Is Freemasonry A Religion?

Freemasons always deny that their organization is a religion but they meet all the requirements of a religion, as I demonstrated in my article, Freemasonry - An Occult Religion.”

Well, while still cleaning out old files I found a couple items about Freemasonry which I typed up many years ago, and which I decided to share on this blog.  This post will be the shortest of the articles, and when I get a chance to type out the other one it will be posted also.  It is unclear from the sheet if wrote the whole thing or copied some of it from some publication (this was done back when I had a typewriter, which would have been in the 1980s, and I didn’t make any notations as to whether I was citing anyone—it sounds like my writing).  Herewith is the first one:

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Albert Pike’s Morals and Dogma is described as the basis for Masonic philosophy.  This book identifies Masonry with the “Ancient Mysteries” and star worship.  It presents Masonry as an organization which thrives on tension, conflict, and revolution.  Pike notes that Masonry is in constant opposition to the Catholic Church:  “We do not admit that the Messiah was born in Bethlehem.”  Pike said that the writings of the apostles are only “articles of the vulgar faith.”  

Pike proclaimed that “every Masonic Lodge is a temple of religion; and its teachings are instruction in religion…. This is the true religion revealed to the ancient patriarchs, which Masonry has taught for many centuries, and which it will continue to teach as long as time endures.”

Pike also states that Masonry owes all its symbols and secrets to the Jewish Kabbalah.  He further states, “Masonry propagates no creed except its own most simple and sublime one; that universal religion, taught by nature and reason.”

[I had a copy of Pike’s book for many years but gave it away last year.]

R.W. Orlady, in his Address to the Craft, stated, “We are members of the universal religion…. As Christians, we worship God through Jesus Christ; as Parsees, through Zoroaster; as Mohammedans, through Mohammed; as Jews, through Moses.  We believe that in every nation, he that feareth God and works righteousness is accepted by Him…. We know that the end of our journey is the same.”

The Masonic publication New Age has said, “The kingdom of God is to be established among men by the evolution and development of man himself.”

The manual, Introduction to Freemasonry, states that, “The kingdom of heaven is within you.”  Other Masonic writings say, “Man is divine and his divinity is within himself,” and “When we talk to God we are talking to ourselves, for God and man are one and the same through the ties of love.”

It’s plain that Freemasonry is a religious system, but none of these writings are of Christian doctrine or thought!

Think About What You Sing

A friend who is still at the church we left a couple years ago keeps me informed about some of the unbiblical comings and goings there, including some of the poor choices of “worship” songs by the music leader they hired to help them change the direction of that church.

Well, this week they learned a new song — and as with virtually every other new song this music leader has brought in it is just another “radio song” which isn’t appropriate for congregational singing.  Of course, also like many others he’s brought in, there are some problems with the lyrics, which show the total lack of discernment on the part of the music leader — as well as by the members of the congregation who just accept this tripe without thinking about what the lyrics actually say.

With that ranting introduction, let’s look at the “new song”:

"Open Up The Heavens"

by Meredith Andrews

We've waited for this day

We're gathered in your name

Calling out to you

Your glory like a fire

Awakening desire

Will burn our hearts with truth

You're the reason we're here

You're the reason we're singing

[Chorus:]

Open up the heavens

We want to see you

Open up the floodgates

A mighty river

Flowing from your heart

Filling every part of our praise

Your presence in this place

Your glory on our face

We're looking to the sky

Descending like a cloud

You're standing with us now

Lord, unveil our eyes

You're the reason we're here

You're the reason we're singing

[Repeat Chorus]

[Bridge]

Show us, show us your glory

Show us, show us your power

Show us, show us your glory, Lord

[Repeat Chorus]

Before even analyzing the lyrics we can see there is the normal senseless repetition which is endemic to this type of song.  And of course there is a bridge for the musicians to “show their stuff.”

Open up the heavens, 

We want to see you

How does God open the heavens, and how are we to see Him?

Open up the floodgates

A mighty river

Flowing from your heart

Filling every part of our praise

Wow, this sounds very charismatic — they always have a “mighty river” flowing from God.  Okay, what “floodgates” is God supposed to open?  What is this “mighty river flowing” from God’s heart?  Is it that charismatic river of the Holy Spirit that we are always called to jump into?  And just how does whatever this river is go about “filling every part of our praise”?

Your presence in this place

Your glory on our face

We're looking to the sky

Descending like a cloud

You're standing with us now

Lord, unveil our eyes

Is God’s presence any more in the church building than anywhere else?  And how is God’s glory on our faces here?  And are those who are singing this song in the congregation really looking to the sky or are they looking at the inside of the building?  Is God/Jesus really descending like a cloud and standing right next to us?  If the author of the song, and anyone singing this nonsense, actually wanted the Lord to “unveil our eyes,” all they have to do is read the BIBLE!!

Show us, show us your glory

Show us, show us your power

Show us, show us your glory, Lord

How is God supposed to show us His glory?  How is God going to show us His power?  Does He not do this in His creation?  Again, this is charismatic nonsense which really is meaningless.

I listened to a YouTube of the author singing this song, and I can see where this song gives the congregation a chance to get all emotional and dancing around; the comments were about just how “powerful” this song is!

I looked up Meredith Andrews on the ‘net to see if she was associated with either Steven Furtick or Hillsong, since they are all the rage in the church today.  What I read about her was much like reading about Beth Moore — God gave both of them what they’ve written!  Yep, direct revelation from God.

“I never felt like I could write corporate worship songs, but that’s what I always wanted to do because I am a worship leader,” Andrews states. “So I just started asking the Lord for songs and I was like, ‘God I don’t just want songs to fill a record. I want to hear from heaven. I want to write your heart’ and I was just overwhelmed with the way the Lord answered and the songs that are on this record. This album, I feel, is the most authentic to who I am. I can’t believe the songs that we have and the way that God met us at every turn and the moments that we captured on this record.”  (My bold emphasis.)

Oh, and her pastor is/was James MacDonald.  That says a lot, especially when you know she was the worship leader (“worship” meaning only the songs, I guess).

Meredith may have talent, but the lyrics of this particular song don’t demonstrate a talent for anything making a whole lot of sense.  Ah, but it sure makes the congregation feel good, and that’s what is really important, isn’t it?

Beware of Receiving Error

The more error we receive, the more the ability to discern goes numb and then dies in us. It applies to us as individuals. It applies to churches.

Gregory Reid, The Progressive Disease of Spiritual Deception in Our Time

Good Biblical Interpretation

Let it be said at the outset … that the aim of good interpretation is not uniqueness; one is not trying to discover what no one else has seen before.  Interpretation that aims at, or thrives on, uniqueness can usually be attributed to pride (an attempt to “out clever” the rest of the world), a false understanding of spirituality (wherein the Bible is full of deep truths waiting to be mined by the spiritually sensitive person with special insight), or vested interests (the need to support a theological bias, especially in dealing with texts that seem to go against that bias).  Unique interpretations are usually wrong.  This is not to say that understanding of a text may not often seem unique to someone who hears it for the first time.  But it is to say that uniqueness is not the aim of our task.  The aim of good interpretation is simple: to get at the “plain meaning of the text.” And the most important ingredient one brings to that task is enlightened common sense.  The test of good interpretation is that it makes good sense of the text.  Correct interpretation, therefore, brings relief to the mind as well as a prick or prod to the heart.

Gordon Fee, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, pgs.13-14

Random Things Needing Discernment

Eight signs that your church is becoming a dictatorship.

Rick Warren’s wife Kay is now professing to have a vision from God.  She’ll tell you all about it for a fee.

Transubstantiation — what did Jesus really mean?

The Shack.  Book, now a movie, is about as heretical of a story as you can get.  I know the video is long, but very educational and eye-opening about how garbage like this spreads.  (Incidentally, Kent Hovind, a KJVO creationist teacher, promotes this heresy; Hovind is one I’ve long said was a bad teacher, and this proves it.)

Watchman Fellowship profile on The Shack demonstrates why the book and movie are theologically problematic.

Another excellent examination of The Shack.  It’s a 55 minute sermon, but well worth it. H/T to Mary Dalke

Doing missions without the gospel?!?

More evidence proving Jennifer LeClaire is a horridly false teacher — and what a totally unbiblical mess is Charisma Magazine!

The corruption of Christianity.

A cornucopia of Beth Moore’s false teachings.  I love it when people put all this stuff in one place.  The sad thing is that she’s coming to Cedar Rapids and many local churches are advertising for her!  No discernment at all in the leadership of these places.

Wow - Clayton Jennings’ victims are being blackmailed and threatened!

Be very careful about getting any theological teachings from celebrities such as Tim Tebow.  Like Tim, these celebrities usually have no discernment and no concern for protecting the flock.

Which Jesus does your Roman Catholic friend believe in?

Why you shouldn’t observe Lent.

The very sad state of so many churches out there today; it is no longer about Christ.

An atheist saw my article about Ravi Zacharias and emailed me about my concern.  This man has also been concerned about Ravi, but his concern is with Ravi’s credential claims.  He has a site dedicated to exposing false claims by Ravi; I reviewed his material and I have grave concerns over what he has exposed.  Ravi isn’t the first popular teacher to embellish his credentials, but it is really sad to see that he has done this.  For all his good teachings, I can’t see recommending him or his ministry as long as they don’t come totally clean; if you can’t trust him in such actions, how can you trust anything he says?

Some very good reasons to avoid any teaching by Sam Storms.

And lastly, Megachurch Stage Collapses Under Pastor’s Massive Ego.

We Are Responsible for Our Own Sin

While certainly things in our past can greatly affect us, especially parental influences, blaming another person for our sin is not biblical and will hamper spiritual growth.

Marie O'Toole, Redeemed From the Pit, pg.54

What If a Mega Church or Leader Has “Great Impact”?

Having a great impact has absolutely nothing to do with godliness or truth.  It has everything to do with ambition, money, and a willingness to embrace cutting-edge technologies.  The Mormon Church is making great strides evangelistically in America and around the world.  Islam is one of he most rapidly growing religions globally.  Both are very powerful and well financed, both are totally devoid of the blessing of God.

Robert S. Liichow, “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Kenneth Copeland (But were afraid to ask),” pg. 10

The Woman of Revelation 12 is NOT Mary

Of course I’ve known this for decades, but I thought this question and answer from Mike Gendron’s “Proclaiming the Gospel” email news (3/1/17) would be good for posting in case other people needed to know it!

Hi Mike. I enjoy listening to you on different radio programs. I was going to leave the Catholic church, but then I went back and I need your help. In Revelation 12 Catholics say the woman is Mary, but Protestants say it is Israel. I am very confused so please explain so I can understand. E. H., West Bend, WI

Dear E.H., You are right saying the traditional Catholic interpretation for the woman is Mary. That is why Mary is sometimes depicted in Catholic art as clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head 12 stars. However, John's reference to the sun, moon, and stars in his description of the woman is similar to the descriptions of Israel in Genesis 37. The 11 stars refer to the sons of Jacob, and the 12th star to whom the 11 bow is Joseph. This is a clear reference to the twelve tribes of Israel in Joseph's dream (Gen. 37:9-10). Israel is often represented as a woman (Isa. 26:18; 47:7-9; Jer. 4:31; 31:32; Ezek. 16:32; Hosea 2:16; Micah 4:9- 10). Therefore this is consistent with the woman as being Israel in Rev. 12. It is Israel, not the church that brings forth the male child who is the long awaited Messiah (verse 5) who will rule the nations with a rod of iron (Ps. 2:9). In Hosea, Micah, and Jeremiah, Israel is depicted as a woman in birth pains trying to bring forth a child. For centuries Israel has suffered these terrible pains awaiting the promises of the coming of Messiah, all the promises of God, way back to Genesis chapter 3 about a seed of a woman who would bless, not only the nation Israel, but all the nations. In Revelation 12, we see a woman being persecuted by Satan. Clearly, the woman cannot be Mary, because the woman lees into the wilderness for 3 1/2 years. The woman is the symbol of God's purpose for Israel.

Time For Some Good Stuff

Some interesting articles I’ve read recently, with some good information.

If you find it easy to be a Christian, you probably aren’t one.

A wolf in the house:  18 signs of apostasy in the assembly.

Biblically sound blogs by women.  Looks like with some you might encounter TULIPs, so use discernment.

A manifesto for the discerning Christian.

Don’t abandon the authority of Scripture. 

The early church vs Rome.  Good, short study.

How to deal with false teachers.

9 Truths about Sex and Marriage from Genesis 1-2

Five ways Christians should judge.

For Lent, give up Lent

Why what your church sings matters.

No, Saul did not become Paul — he was both all the time.

Who crushes Satan’s head in Genesis 3:15?

HUH?!?

This past Sunday (2/26) we ended our service at church with a short chorus — well it would have been short had it not been repeated three times.  But I wonder if the song leader gave much thought to the lyrics, because I found them confusing.  Here’s the song:

Oh, the Glory of Your Presence

by, Steven Fry

Oh, the glory of Your presence

We Your temple

Give You reverence

Come and rise from Your rest

And be blessed by our praise

As we glory in Your embrace

As Your presence

Now fills this place

Come and rise from Your rest

And be blessed by our praise

As we glory in Your embrace

As Your presence 

Now fills this place

The break in stanza to chorus is odd, or I guess it’s just one long chorus, but the breaks are still odd. 

Now, I have some questions:

What does it mean to tell God to “Come and rise from Your rest”?

How do we glory in God’s “embrace” and just how does He embrace us?

Is the phrase about God’s presence filling “this place” a charismatic idea?

Really, just what does this all mean?