But Christian and Faithful behaved even more wisely and bore the humiliation and shame with so much meekness and patience that they won several of the men in the fair to their side (though few in comparison to the rest). This made the others so enraged that they decided the two men should die for what they had done and for deluding the men of the fair.

If you have read Pilgrim’s Progress, you are likely familiar with the town of Vanity Fair. If you have not read it, I encourage you to read it and to glean from John Bunyan’s allegory of the Christian life. This may sound funny, but I also enjoy watching the animated movie of this book. Having watched it several times, there are parts which stand out and leave me thankful for my precious Lord and Savior.

One of the scenes which stands out is when two of the characters, Christian and Faithful, are walking through Vanity Fair on their way to the Celestial City. These two men stood out like a sore thumb in this town both in their armor they were wearing having come from the Valley of Humiliation and in their language as God’s people. But the greatest thing that brought great contention against these men was their disinterest in the wares of this town.

Vanity Fair was a town representing the fallen world and its entrapments with lusts, pleasures, and distractions. It was a place where people indulged in personal desires and where great wickedness abounded. Bunyan wrote the fair came to be in Vanity when Beelzebub, Apollyon, and Legion took notice of pilgrims having to pass through the town on their way to the Celestial City, and because of this, they decided to set up the fair there where all sorts of vanity could be sold. The refusal of Christian and Faithful to buy anything but truth would lead to a trial, persecution, sentencing, and ultimately the violent death of Faithful at the hands of the townspeople.

The conduct of both men stood out the most and led to their dire consequences. These men were beaten, mocked, smeared with dirt and placed in cages for the crime of refusing vanity. Rather than return evil for evil, these men were patient toward those who mistreated them. They returned good words for bad and kindness for beatings. Their conduct caused further contention and rage among the people, leading to further beatings and mistreatment. It did not change their conduct, which led to several men coming to their side. Their willingness to conform to the image of Christ and to bear good fruit incited calls for death. They did not waiver, and the reward awaiting Faithful upon his death surpassed anything man could do to him.

Repay Not Evil for Evil

Thinking upon this story brings self introspection as a believer living in this world. In modern day culture, we face the looming threats of cancel culture, alienation for unpopular views, and hypocritical outrage as hearts grow cold in hearing the truth. There are times when we face true persecution for the sake of Christ. The vast majority of us living in the Western world cannot comprehend facing death for the sake of truth. The temptation is great to retaliate or to react in kind. But these men did not do that. If they had, they would have been no different than those who had beaten and mocked them. They would have succumbed to Vanity Fair, and Christ would not have been glorified in their conduct. Their demeanor and actions were outlandish to those in the town, but such are the thoughts when one is unregenerate and considers the cross folly.

I find myself thinking about my own conduct in situations that are trivial at best when compared to the suffering these men endured. What is the response to harsh treatment or unkind words? Would I glorify God with my actions in such a situation? I must acknowledge falling short more times than not. I want my heart to be circumsized for the Lord and to have His Word written on my heart. I want as you probably do to testify of Christ in all I do.

The marks of a true Christian are found in Romans 12 beginning with verse 9, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. And here comes the part we all struggle with the most. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 9-19)

Why is it we all struggle with this so much? Why is that we want to cancel someone else who wants to cancel us? Why do we want to repay evil for evil? We can learn so much from the allegory of Christian and Faithful. It is a picture of us walking through Vanity Fair, and when we face trials and troubles, we are to do it in joy. When we face harshness against the world, we are to do it with love and joy. We are to give glory to God, pointing people back to Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 3:9, 14-17 says, “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” As we go through “Vanity Fair”, may we testify of Christ in word and deed, and may we keep our sights set on our Lord and Savior who has shown us what it means to suffer well in this world.