"As he was troubling about the three men he spotted two men come tumbling over the Wall, on the left hand of the narrow way; and they quickly caught up to him. The name of one was Formalist, and the name of the other Hypocrisy. So, as I said, they drew up unto him, Christian began a discussion.
Christian: Gentlemen, Where did you come from, and where are you going?
Formalist and Hypocrisy: We were born in the land of Vainglory, and are going for praise to Mount Sion.
Christian: Why didn't you come through the Gate which stands at the beginning of the Way? Don't you know that it is written, That he that comes not in by the Door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber?
Formalist and Hypocrisy: They said, That to go to the Gate for an entrance was thought by all their countrymen too far; and that therefore their usual way was to make a short cut of it, and to climb over the wall, as they had done." John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress
Many have their own interpretations of getting to heaven. There is only one way and that way is Christ. There are many that try to make it easier for themselves. They may come to church. They may give to charities. They may 'pay it forward'. All of these are nice, but they are not the way to salvation. The only way is through the gate called Christ.
Christian: Gentlemen, Where did you come from, and where are you going?
Formalist and Hypocrisy: We were born in the land of Vainglory, and are going for praise to Mount Sion.
Christian: Why didn't you come through the Gate which stands at the beginning of the Way? Don't you know that it is written, That he that comes not in by the Door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber?
Formalist and Hypocrisy: They said, That to go to the Gate for an entrance was thought by all their countrymen too far; and that therefore their usual way was to make a short cut of it, and to climb over the wall, as they had done." John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress
Many have their own interpretations of getting to heaven. There is only one way and that way is Christ. There are many that try to make it easier for themselves. They may come to church. They may give to charities. They may 'pay it forward'. All of these are nice, but they are not the way to salvation. The only way is through the gate called Christ.
"Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber." John 10:1
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are invited, but few are chosen.” Matthew 14:11-14
Formalist is man that places rituals, repetition, and ceremonies above having a relationship with Christ. He is into observances rather than having his life affected by the meaning of those events. His prayers are meaningless replicated utterances. He goes on babbling like the Pagans do. He thinks his prayers will be heard, not by their sincerity, but by their many words. Matthew 6:7
"These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men."
Matthew 15:8-9
Hypocrisy looks the part. He says all the right things. He appears to be perfect. A person we may all want to be like. There is one large problem. He is a fake. He is like a plastic rose, beautiful with no marks. Yet try to take a whiff and you will find there is no fragrance. Hypocrisy is an actor. He has a mask called holiness on. Take it off and his true self is exposed. He is on the stage when people are around.
"Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat." He answered them, "And why do you transgress the Commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die.' But you say, 'If any one tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God, he need not honor his father.' So, for the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God. You actors! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'" Matthew 15:1-9
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are invited, but few are chosen.” Matthew 14:11-14
Formalist is man that places rituals, repetition, and ceremonies above having a relationship with Christ. He is into observances rather than having his life affected by the meaning of those events. His prayers are meaningless replicated utterances. He goes on babbling like the Pagans do. He thinks his prayers will be heard, not by their sincerity, but by their many words. Matthew 6:7
"These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men."
Matthew 15:8-9
Hypocrisy looks the part. He says all the right things. He appears to be perfect. A person we may all want to be like. There is one large problem. He is a fake. He is like a plastic rose, beautiful with no marks. Yet try to take a whiff and you will find there is no fragrance. Hypocrisy is an actor. He has a mask called holiness on. Take it off and his true self is exposed. He is on the stage when people are around.
"Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat." He answered them, "And why do you transgress the Commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die.' But you say, 'If any one tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God, he need not honor his father.' So, for the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God. You actors! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'" Matthew 15:1-9
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you actors! You are like
whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are
full of dead men's bones and everything unclean." Matthew 23:27
Only you can know where you are or who you are. Have you been faking it? Putting on a show? You don't have to. Christ is asking you to stop. Die to your self effort. Tell the truth to God, He knows it anyway. He will welcome you and walk you to the gate of Salvation.
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