We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum. A.W. Tozer
Therefore let God-inspired Scripture decide between us; and on whichever side be found doctrines in harmony with the word of God, in favor of that side will be cast the vote of truth. --Basil of Caesarea
Once you learn to discern, there's no going back. You will begin to spot the lie everywhere it appears.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service. 1 Timothy 1:12

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Freemasonry - An Occult Religion

One of my readers asked if I knew anything about Freemasonry, and if I would write an article about it.  I learned about Masonry because of the Mormon Church’s association with it; the temple garment has Masonic symbols and much of the temple ceremony was copied from Masonic rituals.  This was because Joseph Smith was a Freemason, and most of the men of Nauvoo were also Freemasons.  Since I began in-depth studies of Mormonism 40 years ago, it was important for me to learn what I could about Freemasonry.  I have over a dozen books on Freemasonry, written by Masons, ex-Masons, and Christian apologists — including Albert Pike’s tome, “Morals and Dogma.”

There is much information on the internet, as well as in any good library, which will allow anyone to completely familiarize themselves with Freemasonry.  Therefore, for this short article I’m only going to highlight some of the beliefs and practices which are incompatible with Christianity — and the reason why no Christian should be a Mason.

First, I would like to point out that, contrary to many legends and myths of Freemasonry, it is not alluded to in the Bible, nor does it have its origins in the building of Solomon’s temple, nor is it rooted in pagan religions found in the Bible.  Instead, it emerged in the 1700s.

Members of Freemasonry vehemently deny that the Masonic organization is a religion, claiming that it is nothing more than a fraternal organization.  Yet well-known Masonic authors Henry W. Coil and Albert Pike even admit that Freemasonry is indeed a religion.

Proof that Freemasonry is a religion can readily be seen in these facts:

  1. They require a belief in a supreme being.
  2. Their meeting places are in temples.
  3. They have doctrines, including a way of salvation by works.
  4. They have altars and pulpits in their temples.
  5. They have religious ceremonies, rituals, prayers, readings from sacred literature, singing hymns, and even funeral services.
  6. They have chaplains.

Albert Pike stated that “every Masonic Lodge is a temple of religion, and its teachings are instruction in religion.”  In his “Morals and Dogma,” Pike even stated that “the ministers of this religion are all Masons who comprehend it and are devoted to it; its sacrifices to God are good works.

Albert Mackey, in his “Encyclopedia of Freemasonry,” says, “the most important article of furniture in a Lodge room is undoubtedly the altar. . . . It is an altar of sacrifice, for on it the candidate is directed to lay his passions and vices as an oblation to the Deity, while he offers up the thoughts of a pure heart as a fitting incense to the Grand Architect of the Universe.  The altar is, therefore, the most holy place in a Lodge.” 

Let it also be pointed out that the holy book on the altar of the local temple will be the holy book of the culture surrounding that temple; i.e., the holy book may be the Bible, the Qur’an, the Upanishads, Vedas, etc.  The initiate may take his oath on the holy book of his own religious belief.  The idea is that all Masons can be in fellowship no matter what god they worship.  However, a Christian is to NEVER condone any other religious belief system because they are contrary to God’s teachings and are idolatrous.

The chaplain of the Masonic Lodge who prays as the voice of the lodge does not pray in the name of the Carpenter of Nazareth or the name of Jehovah or the name of Allah.  He prays to the Grand Artificer or the Great Architect of the Universe.  Under that title men of all faiths may find each his own deity.”  Albert Pike, Morals and Dogma.  But this god is NOT the God of the Bible.

Along the line of Masonry being a religion, I discovered that not only do they have temples but they also have Cathedrals!  These photos are of the Cathedral in Moline, IL, which I discovered when I was in Moline for band practice.  Notice the structural similarities to Roman Catholic cathedrals.

Initiation ceremonies often include occult practices.  The initiate must claim he is in darkness and looking for “light of Freemasonry” - a spiritual light - yet Scripture says the only spiritual light for the darkness is Christ.  The initiate must present himself to a “Worshipful Master,” and yet there is no man who is “worshipful.”  He is also required to take a barbaric blood oath to keep secret the teachings he learns; blood oaths which are required for every degree of Freemasonry.

An example of the blood oath for the first degree is this:  “All this I most solemnly, sincerely promise and swear, with a firm and steadfast resolution to perform the same, without any mental reservation or secret evasion of mind whatever, binding myself under no less penalty than that of having my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by its roots, and my body buried in the rough sands of the sea, at low-water mark, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four hours, should I ever knowingly violate this my Entered Apprentice obligation.  So help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same.

This is an extremely unbiblical oath, and to seek God’s help in keeping it is nothing less than blasphemy.

With each degree, the oath includes more penalties, such as having one’s left breast torn open, heart plucked out and given to be eaten by beasts and birds; body severed in two, bowels burnt and scattered; etc.

Masons believe salvation is though hard work and keeping the principles and teachings of the Lodge, and living ethically.  Yet Scripture says that our works are as filthy rags to God (Isa. 64:6) and that we can find salvation only through the work of Christ.

Freemasonry’s connections to the occult include connections to the Kabbala and the mystery religions of paganism, references to each being found often in Masonic literature.

While an Entered Apprentice, and even up to the third degree Mason, may give little thought to the blood oaths and think the whole thing is just a lark, in order to be a Shriner, one must have arrived at the top level in Masonry, which means they know all the “secrets” and have taken many blood oaths and practiced the occultism commensurate with their standing.  Even more abhorrent is that Shriners make a pretense at being Muslims, with the Fez and other Arabic attire.  This in itself is idolatry in that it is paying homage to the god of Islam, let alone aiding the propaganda about Islam being peaceful.

I trust this small taste of what Freemasonry is about will convince you that it is an organization in which Christians have no business participating.

10 comments:

Neil said...

Thanks for sharing that. My grandpa used to go to his Masonic lodge in a small town in Missouri. I didn't think anything of it at the time (I was a non-believer and it just looked like a social club to me). Hope he wasn't into that creepy stuff. He always seemed like an authentic believer.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Well, there are many Christians who are Masons, because they live with intellectual schizophrenia. The lowest degree Mason - the Entered Apprentice - must take that blood oath, but so many people claim it it just for fun and not serious. My question then is why the would ask God's help in keeping said oath if it wasn't serious!

Anonymous said...

Thank-you for this clear, concise article concerning freemasonry. All of which you have stated is true as it relates to the research I have conducted within the last five years. In essence, a social club they may appear to be, however, it is a CULT practicing the occult, shrouding itself as an angel of light by the good works they do. Masons proudly display their good works through boasting and bragging, using all forms to media to promote "the good works they perform," which is in contrast to Matthew 6.

Currently, a freemason has become a attending member of my former church. During my husband's Bible study, this man clearly denied everything you mentioned in this article, stating "Freemasonry is a good organization, made up of many good Christian men who desire to perform good deeds. There is nothing bad about masonry."

So you see, the occult is very much alive and well within the institutional church systems disguising itself as light and brainwashing those who have no idea what freemasonry entails. But then again, it is not surprising as this is what a deaconess told me when I questioned yoga, "We can accept yoga just as long as they don't do the meditation part." Now, my former church has a yoga guru leading the youth group......and the people love it so.

In the end, I see the organized church leading the way for persecution against true born again believers and followers of Jesus Christ, our Risen Savior. I may be wrong, and I hope I am, but when your former church accepts the movie "Heaven is For Real" as sound doctrine, I have this sick feeling in my soul, that eventually I may be right.

May God continue to pour out His mercy and His grace upon a people who seem to have lost their way.

Doug Evans said...

Thank you very much for the commentary. This is something I've known more through the Holy Spirit than by comparing their occultism against scripture. Your article shines the light of God's word on their occult practices in a way that can't be ignored. Oddly I've actually attended an evangelical church which meets in a Masonic Temple and have met dyed-in-the-wool pagans who are members of the Masons and I could never understand why.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

A church which meets in a Masonic temple and dares to consider itself "evangelical"?!?!?!

There are events, organizations, etc which I refuse to provide my music for because it would be giving tacit approval for such activities. I have turned down jobs for this reason, and playing for anything to do with Freemasonry has been included in my, "Sorry, my conscience won't allow me to do that."

Joe said...

I've had Masons in some of the churches I've served in. Better not say or imply anything bad about the Masons in those churches. Masons are just a little higher than Jesus, in their own imaginations.

Unknown said...

I would highly suggest a reevaluation... Might I suggest A Pilgrims Path by John J Robinson. The book was written before he joined the lodge, and discusses in depth all of the charges that were mentioned above.

Might I also mention, as a fellow Christian, that a reevaluation of the "Christian ceremonies" that are partook of in Church might be necessary. Especially the holidays, are not the origins blasphemous and pagan? "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Unknown,

I've been studying Freemasonry for about 35 years now, so I don't need any new books to know the truth about it. Freemasonry is a religious cult - period.

IF you are a "fellow Christian," then you are WRONG to support Freemasonry. PERIOD.

And, no, the holiday celebrations used by the Church (not talking about Santa or the Easter bunny) are NOT of pagan origin. That nonsensical claim is right out of the KJV Only playbook, with the leader Jack Chick. If you look over my blog, you will find article addressing such claims.

I have no plank in my eye. But you have a lack of education on these topics.

Unknown said...

Labeling a scriptural ideology "Evangelical" as wonderful & righteous is folly as well as calling Masonry benign.

I came from an Evangelical background 65 yrs of it ~ Glad I'm out. Every religion makes stuff up. Apparently we are not to follow the God who made earth & created all. I choose to follow the Commandments of The All Mighty.

God said & Yeshua (who only did the Will Works & Words of His Father) said "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." So we throw out REMEMBER THE SABBATH &
KEEP IT HOLY. God said, "If we reject one commandment we've rejected all." So we choose to do the words of the VATICAN {which means divining serpent}. Figure that out.

Yeshua said, "I did not come to abolish the law ~ I came to fulfill the law..." is twisted by Evangelicals to say that we know longer follow the commandments ~ Jesus changed that. Which he did NOT. HE CAME TO FULFILL. Evangelicals
twist the Set Apart words.

Follow the true Father always. Believe in Jesus\Yeshua with all heart soul mind.

Yeshua taught the LAW (TORAH) why would anyone think He taught the new Covent when it wasn't written for about 300yrs after Yeshua's death and resurrection? Baptists Methodists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Catholics all MAKE STUFF UP rather than follow the scriptures. Masonry is just one more abberation & twist of truth.

I pray that we all wake up to the fullness of our Divine Father ~ Yeshua & Beautiful Set Apart Spirit.


Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Unknown, 5/9/21

“Evangelical” means one who practices “evangelism,” i.e., preaching the gospel, evangelizing. That ideology is indeed righteous and wonderful, regardless of the fact that many people abuse the term — the term is good, the abusers aren’t.

Nowhere does this post suggest Masonry is benign. So why even bring that up?

Just because you had a bad experience with a supposed evangelical background, that doesn’t make evangelical churches bad. Evangelism is preached in the New Testament and not made up by man.

Do you really choose to follow ALL the commandments of God, ALL the ones He gave to the Jews? Do you really believe you follow the commands without sinning?

The command about the Sabbath was/is only for the Jews, the people of Israel, as I PROVE here: https://watchmansbagpipes.blogspot.com/2010/05/are-christians-required-to-keep-sabbath.html

And just who are the “we” you claim “to do the words of the VATICAN”? And, no, the word doesn’t mean what you claim it means.

You sound very much like a legalistic KJV Only heretic.