Baptists and Freemasonry

[Jeffrey H]

It never affected my ability to minister and it never intefered with my preaching God's truth. It also never imposed foreign beliefs upon me.

I left for personal reasons, and do not advocate membership in Freemasonry to-day

Jim,

Were you at a lower level (degree)in masonry? It's my understanding that the lower degrees are not given much information. Is that true or false? Why do you no longer advocate it if it did not affect your ministry?

They appear to do a great work with children. In Dallas, one of the great hospitals here is the "Scottish Rite Hospital for Children" with all expenses paid. I must admit, they have the christian churches beat when meeting the charitable needs of children.

My beloved grandfather was a 32nd degree mason in the Scottish Rite, a "Shriner", and a deacon in his Baptist church. I don't know if it affected his ministry or not. He never talked about it or encouraged me to be a part of it.

Seeking understanding,
Jeff

 

[Jim1999]

Jeffrey,

I left because there were certain teachings that were not consonant with the Bible, and at that point it was my conviction that I could no longer support it. That is all I will say about it, and its internal beliefs. My reason for that is because there is nothing to be gained.

Yes, it was a great place for fellowship and they do a great job in the area of actually caring for community and its needs.

I was well up in the chairs. The lodges I belonged too were attended mostly by Anglicans and the annual church parade was at an Anglican Church. Christian beliefs were never attacked, and in fact were encouraged. Their doctrines lend themselves more toward dispensationalism than anything else, and put great emphasis on the temple and the pyramids.

The famous motto, that your grandfather prolly held too, is "If you want to be a mason, ask one". Men usually come asking about masonry rather than masons recruiting.

In England, joining masonry was almost a family thing...my grandfathers, my father and uncles were all masons, so, it was natural that I would follow them.

When I came to Canada, many Baptist ministers were also masons, but there were the antagonists as well. It was called everything because of the so=called "secrecy" thing. There are so many books in public about masonry, I don't kow how anyone can call it a "secret" society.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Jeffrey H]

Jim,

Thanks for sharing. I desire to keep a balanced perspective on this matter.

--Jeff

 

[Ben W]

People seem to believe that 33rd degree masons are told some type of secrets that are supposed to be linked to all manner of things. Why not simply go and read the 33rd degree for yourself? It is published on various places on the internet and various second hand bookstores have hard copies of all the degrees. type in Freemason or masonic on EBay, a whole host of supposedly secret stuff will come up.

 

[Bro Tony]

Ben is right you can go on the internet and there are various books that tell what takes place within the lodge. There clearly is enough information out there for any discerning Bible believing Christian to stay away from freemasonry. There is definately great conflict with the Doctrine of the Scripture and the doctrine of masonry. Jim indicated that he left for that reason. It would be impossible to remain Scripturally correct and be involved in freemasonry. Trouble is sure to come to a church that has masons in leadership.

 

[Ben W]

Freemasons seem to be the biggest group in lodges in Australia, yet there are a few other groups and even more in the U.S. How do people feel about fellow Baptists belonging to groups like the Oddfellows, Elks and the R.O.A.B (Buffalo's) It is my understanding that each of these broke away from Freemasons. In Particular the Oddfellows who are supposed to have originated from a group of fellows who didnt want to wait anymore to become masons.

I suppose in fairness we should mention the Scouts, they have the same requirement that you must take an Oath and believe in a Supreme Being.

Is it for all of these the Oaths that are the problem for Christians?

 

[Jeffrey H]

In Boy Scouts, no one is required to call their leader "Worshipful Master".

 

[Carl Urie]

Christians who are Masons are extremely loyal to the Masonic Temple. You can't fight it. There is no compatability between Masons and Christianity.

 

[atestring]

Originally posted by Ben W:
Here is a link that I found where a T.V camera was taken inside of a Freemason Lodge, and all is revealed.

http://www.rte.ie/tv/wouldyoubelieve/2004/prog3/thisweek.html

I am not pro Mason but I have a hard time believing that the Masons would allow a TV camera in their lodge. They are a secret society and they are not going to allow their secrets to get out into mainstream society.

 

[Ben W]

What secrets is it that they actually have? All their rituals, handshakes and secret words are all published on the internet. In Australia they put there lodge records that are over 50 years old into the state library which are available to be read by anyone.

The fact is that Freemasons are no longer a secret society and have not been for a number of years. Yet suggesting that they are no doubt sells a few books!