Dear Elizabeth Jordaan

I think you need to read the 10 articles written by Tom Lessing on Andrew Murray in the below link – they are extremely enlightening.

Andrew Murray the Mystic

You said “The Orthodox section of the Dutch Reformed Church had never condoned Freemasonry”

It’s interesting because John Calvin was a Jesuit Freemason who brought Calvinism to South Africa through the Huguenots. The reformation/Calvinism was born out of Freemasonry. John Calvin received his doctrine from St. Augustine’s writings (who is hailed ad the father of the Roman Catholic Church) who too was a Jesuit Freemason.

Here is quote from the book Freemasons of South Africa written by leading Masonic Historian A.A. Cooper: Quoted from Freemasons of South Africa by A.A. Cooper. Chapter 10. Between the wars. Under the heading: Attacks on Freemasonry. Page 152.

In a lively correspondence in Die Kerkbode Powell set out to refute these charges, pointing out that “Dr Andrew Murray and Sir John Brand, to say nothing of the hundreds of ministers of the Anglican and other churches who are, or were Freemasons, had succeeded in reconciling their Christianity with their masonic labours”.

Powell then invited the authorities of the church to relax their ban on Freemasonry so that its ministers who were desirous of becoming Freemasons might be initiated. If they found anything in the Craft to conflict with their civil, moral or religious duties, they would have perfect liberty to withdraw, he added.

His naming of Dr Andrew Murray as a Freemason raised a storm of protest from church leaders who were adamant that their founder was not a Freemason. They were correct for Powell, in his enthusiasm, had misread old lodge records and identified the wrong man.

Solid Proof that Andrew Murray was not a Freemason. A.A. Cooper could find no proof in any documents or lodge records that dr Andrew Murray was a Freemason.

Dear John Bannon.

Being a cheuvanist is a sin.

Maybe you’ll listen to Tom Lessing (a man) who wrote 11 articles exposing Andrew Murray.
https://www.discerningtheworld.com/category/pastors-teachers-speakers/a/andrew-murray/

Dear Jan

A quick question, are you a Calvinst?

Just a note Ecclesiastes 12 forms part of the 3rd Degree (Master Mason) ritual.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (ESV)

Point: Nothing escapes almighty God, not even Freemasonry. They have been warned!

Also take note of Jesus response in Luke 9:49-50 “49 John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.” (ESV)

and take note what Paul said in Philippians 1:15-18 “15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.” (ESV)

I have seen all the above in my lifetime but reminds myself of 1 John 2:27 “27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.” (NASB)

So, to be taught by the Holy Spirit means to me Galatians 5:25 “25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

The call to action is stipulate in Hebrews 12:14 “14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” and it is a lifelong process, and thus progressive.

My father on his death bed reminded me that there is two kinds of knowledge. You read the book the Bible and know about God and then you read the Word of God and spend time with Him in prayer and meditation and you get to know God through Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in you and you have fellowship with God. He gave me his Bible and it is priceless to read his notes.

Almost a reminder of Isaiah 28:13 “And the word of the Lord will be to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line,
here a little, there a little, that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.”

Suggested Reading matter “Pursuit of Holiness” by Jerry Bridges.

Hi Robert. I haven’t forgotten you. I am just battling to get other things done, things of a more mundane nature.

Sorry for two comments in one day, but I have gone a little further in his book Abide in Christ and have found some sentences that disturb me. This book Abide in Christ is particularly important because it was Murray’s debut book in English. His previous books were written in Dutch. In Chapter 7 “As Your Wisdom,” he definitely adopts a form of mysticism when he says the following:

“Study much to know the written Word; but study more to know the living Word, in whom you are of God.”

In that same chapter, he also used the word “providence” with a capital “P,” as if to indicate that “Providence” is “God.” It might just be a coincidence, but “providence” is an important word in Freemasonry. Here is what he said:

“All that you can wish to know is perfectly clear to Him. As Man, as Mediator, He has access to the counsels of Deity, to the secrets of Providence, in your interest, and on your behalf. If you will but trust Him fully, and abide in Him entirely, you can be confident of having unerring guidance.”

Again, in the same chapter, he speaks of only being led by the “heavenly light.”

“Yes, abide in Jesus as your wisdom. Seek to maintain the spirit of waiting and dependence, that always seeks to learn, and will not move but as the heavenly light leads on.”

Similarly, just a few sentences later he says something equally disturbing:

“Remember that the teaching and guidance come not from without: it is by His life in us that the divine wisdom does His work.”

Holy Scripture is supposed to be our guide. Remember what the Psalmist said: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105). Murray’s advice about not accepting guidance “from without” nullifies the importance of the Scripture.

I feel disappointed, but I have to accept the truth about Murray’s mysticism. I feel that his book Humility has many valuable teachings and I would still like to recommend it, but I will have to go through it again. If I do recommend it, it will be with a word of caution about his mystical influences. I don’t want to draw any hasty conclusions about him being a Freemason, and I am really hoping that he was not, but I will take caution with Murray moving forward.

Thank you for drawing my attention to Andrew Murray. I still can’t accept all of your conclusions, but if it weren’t for your website, I might have been unconsciously deceived by his mystical teachings. Thank you.

Thank you for your gracious and humble reply. If you can find any other information, I would certainly be interested in it.

I got a copy of one of his biographies by Vance Christie, which says the following in regard to Murray’s attraction to Christian mysticism:

“Murray’s appreciation for Christian mysticism led him to value not only the works of William Law, Dora Greenwell and Frances Bevan, but also the biographies of Madame Guyon, Catherine of Siena and Saint Teresa of Avila. Other writers whose works Murray admired included Alexander Whyte, P.T. Forsyth, Bishop Handley Moule, John R. Mott, Charles Wagner, A.E. Garvie, W.M. Clow and the German professors Harnack and Eucken. During the latter years of his life Murray collected many works on prayer, being especially impressed with W. Arthur Cornaby’s Prayer and the Human Problem and E.M. Bounds’s classic Power through Prayer.”

Murray was particularly influenced by William Law and even republished some of his works. However, in the same biography, it also says that Murray tried to distance himself from what he thought were false teachings of Law:

“Murray, however, did not embrace all of Law’s teachings, as the latter’s mysticism had led him to depreciate the value of Scripture, minimize the worth of the Church as a visible divine institution, deny the imputation theory of the atonement, reject the doctrine of divine sovereignty in election and predestination, and manifest a definite pantheistic tendency. In Murray’s prefaces to his first two collections of Law’s writings, he dissociated himself from the mystic’s unorthodoxy. In introducing the 1895 collection, The Power of the Spirit, for instance, Murray states:
In publishing a new volume of Law’s works I owe a word of explanation to the Christian public, and all the more because some with whom I feel closely united have expressed their doubt of the wisdom of giving greater currency to the writings of an author who differs markedly in some points from what we hold to be fundamental doctrines of the evangelical faith. … It is because I believe his teaching to supply what many are looking for that I venture to recommend it. I do so in the confidence that no one will think that I have done so because I consider the truths he denies matters of minor importance, or have any sympathy with his views.”

I certainly want to guard myself against mysticism. And for this reason, I stopped reading the writings of people like A.W. Tozer. As for Murray, I was blessed by his book Humility and have found it quite devotional. I don’t think it delves into mysticism, but it is a rather short book. I am currently going through Abide in Christ, and although I have found a few points of disagreement, those points concern commonly debated theological issues, not mysticism. Of course, Murray has written thousands upon thousands of pages, so my superficial knowledge of him is not sufficient to draw any conclusions.

I would be very interested in learning about his direct involvement in Freemasonry, if there is sufficient evidence to show that such involvement exists. If it does exist, I would be quite disappointed, but would have to accept the truth regardless.

Since you seem quite confident in your own research, I will be extra cautious while going through Murray’s books, especially when it comes to my devotions.

Thank you for your time and efforts.

Hi Robert. Thank you for your comment. There is sufficient evidence that Murray was not only a mystic but also that some of his mentors were steeped in Freemasonry. Makes you think, doesn’t it? But, of course, you would need solid proof of this, which I too, as a researcher, must respectfully take note of. So, please be patient and I will supply you with more solid info on the matter, hopefully soon, but not too soon.