For the last posts about Pilgrim’s Progress, I’m going to focus less on the actual reading and more on the ideas behind it. So here’s a quick summary of The Flatterer’s Trap chapter of Pilgrim’s Progress.
Summary
So after the Delectable Mountains with the Shepherds and sheep, Hopeful and Christian start back out on the Path.
They get to a place where they don’t know which way to go–the path forks off into identical roads.
This guy disguised as a white-robed helper comes up and tells them to follow him, and they do, and then the guy leads them straight into a net. He throws off his robe and they realize he is the Flatterer, one of the people the Shepherds warned about.
Obviously, they are distraught that they’ve fallen into ANOTHER trap.
A ‘Shining One’ comes to free them, scolding them for their ignorance but encouraging them to repent, and Christian and Hopeful set back out.
They meet another dude, Atheist, who tries and fails to lead them away from the Celestial City, and Hopeful shares his backstory. Christian is especially interested in his friend’s testimony. They uplift each other, sharing thoughts and ideas, as they keep walking.
Messed Up Again
I can definitely relate to the Pilgrims’ song after being caught in the net.
“…See how the Pilgrim fare that go astray
They are catched in an entangling net
Cause they good counsel did lightly forget…”
Sometimes it feels like I can never do anything right, that no matter how many times I try, I fail to be kind, to be thoughtful, to think before I speak, and so on.
I got mad and yelled at my sister again?
Mom told me to do my chores and I forgot again?
My arrogance and irritation hurt someone again?
But whenever I repent, and believe in the Lord’s promise of forgiveness, it’s like the Shining One in the Pilgrim’s Progress story.
I’m freed, and have another chance to try again.
Your Testimony Matters
The other part I really liked about this chapter was Hopeful’s Story. I won’t go into the details, but…
Hopeful came from a sinful, broken background, and he was tearfully joyful that the King would still accept him after all his mistakes.
And guess what? His testimony was so encouraging and uplifting to Christian.
It’s an example of how our story of faith can affect others, explaining our mistakes and how the Lord forgave and continues to forgive and guide us.
Overall, this was a really cool chapter from Pilgrim’s Progress. Stay tuned for more!!
Happy Reading!!
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