01/02/2025
George Muller's Method of Determining Church Practice:
"He therefore determined to study the subject until he should reach a final, satisfactory, and scriptural conclusion; and thenceforth, whether led to defend___________(he was studying infant baptism vs. believer's baptism), to do it only on scriptural grounds. The mode of study which he followed was characteristically simple, thorough, and businesslike, and was always pursued afterward. He first sought from God the Spirit's teaching that his eyes might be opened to the Word's witness, and his mind illumined; then he set about a systematic examination of the New Testament from beginning to end. So far as possible he sought to rid himself of all bias of previous opinion or practice, prepossession, or prejudice; he prayed and endeavored to be free from the influence of human tradition, popular custom, and churchly sanction, or that more subtle hindrance, personal pride in his own consistency. He was humble enough to be willing to retract any erroneous teaching and renounce any false position, and to espouse that wise maxim: 'Don't be consistent, but simply be true.' Whatever may have been the case with others who claim to have examined the same question for themselves, the result in his case was that he came to the conclusion, and as he believed, from the Word of God and the Spirit of God...". Such experiences as these suggest the honest question whether there is not imperative need of subjection all current religious customs and practices to the one test of conformity to the scriptural pattern. Our Lord sharply rebuked the Pharisees of his day for making 'the commandment of God of none effect by (their) tradition,' and, after giving one instance, he added, 'and may other such like things ye do' (Matt. 15:6; Mark 7:8-13). It is very easy for doctrines and practices to gain acceptance which are the outgrowth of ecclesiasticism, and neither have sanction in the Word of God, nor will bear the searching light of its testimony. Cyprian has forewarned us that even antiquity is not authority, but may be only "vestus erroris"--the old age of erro. What radical reforms would be made in modern worship, teaching and practice--in the whole conduct of disciples and the administration of the church of God--if the one final criterion of all judgment were: 'What do the Scriptures teach?' And what revolutions in our own lives as believers might take place if we should first put every notion of truth and custom of life to this one test of scriptural authority, and then with the courage of conviction dare to do according to that Word--counting no cost, but studying to show ourselves approved! Is it possible that there any modern disciples who 'reject the commandment of God that they may keep their own tradition?"~"George Muller of Bristol" by A.T. Pierson, from "The Pulpit and the Pastorate", p. 60-62.
