, Christian enjoyed the blessings of the Beautiful Palace.  Here again, before their entering Vanity Fair, there is - even in the wilderness - strong fellowship, rejoicing at the re-union with old friends, encouragement and exhortation from the Scriptures.  They will need to draw on such benefits to endure the spiritual contest that lies ahead.

Questions to ponder:

How does thinking about Evangelist and his ministry change the way you think about the Gospel? …and about evangelism?

How would encourage someone in the face of their martyrdom?  Would you encourage them?  or would you commiserate with them?