Christian Friendship
March 26, 2026 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments
Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement
The Pilgrim’s Progress, written in 1678 from prison by John Bunyan, is said to have been printed more than any other book other than the Bible. It is an allegorical story that tells the journey of a man named Christian who is seeking to arrive in Heaven. Bunyan uses this style to help illustrate the various trials a believer might face as he or she walks by faith in this world. If you have never read The Pilgrim’s Progress, I encourage you to add it to your reading list.
Today, I am interested in drawing attention to the companions that join Christian on his faith journey. Early in his journey, Christian is joined by a man named Pliable (you learn quickly that the names of the various characters in the story reveal their true nature). Christian is still young in his faith (or, perhaps, he has not yet come to saving faith) and carries a heavy burden from his sin. The two of them, while talking of the hope of heaven, fall into the Slough of Despond. This is a miry swamp that causes travelers to lose their eagerness to continue the journey of faith. Pliable gives up and returns to his home in the City of Destruction. Thankfully, Christian is met by a man named Help who leads Christian out of the Despond.
A little while later, Christian catches up with Faithful, another man that came from his hometown, the City of Destruction. Together they arrived at a Fair in the town called Vanity. This Fair represents the temptations of the world. Christian and Faithful encourage one another as they face and resist the temptations. The members of Vanity are not happy and throw the two travelers into prison. In a jury trial, Faithful is found to be an enemy and disturber of the Trade and he was sentenced to death. In God’s providence, Christian escapes from prison and continues his journey.
Very quickly, Christian is joined by another traveler, Hopeful. Bunyan states that he was “made so by the beholding of Christian and Faithful in their words and behaviour, in their sufferings at the Fair.” Hopeful will stay with Christian until they arrive at the Celestial City, not without facing various trials. Two trials are worth noting to help illustrate the friendship between Christian and Hopeful.
As they are making slow progress on the Way, they became discouraged because of the difficulties. Then they came upon By-Path Meadow, a pathway that looked promising and easy. Christian convinces Hopeful to join him on this easy way. But they shortly found that they had wandered from the Way and entered the land of Giant Despair. The Giant captures them and locks them up in Castle Doubt. Christian began to despair of life, but Hopeful reminds him of the goodness of the King of the Celestial City and how Christian has been protected from other enemies. Eventually, Christian remembers he has the key to unlock his dungeon and escape. That key is the promises of God.
The last trial Christian and Hopeful face is the River that separates them from the heavenly city. The River represents the passage of death. As Christian enters the River, great darkness and horrors fall upon him. He feared that he would never gain entrance into the heavenly city. Hopeful stays by his side and encourages him that God remains faithful even in death. And so they arrive together at the Celestial City.
There is much to glean from Bunyan’s allegorical tale, but I want to briefly draw attention to the role of friends in the story. Christian never would have made it to the Celestial City without companions who helped him. Help, Faithful, and Hopeful all played key roles in assisting Christian to fight off despond, vanity, and despair. Perhaps Bunyan had Hebrews 3:13 on his mind when he created this story. “Exhort one another every day, as long as it is call ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Or maybe he had Hebrews 10:24-25 on his mind, “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together.” The point of these Hebrews’ texts, and The Pilgrim’s Progress, is that every Christian needs the community of faith to persevere on the Way. A Christian is never meant to travel alone.
How about you? Do you have people in your life who can aptly be named Help or Faithful or Hopeful? Who is stirring you up to love and good works? Who is exhorting you each day? We need such companions in our lives.
