Pilgrim’s Progress: Mr. Worldly Wise Man

The next chapter of Pilgrim’s Progress brings us to when Christian meets Mr. Worldly Wise Man, who seems to represent the world and how it wants to trip us up.

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Mr. Worldly

As soon as Christian runs into Mr. Worldly, the story takes on a sense of trouble. Mr. Worldly gives a pretense of being concerned for Christian.

Christian tells him that Evangelist sent him on the road he is on, and Mr. Worldly pretends to be horrified. He explains to Christian that apparently, Evangelist is a cuckoo and has only set Christian on the hardest road possible. Christian believes him.

So, still acting as if he was a friend, Mr. Worldly gives him directions to Legality Hill. Christian leaves the path evangelist set him on and follows the way to Legality Hill.

The Motive

I assume Mr. Worldly is true to his name and, in Bunyan’s allegory, represents the World, as in the sinful nature of humans.

He portrays the world’s message(s): Go the easy way! The Bible is fake! I can make life better for you!

The world will always want to steal what we’ve found in Christ. Just like Mr. Worldly planted doubts in Christians mind about Evangelist and his Book, people might plant doubts in our head about God. We might falter and hesitate to trust God.

Instead of listening to them, though, we need to focus on God and his words. His plans. His way.

I don’t know what waits for Christian at Legality Hill, but if Mr. Worldly sent him to it, it won’t be good.

We’ll read more next time…until then, happy reading 🙂