I am honored that the editor of the book should place my testimony among the names of men and women who, at one point in my life I would certainly not have wanted my name to be associated with. I am honored to be among this Cloud of Witnesses. Surely pride is the leading cause for religious people not seeing the perfectly finished work of the Cross of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Messiah. Certainly pride was the great stumbling block which I stumbled over many times before the Lord finally humbled me enough to begin to see His marvelous ways. I, John Murray, was born at a time when religious study in England was at its highest. I studied under John Wesley and George Whitefield themselves.
At first, I was among the Methodists, but after carefully studying Mr. Whitefield’s system, I became convinced that “election” was the proper Scriptural view, quite in opposition to Mr. Wesley’s Arminian view centering around man’s so-called “free will.”
I came to realize that man’s will, according to Scripture and from nature itself, was not nearly as free as Mr. Wesley thought. After all, none of us “chose” to enter into this world of sin and death, did we? If one was to be told the conditions we would face here on earth and that most whoever chose to come to this planet would be eternally tortured after our stay here, I doubt that few would “chose” to begin such an experience. Better that we never existed. Yet none of us is given this “choice,” are we? Neither did we choose the condition of our bodies, our parents, our birth dates, the countries in which we were born, nor a host of many others things which effect our decision-making processes.
And so, Mr. Whitefield’s system of the Sovereignty of God, predestination, and election made much more Scriptural sense to me at that time.
I enjoyed the privilege of studying under some of the most outstanding preaching and teaching found in the Protestant sects of Christianity. It was during this time, however, the Lord sought to humble me to prepare me for doing something I would have dreaded while I was among London’s “best” Christian people.
After losing my most precious wife and our only child, the Lord found it necessary in His wisdom to destroy my financial resources too. I found myself after His humbling process with absolutely nothing. No family, no business, no friends, nothing. I desperately wanted death’s hands to lay my body to rest.
I had become weary of life. In this condition, I left England to hide in the wilderness of the New World. Little did I know then that all my misery and rejection by all my former religious friends in England would prepare me for what He would do through me in the New World.
Little did I know I would be traveling up and down the American Colonies during their formation to become the United States of America, preaching the Salvation of all mankind through the work of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Little did I dream that my presence in America would touch the lives of men like George Washington, signers of the Declaration of Independence like Benjamin Rush, and influential families like the Sargeant family. The rejection I received from my former religious friends would prepare me for the rejection I would receive from American “orthodoxy” in the colonies.
My preaching would become the seeds from which would grow hundreds of churches scattered all over America which declared the universal salvation of all mankind. Within one generation from my time on earth, there would be several hundred thousand people who would embrace what would become called at that time “Universalism.” Few Americans realize how much of their religious freedom rests upon the sufferings of men and women bold enough to break off the shackles of the “established” churches who wished to snuff out religious freedom in the colonies. Universalists, Baptists, Quakers, and a few other small Christian groups had to fight in courts and on the streets for your religious freedom. I knew religious persecution first hand.
But as I said, before all this would transpire in my life, the Lord first had to greatly humble me in England. My trust in religious systems had to be broken down and destroyed. The Lord chose to use the mouth of a babe to begin the process. Below is a recount of a conversation I had with a young lady I hoped I would set straight in her doctrines. She had accepted from a Mr. Relly, a preacher who was making quite a stir in London, the pernicious doctrine of Universalism. Prior to this conversation, I had never met the man, yet I despised him for the influence he was having among the citizens. I thought it would be quite a simple matter to set this young deceived babe straight. Little did I know that I was the one who needed straightening out. Once my pride was reduced a little further, I would eventually attend Mr. Relly’s meetings personally and find there, (and not at Mr. Wesley’s and Mr. Whitefield’s meetings) the True Gospel delivered once for all mankind. Below is the conversation I had with the young damsel I thought was in distress and whom I hoped I would deliver from the clutches of Mr. Relly.
I went to visit her and after the first ceremonies, we sat for some time silent; at length I drew up a heavy sigh, and uttered a pathetic sentiment, relative to the deplorable condition of those who live and die in unbelief; and I concluded a violent declaration, by pronouncing with great earnestness, He that believeth not shall be damned.
“And pray, sir,” said the young lady, with great sweetness, “Pray, sir, what is the unbeliever damned for not believing? Why, he is damned for not believing.”
“But, my dear sir,” she asked, “what was that, which he did not believe, for which he was damned?”
Why, for not believing in Jesus Christ, to be sure.
“Do you mean to say that unbelievers are damned for not believing there was such a person as Jesus Christ.”
No, I do not; a man may believe there was such a person, and yet be damned.
“What then, sir, must he believe, in order to avoid damnation?”
Why, he must believe that Jesus Christ is a complete Saviour.
“Well, suppose he were to believe, that Jesus Christ was the complete Saviour of others, would this belief save him?”
No, he must believe that Jesus Christ is his complete Saviour; every individual must believe for himself that Jesus Christ is his complete Saviour.
“Why, sir, is Jesus Christ the Saviour of any unbelievers?”
No, madam.
“Why, then, should any unbeliever believe, that Jesus Christ is his Saviour, if he is not his Saviour?”
I say he is not the Saviour of any one, until he believes.
“Then, if Jesus be not the Saviour of the unbeliever, until he believes, the unbeliever is called upon to believe a lie. It appears to me, sir, that Jesus is the complete Saviour of unbelievers; and that unbelievers are called upon to believe the truth; and that, by believing they are saved in their own apprehension, saved from all those dreadful fears which are consequent upon a state of conscious condemnation.”
No, madam; you are dreadfully, I trust not fatally, misled. Jesus never was, never will be, the Saviour of any unbeliever.
“Do you think Jesus is your Saviour, sir?”
I hope he is.
“Were you always a believer sir?”
No, madam.
“Then you were once an unbeliever; that is, you once believed that Jesus Christ was not your Saviour. Now, as you say, he never was, nor ever will be, the Saviour of any unbeliever; as you were once an unbeliever, he never can be your Saviour.”
He never was my Saviour till I believed.
“Did he never die for you, till you believed, sir?“
Here I was extremely embarrassed, and most devoutly wished myself out of her habitation; I sighed bitterly, expressed deep commiseration for those souls who had nothing but head-knowledge; drew out my watch, discovered it was late; and, recollecting an engagement, observed it was time to take leave.
It is really much easier for an unbeliever to see the truth of the ultimate redemption of all mankind than it is for one who has been indoctrinated into the major “orthodoxy’s” of Christendom. The Roman Catholics trust a man in the form of the Pope who they have exalted to a position of God on earth. The Arminians (most of Protestantism) have put their faith in the “free-will” of man, thereby accrediting their salvation to their decision to choose Christ. The Calvinists draw their pride from their teaching that God has “elected” them for eternal bliss, while He has not chosen the vast majority of mankind. Unfortunately, Calvinists do not know what they were chosen for. They are quite mistaken in this regard. Nevertheless, Calvinism breeds perhaps one of the highest forms of pride known to mankind. Having partaken of the pride myself, I still have a very bitter taste in my mouth from this poison which blinds the eyes and makes one deaf to spiritual truths. The Greek and Russian Orthodox branches of Christendom follow the pride of Roman Catholicism except that they divide the power among several “patriarchs” instead of a single Pope.
All of these systems have a common characteristic: man is exalted at the expense of God’s character and power. Only true humility will unblind the religious man to see the errors of his system. By far, the leading characteristic lacking among Christians of all faiths is humility, brokenness of heart, a contrite spirit, compassion for all brothers and sisters throughout the world in all generations.
I came to realize that it is nearly impossible for Christianity to attain this humility apart from seeing the salvation of all creation through the finished work of God Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. Christianity simply will not be able to deliver the goods of the kingdom apart from destroying the false foundations upon which it is presently built. It is built upon the fear of man and the exaltation of man.
If one seeks to be conformed to His humility, one must be delivered from the fear of what men think. This can be quite a devastating experience in one’s life. It certainly was in mine. However, if we want to experience in our hearts what we often voice half-hearted with our mouths (that we want to be an expression of His life); if this cry comes from a truly sincere heart, it will lead to the destruction of all the fore-mentioned religious systems. Religious man is afraid of this destruction. Pride is a powerful force, especially in places of power like the political, religious, and economic communities.
Human beings are very much a “herd” animal like sheep. They are easily moved to follow shepherds pursuing their own lusts and not the interests of their Lord Jesus Christ.
To both shepherds and sheep I say, You do not know the blessings you are missing working in religion rather than the true kingdom built upon the righteousness of our Lord. Yes, there is a big difference. His ways are so much higher than ours. Walk away from the high towers of religion which do not united us under the headship of Jesus. He will restore to you much more than you ever could have built on your own. What you build in your own strength will all one day come down anyway-why prolong the day? Do it today. Cry out to the Lord of all to make room in your hearts for His humility. Make a cry from the heart inviting the Holy Spirit to put a torch to all that you have put your hand to do for Him that you might see what is really of Him-that you might be able to discern what has been built upon the pride of man, the fear of man, and the traditions of man. Remember, it was because Jesus suffered the shame of the cross that He was exalted above all men.
Pick up your cross. Put the works of the flesh to death and He will lift you up. Place your religious life upon the altar sprinkled by the most precious blood of the Savior of all mankind. Ask for strength and boldness that you might be able to break free from supporting and participating in systems which will come to naught. Why prolong the inevitable? Why delay the fire which will test all foundations? Invite the Spirit of Truth to lead you into all Truth.
Do not place your confidence in numbers. God was not pleased with David when he numbered his people to see how large his army was. David had forgotten that his strength came from the Lord and not from his army.
Jesus said there was something more powerful than the word of God: ‘You have made the commandments of God on no effect by your traditions.’ (Matt. 15:6) Surely, the power of the Wesleyian and Calvinist traditions had held the power of God in my life in check until I was delivered from such systems.
Remember, if you follow in His footsteps, you will taste of His suffering. Those who have embraced the teaching of the salvation of all mankind through Jesus Christ will learn what it means to be rejected by your own brothers and sisters. But this only opens the door to love as Jesus loved. Herein one will discover the suffering for His Names’ sake at the hands of one’s own friends. But herein also is the opportunity for Jesus to draw nigh to you and give you a comfort which words cannot describe. There is a price for believing and declaring the drawing power of the Son of God who said,
“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all mankind unto Myself.” (John 12:32)