Introductory Study to The Pilgrim's Progress, Part 3

WHY SHOULD WE STUDY "THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS"?

"As I walked through the wilderness of this world." So read the opening words of The Pilgrim's Progress. they immediately establish, not a flight into fictional fancy, but an encounter with the harsh reality of seventeenth century human life, and yes, the equally harsh reality of (twenty first) century human life! To be sure, fashions may have changed, physical pain is more easily relieved, and our appliances today may work better. But the heart of man has not fundamentally changed; new fashions and advanced medical technology and labor-saving electronic gadgets have not enhanced man's moral stance before God. His heart is still naturally darkened on account of sin; he is simply a more sophisticated sinner and refined rebel. This being true, then is it not reasonable to consider that this tinker's remedy, so effectual in his own life, is also our remedy today? What is needed today is not the palliative temporal relief of social engineering and psychological readjustment, but rather the inward renewal of the heart, its cleansing and enlightenment, which only the gospel of the grace of God promises (II Corinthians 4:6). This is the gospel concerning the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is God's gospel (Romans 1:1), Paul's gospel (Galatians 1:11-12), Bunyan's gospel, the only gospel for our time." By Barry Horner in The Pilgrim's Progress, A Companion Commentary Manual."