Pilgrim's Progress

I have been reading again 'Pilgrim's Progress' from a modern English version published many years ago by Scripture Union, and now sadly out of print.  It is dramatically illustrated by Peter Wane

It remains a classic well worth reading by fellow Christians who want to travel on the 'straight and narrow way' that leads to salvation, and who already have some knowledge of the challenges and pitfalls of trying to live a Christian life.   I can't help feeling though, that it is not helpful  reading for anyone who isn't a Christian believer or who has little background knowledge of Christianity. 

Since it is about Christian's journey to the Celestial City (heaven), it's an allegory about a long journey which lasts a lifetime, and is therefore of interest only to those who believe that this life is only the first preparatory stage of   everlasting life.

Pilgrim's Progress  was written in 1678 by John Bunyan whilst he was in prison.  

His trial and imprisonment were because he was a tinker by trade, but spent much of his time preaching the Christian gospel to those who wanted to hear what he had to say.  In those days it was not legal for anyone other than an ordained Church of England priest to preach. At his trial,  Bunyan was told by the judge that if he stopped gathering people together to preach to them, he would be set free. 

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Here's an excerpt from his trial:

 JUDGE: If you will promise to call the people no more together, you shall have your liberty to go home; for my brother is very loath to send you to prison, if you will be but ruled.

BUNYAN: Sir, pray what do you mean by calling the people together? my business is not anything among them, when they are come together, but to exhort them to look after the salvation of their souls, that they may be saved.   

[Bunyan spoke when the people gathered together.  He did not, as they tried to imply, gather them together of his own accord.  That he left up to the local church that requested his services.]

JUDGE:  We must not enter into explication, or dispute now; but if you will say you will call the people no more together, you may have your liberty; if not, you must be sent away to prison.

BUNYAN: Sir, I shall not force or compel any man to hear me; but yet, if I come into any place where there is a people met together, I should, according to the best of my skill and wisdom, exhort and counsel them to seek out after the Lord Jesus Christ, for the salvation of their souls.

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Bunyan's approach to sharing his faith resonates strongly with my own way of thinking.  There are Christians who adopt a scattergun approach by preaching from soapboxes, or preaching to people who don't want to listen.  In British culture today. people don't like to be told what to believe by others who claim to have a better way than their own.  They will quickly accuse aggressive preachers of being 'Bible-bashers') .  But I agree with Bunyan, that when people want to listen, and when they invite a Christian to share his experience and understanding of God's goodness, then it's an ideal opportunity to speak, or to write about these things.