Pilgrim Ponderings

Why Pilgrims? Chapter One

By John Boda

Hi....I'm a Christ - Follower....and a

Pilgrim....a sojourner....a wayfaring stranger.....am I being redundant? Yes! They really are all the same thing, however, the tragic thing is that most people, sadly, most Christ - Followers, don't know that all these terms are mutually interchangeable. Enter this Grace note on-line series!

 I strongly feel that someone should try to clear the air and uncover some hidden scriptural realities that somehow got lost and buried within our post-modern culture. I am very aware that some others have done this, and I thank God for them and their work! But of the few I have found, although very well written and helpful, were also quite lengthy and tried to cover an enormous amount of material.( Which of course is a very real danger for all of us who have something to say, and a passion to say it!) What I've tried to do here is post some thinking-out-loud type of ponderings on this important subject. Some of the material will be deep and require going deep into scripture in the original language, but I will try hard to be focused and brief, and believe the outcome will be well worth it!

Why Pilgrims?

When my business was first incorporated nearly a dozen years ago, I needed a good name. One of my first ideas just stuck and became the name of the corporation forever - Pilgrim Productions Inc.

Upon my weekly visits to the bank depositing checks made out to that name, I have encountered, nearly weekly, questions as to the nature of my business, along with questions like,” So just what is a pilgrim?" and "What do pilgrim's produce?" (I say "nearly weekly" questions because I routinely travel to many different branches of my bank each week.)

Sometimes, when I'm just in a hurry, I come up with some quick witted sarcastic remark which even further leaves them wondering more. But more often, I have come to believe it is my responsibility as a Christ - Follower, and especially as one who chose that name, to give a good answer which gets people thinking, at the least.

The word "Pilgrim" in the New Testament is Parapidemos.- it comes from two words:

1. Para - close or along side

2. Demos - A stranger

My Greek lexicon states that it indicates not just one who is passing through, but a foreigner who has settled down, however briefly among the native people.

(Another good definition is "a resident stranger")

In most modern translations, it is translated as "stranger" rather than "pilgrim", once again to drive home my point that most people today have very little concept of what a Pilgrim is! (I will quote from a translation which uses Pilgrim)

In Hebrews 11:13, in speaking of the great hall of faith people of the past, it says;

These all died in faith not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (NKJ)

Another New Testament passage that is similar is I Peter 2:11,

Beloved I urge you as sojourners and Pilgrims to abstain from the fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. (NKJ)

Once again....Pilgrims! (Didn't you know Thanksgiving originally was an old Jewish feast?)

For the Old Testament, it appears there as well but of course based from a different word in Hebrew -

Maguwr (Take that spell-check!)

It is pronounced - Maw-goor.

......mom and dad....I just had an awesome awakening and God converted me....I am now a

Maguwr!

If those parents are deep in biblical original words, and have studied Hebrew, they would say,

"Wonderful"!

Here are the key passages in the Old Testament with this word;

Blessed is the man whose strength is in you, whose heart is set on a pilgrimage.

Psalms 84:5 (NKJ)

Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. Ps 119:54

For we are aliens and pilgrims before you, as were all our fathers, our days on earth are as a shadow, and without hope. I Chron 29:15

So there you have it, now what are we to make of these things?

I believe my initial definition from the Greek word says it best, once again:

Not just one who is passing through, but a foreigner who has settled down, however briefly among the native people.

Notice it is not JUST one passing through this world! There was an old bumper sticker phrase from the Christian sub-culture that said,

"This world is not my home, I'm just passing through".

As bumper sticker theology often does, it lacks for depth! Yes we are passing through this world, and it is not our final home in its present state, but the true meaning of the word "pilgrim" or "stranger" goes further - we are foreigners who have settled down, however briefly, among the native people!

If you only have the idea of "just passing through", you will most likely want as little interaction among the natives as possible. The ultimate "just passing through" kind of guy, we might call a "hermit" or a "monk". Although some people choose this route, I challenge you to find any encouragement to do so from scripture! In fact, our ultimate example, Jesus, was no such thing! He was surrounded by people, and had to really try to get away occasionally from the crowds to pray! (Another example that we will look at in detail in this series is Abraham - also one who lived within this dual concept, and was not a hermit by any means)

Another pondering on a Pilgrim is the fact that they are on the move! Pilgrims are going somewhere, although they may not know or have the details exactly, they are going to a specific destination. This is the antithesis to another word -

Vagabond. A vagabond is an aimless wanderer who does not know where he/she is going! The best example of a vagabond, who is called that in most translations, is Cain. He was cursed to become a vagabond after he killed his brother Abel. (Or how about the aimless wanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness?)

Is it not good theology to consider the nation as a whole during that time as a "vagabond nation"? (I am aware that speaker/author Brennan Manning calls himself "A vagabond evangelist", which although I usually love his books, it is a minor irritation to me!)

Many years ago I spent nearly an entire month traveling throughout Israel. During my travels while there and also many times since upon my return, I have been asked why did you go? What was the reason for your visit? My initial first answer has always been the same - "I'm on a pilgrimage"!

Of course, an explanation always followed, which perhaps is also why I am excited about this series, hopefully getting the word out even more.

Basically, when one is on a pilgrimage, he/she is on a spiritual journey to a specific place.

If you embark upon a pilgrimage, you are going somewhere with spiritual implications, either during the journey, or the destination, but most likely, both!

In other religions, like Hindu, for example, millions of people go on a pilgrimage for the Hindu festival called Kumbh Mela, which occurs every twelve years. It is always held at a certain place in northern India at the convergence of three rivers. (Two are visible, one is not)

Other religions have their own pilgrimages to specific places for specific reasons. Even though I considered my Israel trip to be a pilgrimage, I was also aware of this fact:

For all Christ-followers, there is no need to embark on a pilgrimage to a certain place.

As Christ-followers, the moment we become one, we automatically embark on a life long pilgrimage, with a specific place in mind - The heavenly city - The New Jerusalem

It really is a paradox! At the moment of our new birth by faith in Jesus, our salvation is sealed. Yet, at the same time, all believers are called to be in a constant state of pilgrimage! (The Biblically correct terms for such things are justification, sanctification and glorification. Three separate works of God, past, present and future, yet all three are done and sealed, depending on our point of view, or God's)

While most religions, and sadly even many Christians, see a pilgrimage as something external, as a physical journey made to a specific place during a specific time, this is not the true Biblical picture at all. We really need to ask God to allow us to see and consider all our lives as a spiritual pilgrimage, as a spiritual journey, day by day, minute by minute, everywhere, all the time! Our pilgrimage can be a specific journey for a place and time, but if that's ALL it is, we miss the reality and panoramic picture.

The Nature of a Pilgrim

Faith to a pilgrim is like water is to a fish! The great faith chapter of the Bible, Hebrews eleven, is also where the concept of pilgrims and strangers are interwoven. I won't attempt to type it in here, so please take a moment to read it now, even if you've read it many times before.

OK, now let me try to summarize some basic characteristics of a pilgrim as seen in this magnificent chapter!

1. A pilgrim walks, lives and breathes by faith! Not a blind faith, but a living faith which sees the invisible, eternal realm and walks towards it.

2. A pilgrim is resolute in the fact that he/she is on a life long journey, with no roots in this present world.

3. A pilgrim does not dwell on what he/she left behind, or earthly opportunities lost. But constantly looks ahead and dwells on the present and onward.

4. A pilgrim does not hope for some pie in the sky, or even the old idea of heaven. But a pilgrim's driving hope is for the realization of the kingdom of God, which will be a reality as a real city called The New Jerusalem, ruled by the great king - Jesus.

5. A pilgrim's journey will involve suffering and trials, but he/she is in good company, not only of every believer currently, but of every one in the past to future, we are all linked together!

Rather than give specific verses which depict these qualities from Hebrews eleven, please read it again and confirm, or prove me wrong! Also, I'm sure that you could add many other qualities as well!

This is the first in a series of "ponderings" in which I hope to bring some light upon this beautiful reality of us as believers being pilgrims upon a pilgrimage.

There is much more to come in the next chapters, I hope you'll stay with me, and feel free to e-mail comments/questions/criticism, for another quality of a pilgrim is they are constant learners, with thick skin! (Or at least should be). JB