Freemasons and the Baptist church

[mets65]

I don't know much about Freemasons to be honest and I would like to know more for my own edification. Also I'd like to know how they relate to the church. I know that I've seen quite a few masons in various churches and I'm just wondering what this is all about or what the point of it is.

 

[Alive in Christ]

I have always heard that there is...by far and away...a higher % or freemasons in the Baptist denomination than any other, which as a Baptist, I wish that were not the case.

I personally would not join the Freeasons if ordered to at gunpoint. I dont see how any true born again person could possibly entertain the thought of joining the freemasons.

But they do.

If things go as they usually go when the Masons come, this will turn into a long long thread with a split of about 50/50 in favor of or against.

As for me, it would be unthinkable to join that group.

AiC

 

[mets65]

I have always heard that there is...by far and away...a higher % or freemasons in the Baptist denomination than any other, which as a Baptist, I wish that were not the case.

I personally would not join the Freeasons if ordered to at gunpoint. I dont see how any true born again person could join possibly entertain the thought of joining the freemasons.

But they do.

If things go as they usually go when the Masons come, this will turn into a long long thread with a split of about 50/50 in favor of or against.

As for me, it would be unthinkable to join that group.

AiC

I agree. I'm a born again believer and that's the only club that matters to me. I just see it as pointless IMO. I've never really been for or against it when it comes to other people, I just don't see how it's useful or has any point whatsoever.

But with that being said, I'm still very uneducated on what they actually do. The information that is available is so vague.

 

[Alive in Christ]

edit. accidental duplicate

 

[Alive in Christ]

Here is just a small sample of evidence that no born again person has any buisiness entering into a relationship with Freemasonry....

Freemasonry and God.

In order to be a Mason, a candidate “must believe in the existence of a Supreme Being,” as the Grand Lodge of New Mexico, for example, states for candidates of the Entered Apprentice (first) degree.4 The specific identity of a candidate’s supreme being is not of concern to the Lodge initially. During official ceremonies, however, the candidate prays, with men who may believe in other deities, to the “Great Architect of the Universe.”

It is here that the all-encompassing deity of Freemasonry becomes an issue. Note the following prayer offered in the monitor of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, which is characteristic of prayers in all Masonic Lodges. Here one person prays to the Great Architect on behalf of all Masons gathered, who in turn see their individual deities represented by the Great Architect:

Most Holy and Glorious Lord God! The Great Architect of the Universe, the giver of all good gifts and graces….In Thy name we assemble….And we beseech thee, O Lord God, to bless our present assembling, and to illuminate our minds, that we may walk in the light of thy countenance; and when the trials of our probationary state are over, be admitted into THE TEMPLE “not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”5

Here the Great Architect assumes the role of a canopy deity, subsuming all individual deities (including the Bible’s triune God) into himself in syncretistic fashion. It is no wonder, then, why Masonic scholar Allen Roberts writes:...

You have learned that Freemasonry calls God “The Great Architect of the Universe.” This is the Freemason’s special name for God, because He is universal. He belongs to all men regardless of their religious persuasion. All wise men acknowledge His authority. In his private devotions a Mason will pray to Jehovah, Mohammed, Allah, Jesus, or the Deity of his choice. In a Masonic Lodge, however, the Mason will find the name of his Deity within the Great Architect of the Universe.7

Such syncretistic worship through prayer, coupled with specific teachings of salvation (see next section), is completely at odds with biblical Christianity.

Freemasonry and the Afterlife. Freemasonry offers a way to reach the Celestial Lodge above. Follow along on a brief tour of ritual, keeping in mind the previously mentioned syncretism.

God have mercy


Click here for more...

http://www.equip.org/articles/should-christians-join-the-masonic-lodge

 

[Salty]

A mark of Freemasons is secrecy - that in itself is a big red flag to me

 

[mets65]

I don't understand how men of faith make the decision to join, and why?

 

[Salty]

I don't understand how men of faith make the decision to join, and why?

Off hand I dont know the actual reasons, but let me guess at a few
1. A friend encourages you to
2. A boss highly reccomends it
3. Possible benefits
4. Just looking for something else in your life

 

[mets65]

Off hand I dont know the actual reasons, but let me guess at a few
1. A friend encourages you to
2. A boss highly reccomends it
3. Possible benefits
4. Just looking for something else in your life

Then if you're a follower of Christ you may want to rexamine your relationship.

 

[Salty]

Then if you're a follower of Christ you may want to rexamine your relationship.

Very true

Suppose a boss "highly recommends" you join. If you don't you are afraid you may loose your job. You have a wife 3 1/2 kids a dog and 2 cats.
Do you risk your income? Hmmmm

 

[John of Japan]

My great-grandfather was a lay Baptist preacher and a Mason. However, when my grandfather joined he found he couldn't in good conscience as a Christian say the oaths required. He wrote of his experiences in Lodges Examined by the Bible, by John R. Rice. You can download a PDF of this 80-page book at: ftp://myebooks.dyndns.org/secret so...o have Membership in Secret Orders (1943).pdf

Here what he wrote about the first oath he had to take:

When I was asked to repeat after my father words of the Apprentice's oath, I began and then stopped. I had no idea that such an oath was a part of Masonry, and I did not want to proceed. My father and others told me that there was nothing in the oath nor in Masonry that would be offensive to God or my conscience. I continued. But I was shocked, and the more I thought of it the more shocked I was at the words I had spoken. When I was presented with the white apron and told that I was to be buried in it and that at my funeral Masons should have charge and Masonry exalted, my heart cried out that if I should die I wanted a simple gospel sermon and I wanted sinners to hear about the blood of Christ, I wanted an invitation given! And so I went away that night, grieved and shocked. The Holy Spirit within me seemed offended. I never went back to the lodge. After some months' time, I came to the conclusion that I had sinned in going there and taking part in such language and ceremonies and in such company. I asked God to forgive me and promised Him never to take up the work, although good friends had volunteered to pay the cost of my first three degrees. (Later that offer was made again.) (p. 8 in the PDF, p. 7 in the original book)

 

[David Lamb]

I have always heard that there is...by far and away...a higher % or freemasons in the Baptist denomination than any other, which as a Baptist, I wish that were not the case. [snip]

As I say so often on the BB, I think this must be an American trait. I have only ever come across one person in a Baptist church who was also a freemason, but that church had no statement of faith or constitution, so the man concerned might not even have been a Baptist.

 

[freeatlast]

I don't know much about Freemasons to be honest and I would like to know more for my own edification. Also I'd like to know how they relate to the church. I know that I've seen quite a few masons in various churches and I'm just wondering what this is all about or what the point of it is.

if you want to know what the masons practice and teach go here and get the message on DVD;
http://www.johnankerberg.org/catalog/CSTM.html

It is a real eye opener.

 

[modmax]

The Masons at the lower levels are a fraternal bunch and their very first oath is one that declares that you are in darkness and ignorant of the light. As you progress the titles and oaths get darker. At level 29 you are informed that the great architect is Lucifer.
http://www.religiouscounterfeits.org/ml_realgod.htm

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
Walk in Light
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:
"Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light."

 

[Tater77]

Remember guys and gals, that 99% of all the info about the Masons on the net is a load of crap.

About the above posted link. Albert Pike was NOT an authority and his teachings were rejected completely.

 

[HAMel]

The Masonic Lodge is a so-called "Secret Organization". Their secret hand shake(s); standing at attention so to speak with your feet in the shape of a carpenters square; seeing the "light at the end of the tunnel"; all their various code words, etc., should be the first "red flag" that something is amiss.

My familiarity with the Lodge comes from those on the inside who walked away over the years and, more of their secrets have been published in various books as a result of infiltrators into their organization.

Almost all military officers, cops, judges, politicians, business men, even many preachers and those from all walks of life have found themselves hung up in this organization. Years ago, if you found yourself arrested in almost any county in the South a brother would come along and help you out.

There is a website out there, "David Icke dot com" who goes deep into exposing the Lodge. A lot of strange stuff on his website - much of it unbelievable information but it's been said that truth is often stranger than fiction so who knows.

As for me though, if it's "secret", I'm staying away.

 

[freeatlast]

Remember guys and gals, that 99% of all the info about the Masons on the net is a load of crap.

About the above posted link. Albert Pike was NOT an authority and his teachings were rejected completely.

I can tell you that claiming that 99% of the information on the net is .... is false. The mason order is nothing short of a cult in disguise. While it is true that they are not claiming to be a formal religious sect, they do contradict the teachings of God on who God is, who man is, and the state of man over his sins. If that were not enough the masons actually claim that those men who have been faithful to free masonary and its teachings will be in heaven. I strongly suggest the DVD on masons to see what they really do.
here is the link
http://www.johnankerberg.org/catalog/CSTM.html

 

[HAMel]

"The mason order is nothing short of a cult in disguise."

A few years ago I was involved in a Federal EEO Case. All of management were Lodge Members and promoted a fellow member. The hapless individual had filed an EEO Case claiming he was not hired due to his color.

During a break in the hearing I spoke with the hearing officer as to why the Masonic Lodge was not considered a "Religion". Her response, "Because most all of Congress are Lodge Members themselves and deliberately exempted their organization from being considered a "Religion".

...they are a "cult" for sure and they are required to pledge allegiance to the organization.

 

[John of Japan]

"The mason order is nothing short of a cult in disguise."

A few years ago I was involved in a Federal EEO Case. All of management were Lodge Members and promoted a fellow member. The hapless individual had filed an EEO Case claiming he was not hired due to his color.

During a break in the hearing I spoke with the hearing officer as to why the Masonic Lodge was not considered a "Religion". Her response, "Because most all of Congress are Lodge Members themselves and deliberately exempted their organization from being considered a "Religion".

...they are a "cult" for sure and they are required to pledge allegiance to the organization.

Interesting and sad. Another strange story about the workings of our government and society.

 

[SolaSaint]

I feel the main reason men join Freemasons that also profess to be Christians is that the are not true Christians. As many in the church live private and even public lives in contradiction to what a genuine Christian should be. How many divorce for no good reason, how many have adultrus afairs, how many get drunk,etc. We need to teach our fellow Christian men the truths of the Gospel and they will either repent or run from Christ. Hopefully they won't live as though Christ doesn't care about righteousness in our walk and talk.