Robert wrote,

“For several months, I felt some regret about criticizing Andrew Murray because I found his book on Humility to be helpful.”

This is perhaps the most dangerous aspect of Murray’s books. To illustrate my point, I would like to refer you to Jude.

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:3-4).

The word for “crept in unawares” is “pareisdunō” which appears only here in the New Testament and means “to settle in alongside” or “lodge stealthily” without being noticed for the poison that it is. It is so subtle, so inconspicuous, so discreet, that it settles (puts down its roots so deeply) alongside the truth that everyone begins to absorb it as gospel truth.

It reminds one of Jesus’ warnings in Matthew chapter 23.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” (Matthew 23:1-3).

He didn’t cast any doubts on the purity of their doctrines but scolded them for their opposing lifestyle that did not add up to their doctrinal teachings. Mysticism of any shape or form is the very opposite of God’s doctrines. Murray boldly admitted this dichotomy when he wrote,

“Mysticism has been defined as belief in an immediate and continuous communication [interaction] between God and the soul, which may be established by means of certain peculiar religious exercises; as belief in an inner light, which may almost dispense with the written revelation.

This definition identifies mysticism too closely with its extravagances, its unsound developments, and overlooks that there is a mystical element in all true religion, both objectively in the revelation and subjectively in the faith.

According to common acceptation, mysticism is simply a one-sided development of that element.”

It is evident from what has just been said that it is not easy to define what mysticism is. It is not a system of doctrine.

It is found in all religious systems, in heathenism and pantheism, as well as in Christianity.

With the Church of Christ, it is not a sect or party; every Church has its representatives. In every complete Christian character, there is an element of mysticism. It is the outgrowth of a certain disposition or temperament, which ever seeks for the deepest ground or root of spiritual things. (Andrew Murray, “Introduction,” in Andrew Murray, ed., Wholly for God. The True Christian life. A Series of Extracts from The Writings of William Law (New York: Anson D.F. Randolph, 1893), xxi.).

What he in effect said, is:

Mysticism that seeks to enhance the immediate and continuous communication (interaction) with God by means of certain peculiar spiritual practices, is not entirely at variance with the written revelation (God’s doctrines).

When stripped of its extravaganzas, its unsound developments, and its unwarranted ignorance that there is an element of mysticism in all true religion (doctrinal purity), it becomes clear that mysticism is not a one-sided element of the abovementioned phenomena (heathenism and pantheism) but also has an honorable place in Christianity (together with its doctrinal statements).

And then like a lightning bolt from heaven Murray with unflinching vociferousness announces that mysticism is not a system of doctrines. It is in this doctrineless system of spirituality that the mystic “seeks for the deepest ground or root of spiritual things. ”

When last I chequed the Bible, it still says that Jesus Christ is the deepest ground of root of spiritual things. (John 14:6). He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last and not a Murrayunited mixture of doctrine and no doctrine. This is Pharisee ism at its very best as we find it in Matthew 23:1-3.

The quote from Jude 1:3-4 in connection with Andrew Murray seems to be rather harsh. How could anyone possibly associate him with sins such as “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.?”

Lasciviousness has many tentacles ranging from raw corrupt carnality (of which, I am sure Andrew Murray cannot be accused of) to several kinds of man-made religious practices that allegedly grant them entrance into the presence of God, one of which is mysticism and, as Murray admitted, is common in all pagan and pantheistic religions. In fact, as he wrote, it is not a system of doctrine. If this is not a denial of the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ, I don’t know what is.

It’s Robert. Thank you very much for taking the time to write all these articles exposing mysticism. For several months, I felt some regret about criticizing Andrew Murray because I found his book on Humility to be helpful. I had not checked your website for a while, so I was surprised when I found that you wrote several posts answering my questions. Thanks to your articles, I am now fully aware of the dangers of Andrew Murray’s teachings on the “higher life” and the mysticism that permeates his books. Murray’s books should be avoided by everyone, but especially by new Christians who are unaware of the risks of introspection and the dangers of becoming “too spiritual,” which can result in demon possession, mental breakdowns, pride, and the sin of seeking spiritual knowledge beyond the boundaries of God’s word.

In his Introduction to “Wholly for God,” Murray seems to suggest that the Apostle John was a mystic. But this is clearly wrong. Anything that might superficially appear to encourage mysticism in the Apostle John’s writings is grounded in objective truth, not subjective experience. For example, the famous “abide in me” teaching of Jesus is not an encouragement to seek an inner light and inner life with Jesus, but simply an admonition to keep His commandments and love one another. These are objective teachings. Jesus gives eternal life to anybody who believes in Him (via a child-like faith) and abides with anybody who keeps His commandments and loves His brother. It’s just that simple and does not require any mystical relationship, meditation, contemplation, or inner life introspection.

Thanks again.