Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Pilgrim’s progress shows a visual image of the world through the allegory of Vanity Fair. Throughout the book, the main character, Christian, who represents all Christians, must make his way to the Celestial City. One of the places on his journey is Vanity Fair which is a fair of all of the temptations of the world. Him and his companion, faithful, come out of the wilderness and are led to this city. God does not make them go around the city to avoid the temptations, but he commands them to go directly through the city. All of the people in Vanity Fair are worldly and are engulfed by the temptations of the world, they only seek pleasure and good times.
The goals and pleasures of the world are temporary and fleeting, but this great journey that all Christians are on is long term. The good things that are offered by vanity fair are not bad in and of themselves, but they are designed to move our eyes from God and onto the pleasures of this world. They serve as idols that take our attention away from God. We must keep our eyes on the eternal instead of the fleeting pleasures of the world that shift beneath us. Jesus calls us to set our eyes on him and place our hope not on our own powers but in his. Christians must realize that he is the ultimate goal and only then can we learn to live in the world but not submit to pleasures around us.
The bible speaks on this point when Jesus responds to a man who claims that he is able to drop everything to follow Jesus and Jesus responds by saying, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62). To follow Jesus is to set behind the pleasures of the world and follow him completely without looking back. This is why the world will always be counter cultural to the ways of God, because of this sacrifice that we must make in order to follow Jesus. To set our eyes on him and take up the work that he has called us to while forsaking the things that the world uses to distract us.
Another book based off of this town in Pilgrim’s progress is called Vanity Fair. This book is about a woman, Becky Sharp, who in Victorian England is trying to make it to the top. She started out with nothing and her only goal is to get on the top so that she can look down on those who doubted her. She is a deceitful, self-serving and cold character throughout the entire book. She gives everything to get on the top and orchestrates many schemes in order to do this, turning her back on her husband and child, showing coldness to all of who have been kind to her. In the end she is left with nothing. She is led by her own heart and ambitions and is easily led astray by the pleasures that the world offers. She chased the fleeting pleasure of fame and fortune and in the end of the book, she is left with nothing. Both of these books illustrate why the message of the gospel will always be counter cultural. The gospel seeks to glorify God and demands that Christians live for Christ and set aside their own selfish ambitions. The gospel pulls at the sinful nature of man and battle with our desires and rebellious sinful ways. It is offensive and violates the culture around us. Christianity is a religion of denying the flesh and selfish passions of the world and taking up the Godly ways of Jesus. In a culture of do what you want or do what you feel, this is still a revolutionary and unpopular choice for many.