The Masonic Lodge / Freemasonry

Have you contacted or checked out any of these ministries made up of former Masons like yourself?

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

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

Order of Former Freemasons
http://www.fish4masons.org/home.html

 

Yes Marcia I have checked them out. In fact one of my friends has a column posted fish4masons.org. It was a newspaper column that got me to thinking about my own letter. Since some have asked here is a copy of what I sent:

To the Master, Officers and Members
Dear Friends,

It is with regret that I submit my resignation from all Masonic bodies. I have taken this step in spite of the fact that I value very deeply the friendships and associations I have developed within Masonry over the years.

I had delayed in paying my yearly dues to see what kind of decisions North Carolina Masons would make this year.

Recent decisions taken at the 216th Grand Lodge Annual Meeting show that Masonry in North Carolina is still mired in a river of racism. The continual refusal by members of the Grand Lodge of AF & AM of North Carolina to recognize Masonic members of the Prince Hall Lodge is a sad commentary on what was once a respected organization. Racism should not be practiced, nor should it live in the hearts, of good, upstanding, moral men of our state.

I also take offense to the referring of Christians who may criticize some of the teachings of masonry as “religious fanatics” which was done in the latest edition of the North Carolina Mason. Since becoming a Christian in 2001, I too have had doubts about whether Masonry was compatible with Christianity when members are required to swear oaths on a Bible and refuses to acknowledge Jesus Christ as our savior.

Our Lord said that "He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." (Matthew 12:30)

Masonry refuses to confess Jesus before me, and Jesus has warned that "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33)

Masonry establishes itself as a complement to ones church, which sounds fine. But while Jesus commanded us to "teach all nations" (Matthew 28:19-20) and to preach the gospel to everyone (Mark 16:15), Masonic etiquette forbids me, as a Christian from sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with my non-Christian brothers within the lodge.

Jesus also commands us to swear no oaths (Matthew 5:34-37) and these sentiments are affirmed by James (5:12). Yet the taking of solemn oaths is at the very heart of Masonic ritual. Likewise the apostle Paul commands that believers in Jesus not be "unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14)

While Freemasonry teaches the unity of God, it does not center on the God of the Bible and His only son, Jesus Christ... while the Bible is honored, it is not viewed as the sole rule of truth. Good works and virtue are seen as the key to heaven within the teachings of the craft, not a belief in Jesus.

While I have been inactive in the lodge since I became a Christian, I maintained my dues in the organization. I have many friendships within the Masonic family and thank God for them. However, I have many friendships with Prince Hall Masons and the refusal to recognize them as equals among men is against the teachings of God and Masonry.

As a Christian I do not feel that I should publicly be a part of anything that would cause others to doubt my belief in Jesus Christ. It is obvious to me that belonging to an organization that still practices racism and teaches that his own works saves a man may be viewed by others as hypocrisy. Therefore I ask that my name be removed from the rolls of the Lodge.

I will continue to pray for you as brothers in Christ and ask that God continue to bless you as we all seek His will in our lives.

In Christian love