Finding the Middle Ground - Part 2: John Bunyan and the House of Mr. Legality

“How camest thou by thy burden at first?” Mr. Worldly Wiseman asked.

“By reading this Book in my hand.” So saying, Christian held the book out that the man might see it." - John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

Christian was burdened by the knowledge of his sin. It was a burden that had already caused him much weariness and heartache. 

As we saw in last week's post, John Bunyan and the Slough Despond, the burden of sin had quite nearly sunk Christian beneath the muck of the Slough of Despond. The knowledge of sin is a burden that we also bear; many have been bent under its weight for years. Like Christian, each of us gained this knowledge through reading ‘the Book in our hands’, which is more commonly called the Bible. 

When we open up God's word we find that, long before Jesus Christ stepped into its pages in the form of a baby, there was a law given to men. It is the standard to which each and every one of us will be held accountable. 

Exodus xx. lists for us the ten commands on which the law is based: You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image; you shall not bow down to it nor serve it. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy; in it you shall do no work. Honor your father and your mother. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. You shall not covet anything that is your neighbour’s. 

Standing in the light of this law, this standard of righteousness, each one of us know that we have fallen short of it. Romans iii.23 tells us, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." This realisation comes as a hard blow to the sinner’s soul and many lose hope because of it, falling into the Slough of Despond. For those who manage to avoid this trap, or for those who succeed in extricating themselves from it clutches, there awaits yet another obstacle.

Legality, Also Known As Legalism

The law stands before the pilgrim, reminding him or her that the burden of sin is upon their shoulders and is unbearably heavy. The pilgrim is then shown two ways of getting rid of it. The first method is for him or her to begin to obey the law that God has given.

“In yonder village (the village is named Morality) there dwells a gentleman whose name is Legality, a very judicious man, and a man of a very good name, that has skill to help men off with such burdens as thine is from their shoulders; yea, to my knowledge, he hath done a great deal of good this way; aye, he hath skill to cure those that are somewhat crazed in their wits by their burdens." Mr. Worldly Wiseman said, placing his hand on Christian’s shoulder." - John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

 If God made righteousness the requirement for access into eternal life it only makes sense that we should try to attain it. Doesn't it? 

Each one of us has failed in our attempts to keep the law, yet there remains in us a hope that we might succeed if we only try again. This was the hope of John Bunyan himself. 

After despairing of salvation, he wallowed for a time in the Slough of Despond but finally he realized that he must continue on. So he began to endeavour to keep the law in his own strength.


"I fell to some outward reformation both in my words and life, and did set the commandments before me for my way to heaven; which commandments I also did strive to keep, and, as I thought, did keep them pretty well sometimes, and then I should have comfort." - John Bunyan, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

John Bunyan, Christian, and many other well-meaning pilgrims have travelled the path that leads towards the village of Morality, hoping that Mr. Legality will be able to rescue them from their burden of sin. But the trail isn't as easy as we expect it to be...

"Christian turned out of his way to go to Mr. Legality’s house for help: but behold, when he got nigh the hill on which it was situated, it seemed so high and the side of it that was next to the wayside did hang so much over that Christian was afraid to venture farther, lest the hill should fall on his head; thus, he stood still and knew not what to do. Also, his burden now seemed heavier on him than while he was in his way. There came also flashes of fire (Exodus xix. 16 and 18) out of the hill, that made Christian afraid that he should be burned: here therefore he did sweat, and quake for fear (Hebrews xii. 21).

The Problem With Depending on Our Own Righteousness

We are faced with a problem: try as a traveller might, the hill on which Mr.Legality's house sits cannot be ascended. Many have spent long days, months, and even years trying to climb its slope but their burden of sin only grew heavier with their attempts to reach the place where they hoped it might be lightened. Thus, many of us, like Christian, find ourselves fighting an uphill battle, getting nowhere and not knowing what to do. 

"Now Christian began to be sorry that he had taken Mr.Worldly Wiseman's counsel: and with that he saw Evangelist coming to meet him, at the sight of whom he began to blush for shame. Evangelist drew nearer and nearer; and coming up to him, he looked upon him with a severe and dreadful countenance, and thus began to reason with Christian. 

"What dost thou here, Christian?"

At which words Christian knew not what to answer; wherefore at present he stood speechless before him. 

"Art not thou the man that I found crying without the walls of the city of Destruction?"

"Yes, dear sir, I am the man." Christian replied.

"Did I not direct thee the way to the little wicket gate?"

"Yes, dear sir."

"How is it then that thou art so quickly turned aside? For thou art now out of the way." - John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress 

In his letter to the Colossians, the apostle Paul asked them a similar question as that which Evangelist asked Christian:

 “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.” (Colossians ii.20-23)

Legalism, or ‘a dependence upon our own righteousness to please God’, comes from a misunderstanding of the purpose of the law. God gave us the law for two reasons: 

Reason #1: To Convict Us of Sin 

 The law is meant to convict us of sin but it is not meant to save us from it, nor is it able to. Many have failed to realize that the law cannot be kept, no matter how many times they try to live up to it. Galatians iii. 21 -22 tells us, "if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin...". 

God knew all along that men could never keep the law. You might wonder why He would give a law that was never to be fulfilled. Or, how He could leave mankind struggling in vain to meet an impossible standard. But you can rest assured, that is far from what God has planned.

"Now and then I should break one of the commandments and so afflict my conscience; but then I should repent, and say I was sorry for it, and promise God to do better next time, and thereby be helped again; for then I thought I pleased God as well as any man in England.

Thus, I continued about a year; all which time our neighbours did take me to be a very godly man, a new and religious man, and did marvel much to see such a great and famous alteration in my life and manners; and indeed so it was, though yet I knew not Christ, nor grace, nor faith, nor hope; for, as I have well seen since, had I then died, my state would have been the most fearful."  - John Bunyan, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. 


Reason #2: To Lead Us to Christ

The verses in Galatians iii that we were just reading (verses 21-22) carry on to say, "...but the Scripture has confined all under sin... that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." 

It just so happens that Mr. Legality is no more than another diversion of our enemy; a lie meant to distract us from the One who is able to supply righteousness. The devil has taken the law of God and distorted our understanding of it - making it appear like a goal that we must reach. 

While the law is meant to be fulfilled, it is not us who can do it. 

"He to whom thou was sent for ease, being by name Legality, is the son of a bondwoman which now is, and is in bondage with her children (Galatians iv.21-27); and is, in a mystery, this Mount Sinai, which thou has feared will fall on thy head. Now, if she with her children are in bondage, how canst thou expect by them to be made free? This Legality, therefore, is not able to set thee free from thy burden. No man was ever rid of his burden by him; no, nor is he ever like to be: ye cannot be justified by the works of the law, for by the deeds of the law no man living can be rid of his burden. Therefore, Mr.Worldly Wiseman is an alien, and Mr.Legality is a cheat...Believe me, there is nothing in all this noise that thou hast heard of these sottish men, but a design to beguile thee from the way in which I had set thee." Evangelist explained" - John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

There is a way for men to meet the standards of the law but that way isn’t through our own hard work, self discipline, or persistence. 

Instead it is God Himself who meets the impossible requirements of the law and it is He who has made a way for men to have the righteousness that is required of them! This is what Jesus said in Matthew v.17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” 

Our best efforts to keep the law will never save us. Though we may be a 'good' person in our own estimation should we die as such, 'our state should be most fearful'. The good news is that God never expected us to be able to earn a righteousness of our own. Rather He offers His righteousness to us as a free gift. Thus, the the law's second purpose is to act as our guide to the wicket gate. "Therefore, the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3:24) 

...to be continued...

In Christ

Quiana

Finding the Middle Ground – Part 1: John Bunyan and the Slough Despond

“They drew nigh to a very miry slough that was in the midst of a plain; and they, being heedless, did both fall suddenly into the bog. The name of the slough was Despond. Here, therefore, they wallowed for a time, being grievously bedaubed with dirt; and Christian, because of the burden that was on his back, began to sink in the mire.

“Ah, neighbor Christian, where are you now?” Pliable called.

“Truly, I do not know.” Christian replied.” – John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress

Introducing The Pilgrim's Progress

A familiar tale to many, The Pilgrim’s Progress, tells of a journey filled with obstacles and trials. The pilgrim, Christian, faces giants called Despair and Diffidence, the fearful dragon, Apollyon, Vanity Fair and many other challenges. 

The author, John Bunyan, did not write of these difficulties just to entertain, but rather to impart to his readers lessons he himself had learned. Each of the difficulties Christian encountered was an analogy of a spiritual obstacle Christians face, obstacles that John Bunyan had to overcome in his own walk of faith. 

In this way, The Pilgrim’s Progress tells the story of John’s own pursuit of the Celestial city and the working out of his own salvation (Philippians ii.12). In it is contained the lessons that he desired to pass on to us.

  In this series, we will look at just a couple of these obstacles. Two difficulties that Christian encountered before he had even entered the narrow, wicket gate (which represents salvation) - the slough that is called Despond and the hill on which Mr. Legality’s house sits. 

These first two challenges took the burdened pilgrim by surprise. Few of us are better prepared to face them. However, with the help of real-life examples from John Bunyan’s autobiography, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, we can decipher the allegory and learn the lessons John recorded for us. Thus, preparing ourselves to handle these obstacles properly and help others to as well!


Now, without further ado, we shall continue!


What is the Slough Despond?

“Pliable began to be offended and angrily said to his fellow:

“Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of? If we have such ill speed at our first setting out, what may we expect between this and our journey’s end? May I get out again with my life you shall poses that brave country alone for me!” With that he gave a desperate struggle or two, and got out of the mire on the side of the slough that was next to his own house; so away he went and Christian saw him no more.

Wherefore, Christian was left to tumble in the Slough of Despond alone; but still he endeavoured to struggle to that side of the slough that was farthest from his own house, and next to the wicket gate; the which he did, but could not get out because of the burden that was on his back.” - John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress

The first step of every person’s journey to Calvary comes when our eyes are opened to see our own sinful state. It is only when we come to believe that we are sinful and in dire straights that we can understand the glorious news of the salvation God purchased for us. 

The bad news comes to prepare us for the good! This is the how Christian’s story began. He was first enlightened to the danger in which he lived and then instructed by Evangelist to flee from the City of Destruction and go to the wicket gate.

 The knowledge of our sin and the salvation from it should fill us with comfort and expectation and it often does…at first. But following this initial happiness many of us have been beset by a feeling of despondence. 

The word 'despondent' means to ‘be in low spirits from a lack of hope or courage’. 

Following the news of so great a salvation, it is no wonder that such a feeling catches us by surprise.  The emotion is strangely out of place. Why should such good news be accompanied by sorrow in our souls?

This problem is due to a ploy that our enemy, the devil, regularly plays upon the soul that is seeking its Savior. 

We have become aware of our sinfulness, of our wretched fate and the presence of ‘the wicket gate’ (a means of Salvation). The devil is unable to keep us oblivious any longer. So he begins to lie to us in hopes of trapping us in a bog of falsehood that will cause us to despair. 

The devil is in the habit of whispering all sorts of lies in our ears:

 “Others have been saved but they were not so bad as you.”

 “You lost your chance to repent!”

“God would never want you.”

“If you believe salvation is true, why are you still sinning?” 

He employs a variety of doubts and lies but they all come down to the same conclusion – there is a way of salvation, but you can not follow it. 

By this means, many have become stuck in the Slough of Despond, believing in the power of Jesus Christ to save but doubting His ability to save them. 

This is a temptation. An invitation to put faith in the power of your sins instead of in the power of the Jesus Christ to rescue you from them. 


Despondence, as John Bunyan Experienced It 

This was exactly the difficulty that John Bunyan experienced in his own life:

“A voice did suddenly dart from heaven into my soul, which said,

“Wilt thou leave thy sins and go to heaven, or have them and go to hell?”

At this I was put to an exceeding maze; wherefore I looked up to heaven and was as if I had, with the eyes of my understanding, seen the Lord Jesus looking down upon me, as being hotly displeased with me, and as if He did severely threaten me with some grievous punishment for these and other ungodly practices.

I had no sooner thus conceived in my mind, but suddenly, this conclusion was fastened on my spirit, that I had been a great and grievous sinner, and that it was now too late for me to look after heaven; for Christ would not forgive me, nor pardon my transgressions. Then I fell to musing on this also; and while I was thinking of it, and fearing lest it should be so; I felt my heart sink in despair, concluding it was too late; and therefore I resolved in my mind I would go on in sin: for, thought I, if the case be thus, my state is surely miserable; miserable if I leave my sins, and miserable if I follow them; I can be but damned, and if I be so, I had as good be damned for many sins, as be damned for few….having made this conclusion, I returned desperately to my sport again; and well I remember, that presently this kind of despair did so posses my soul, that I was persuaded I could never attain to other comfort than that which I could get in sin; for heaven was gone already, so that on I must not think; wherefore I found within me great desire to take my fill of sin, still studying what sin was yet to be committed, that I might taste the sweetness of it; and I made as much haste as I could to fill my belly with it’s dedicates, lest I should die before I had my desire; for that I feared greatly…

I am very confident, that this temptation of the devil is more usual among poor creatures, than many are aware of, even to over run the spirits with a scurvy and seared frame of heart, and benumbing of conscience, which frame he supplieth with such despair that, though not much guilt attendeth souls, yet they have a secret conclusion within them, that there is no hope for them;  “for they have loved sins, therefore after them they will go.” (Jeremiah ii.25 and xviii.12)” – John Bunyun, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

Two Options

Pliable turned around and was able to regain the ground from which they had come. Christian remained caught in the slough because he desperately desired to gain the other side.

 It is the desire Christian felt that distinguishes the Christian to be from the one who turns back.

 A truly repentant sinner, though convinced of their ineligibility to receive salvation, finds that they will forever be miserable without it. There is no going back – try as they might to find comfort in sin. 

The Slough of Despond traps its victims by the weight of their own sin. It is their sins that accuse them, cause them to doubt God’s mercy towards them, to see a diminished version of Christ’s power to save and to remember the love they hold towards the pleasures they have indulged in. 

By these means the devil hopes to prevent us from further pursuit of the Saviour, Jesus Christ.


Help

 Still the state of those caught in the depths of Despond and ‘grievously bedaubed with dirt’ is not as helpless as it may appear. For truly the Saviour is greater than the sin they bear – no matter how great that may be - and He is faithful to send help.

“But I beheld in my dream that a man came to him, whose name was Help, and asked him what he did there.

“Sir, I was bid to go this way by a man called Evangelist, who directed me also to yonder gate, that I might escape the wrath to come. As I was going thither, I fell in here.” Christian explained.

“But why did you not look for the steps?”

“Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next way, and fell in.”

Help nodded. “Give me thine hand.” So Christian gave him his hand, and he drew him out (Psalm xl. 20), and set him upon solid ground, and bid him go on his way.

“But, Sir,” said Christian, “wherefore, since over this place is the way from the city of Destruction to yonder gate, is it that this plat is not mended, that poor travelers might go thither with more security?”

“This miry slough is such a place as cannot be mended. It is a descent whither the scum and filth that attends the conviction of sin doth continually run, and therefore it is called the Slough of Despond; for still as the sinner is awakened about his lost condition, there arise in his soul many fears and doubts and discouraging apprehensions, which all of them get together and settle in this place. This is the reason for the badness of this ground.” - John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress

As Help explained, this bog is a peril that can not be helped. Any of us can fall into it’s trap if we are not looking for the steps by which we are to cross it. 

But if you do fall in there yet remains a way out. 

As Christian discovered, escape is most easily gained through the help of another. To gain it the pilgrim must admit that he is stuck and confess how he came to be so, that another might help him to see where he went wrong and remind him of the ability of Christ to save to the uttermost all those who come to God through Him (Hebrews vii.25). To speak so to others requires us to put aside our pride and admit our shame, but with the aid of a helping hand we can soon be freed from the Slough Despond. To fix our eyes again on the goal – the wicket gate.

…to be continued…

In Christ

Quiana