Masons and the church

The fact there is an oath to secrecy to a secretive organization is enough to show Masonry is unbiblical.

A secret organization and Christianity are not compatible.

 

I've seen exmasons who were not affriad to disclose anything about the masons, when compared to scripture you can't miss how antibiblical it really is. theres no mistaking it possible.
But there are those who don't really care, and seek to cause other men to stray from the truth of God's word too.

 

I see that none of the admitted masons have addressed the questions I presented.... yet they defend masonry as not conflicting with their Christian faith.

Like SCB, I notice the lack of response to the question afirming masonic membership in the poll.

Some masons defend that their organization is not a secret organization but an organization with secrets. Though it seems like a play on semantics....... I've yet to hear a mason answer to the question....... if its an organization with secrets, what causes you to believe some secrets may not be kept from you?

Aren't the leaders addressed with the title of "worshipful"? How do you defend calling any person by this title and reconcile it with scripture?

Which would you protect and defend first (to those who are masons) the secrets of the lodge or your faith in Jesus Christ? How about where one contridicts the other...... can you with clear conscience still defend masonry?

What about the secret talk? If one is being honest, why not just say so rather than cloak it as being 'on the square'......... which CAN mean an honesty acceptible within the standards of masonry practice and oaths but not as complete or without reserve as an honesty before God?

 

Good question. I've known a few Masons, Elks, and Shriners. According to the masonic order, one should not hide one's membership. This is considered unmasonic. Same with the other organizations.

This is for each person do decide for himself if it compromises his faith. Most find it does not, but it's a personal decision. I college friend of mine was offerred a position with the FBI, but turned it down because he would be required to keep secrets from his wife. That was something he could not do. It was his own personal choice, and I supported it. Not every Christian would make the same choice.

 

I'm not a mason...but they sure do make fine jars for canning.

Whaddaya mean, "that's not the same thing...?"

:laugh:

 

As a former Mason (I had my name expunged) I believe the average Baptist is more ignorant (uninformed) about Masonry the they are about the Roman Catholic Church.

 

So please, inform us of what we don't know.

 

Being a mason will not conflict with your Christian faith if you do not have much Christian faith if any at all.

 

When I said "secrets," I meant spiritual material, or spiritual beliefs. So the FBI example is not what I had in mind and is another situation (though I see your friend's point).

An organization with spiritual secrets that members swear not to divulge is at odds with Christianity.

 

Why is it different? You don't even know what that secrecy means.

Cheers,

Jim

 

There is a difference between confidentiality, such as between a pastor and parishioner, and a counselor/doctor and patient, and keeping spiritual secrets of an organization.

I recently talked to a woman, a Christian, who is in a co-mason group (masonic groups for women). I asked her what they do and she said she couldn't tell me. I said, "why not?" She said, "Because it's secret." I asked, "Why?" She wouldn't say. I said to her that there is something wrong when she can't even share the practices and beliefs of an organization that she's in with another Christian.

Why do the Masons keep their teachings secret? What purpose does this serve?

Many ex-Masons have website that discuss the problems with Masonry. I'm putting these links here for those who would like to check these out.

Ex-Masons for Jesus
http://www.emfj.org/

Eph. 5:11 Ministries
http://www.ephesians5-11.org/

Testimonies of former Masons
http://www.emfj.org/testimon.htm

 

I read a website for a local Beni Kadem and something on the site struck me as very odd when I read it. In describing their meetings, the website basically said, "no one is harmed." The phrase about no one being harmed appeared more than once, and I wondered why they felt the need to stress that. If I invite someone to church, I don't try to convince them to join because it will do no harm to them. When invited to any other gathering, I don't need to ask whether or not I will come to personal harm while there.

I just thought it strange and kind of scary that those words were even used to describe their activities, as if to reassure the fearful.

 

A mason once answered my question about secrecy by asking "Do you share intement moments with your wife to others?"

 

I was a Mason for 30 years (32nd Degree) active and conferred different degrees. From the begining I had a problem with a statement in one of the rituals "We do not assert that he (Christ) was in the begining with God and was God amd as litttle do we deny it"). Being a born again Christian I did assert that he was God and had a problem with this. There are other things but this along with the teaching that we earned our eternal life ("our place in that Celestial Lodge in the sky") was enough for me to make the decision to ask that my name be removed (expunged) from the lodge.Also the masons promote government schools over private or home schooling. The majority of maons get through the first 3 degrees and never go any further and most of those don't attend lodge afterwards.

 

I wonder if Masons back in the 40s and 50s used the Dick Tracey decoder ring when giving secret messages back and forth.

 

New publication on Freemasonry available from SBC's North American Mission Board

1) "Freemasonry uses offensive, non-biblical, and blasphemous terms relating to God."

2) "Freemasonry insists on the use of 'bloody oaths' or obligation, which are strictly forbidden by the Bible (cf. Matt 5:34-37)."

3) "Freemasonry urges that occultic and/or pagan readings be used, and that their teachings be appropriated in interpreting such concepts as the Trinity."

4) "Freemasonry includes the Bible as part of the 'furniture of the lodge,' but only as an equal with non-Christian symbols and writings."

5) "Freemasonry misuses the term 'light' to refer to moral "reformation" as a means to salvation."

6) "Freemasonry teaches that salvation may be attained by 'good works' and not through faith in Christ alone."

7) "Freemasonry advocates in many of its writings the non-biblical teachings of universalism."

8) "In some of its lodges, Freemasonry discriminates against non-whites."

Also included is a fold-out "comparison chart" detailing positions of Freemasonry, Christianity and the Bible on the issues of "God," "Oaths," "Jesus Christ," "Salvation by Works" and "Inclusivism."

The "Closer Look" concludes by noting that while many Christians and leaders have been and are Masons, "several points of the lodge's teachings are non-biblical and non-Christian." It also states that "while Freemasonry encourages and supports charitable activities, it contains both multireligious and inclusivistic teachings that are not Christian in its religious instruction."

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I'm not a mason and would never join, mainly because our church forbids it. I know many masons from the trade union I'm a member of and also from the agency that I retired from. For the most part, they're likable 'good ol' boys' that stick together mainly for economic (job security and promotion) or other advantages, and, they never tire of telling of the good that's done for crippled children through the Shriner's hospitals. They 'run things', and, admiittedly, generally do a very good job at it, IMO. I've been openly recruited (I've heard they're not supposed to do that) to join on more than one occasion but have respectfully declined.

Because it's a secret society with religious connotations I believe any church would be justified to forbid membership. But it's not something I've lost any sleep over.