Season 5 Podcast 25 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 4, Chapter 1 D. “Mr. Worldly Wiseman.”

Season 5 Podcast 25 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 4, Chapter 1 D. “Mr. Worldly Wiseman.” In last week’s episode, Christian escaped the Slough of Despond and while on the way to the Wicket Gate met Mr. Worldly Wiseman who warned him that if he followed the advice of Evangelist he would find nothing but sorrow. Cristian explains to Mr. Worldly Wiseman that the burden was already more than he could bear.Why, sir, this burden upon my back is more terrible to me than all these things which you have mentioned; nay, methinks I care not what I meet with in the way, if so be I can also meet with deliverance from my burden.The reason Christian left his family in the first place was to find a way to escape the calamity that was to come foretold in the Bible, making reference to end of the world. When he discovers the answer, he will come back and save his family. The burden he carries is caused by the condition of the fall of man. He fears the destruction of the world. He fears what happens to his eternal soul, and of course, he flees from guilt caused by sin. All of these weigh heavily on him. The advice of Evangelist is to follow the teachings of the Bible which are very difficult. The advice of Worldly Wiseman is to follow the philosophy of the world which is easier, dismissing the idea of original sin. Worldly Wiseman asks,How camest thou by the burden at first?Christian speaks for himself and all other Christians.By reading this book in my hand.This book refers to the Holy Bible. Pilgrim’s Progress could have been written today for it fits our progressive world precisely. Worldly Wiseman gives the same answer that would be given by modern atheists, modern psychologists, and modern universities.I thought so. And it has happened unto thee as unto other weak men, who, meddling with things too high for them, do suddenly fall into thy crazy thoughts, which thoughts do not only unman men, as thine I perceive have done thee, but they run them upon desperate efforts to obtain they know not what.The modern mind sees religion as a weakness. As Karl Marx said, ‘Religion is the opiate of the masses.’ Worldly Wiseman also echoes the Marxian idea that only the elite have the intelligence to rule; the proletariat or the common man does not have the ability to rule themselves.  Christian is focused on one thing, getting rid of his burden; therefore, he is susceptible to the advice of Worldly Wiseman.I know what I would obtain; it is ease for my heavy burden.Worldly Wiseman’s answer is in harmony with modern psychology which leans toward atheism and determinism. They seek scientific remedies through counseling, drugs, and group therapy.But why wilt thou seek for ease this way, seeing so many dangers attend it? Especially since (hadst thou but patience to hear me,) I could direct thee to the getting of what thou desirest, without the dangers that thou in this way wilt run thyself into. Yea, and the remedy is at hand. Besides, I will add that, instead of those dangers, thou shalt meet with much safety, friendship, and content.Christian is offered the easy way and immediately grasps it.Sir, I pray, open this secret to me.Worldly Wiseman directs Christian to go to the village of Morality. He has confused modern ethics with Christian morality. The one is relative, the other absolute. He sends Christian to Legality. Legality represents the idea that what is legal is also what is right. People, not God decide what is good and what is evil. He is introduced to the relative morality, where people depend upon experts. In other words, those trained in the universities rather than the words of apostles and prophets found in the Bible. He hints that religion is a form of Insanity.