First off. Don't ever call me a liar. Our lodge does have a ritual. Our ritual does not involve a ressurection from the dead. Our ritual contains no supernatural content.
"At the conclusion of the Legend of the Third Degree, the new Master Mason is admonished to imitate Hiram Abiff so that he may get into the Celestial Lodge above where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides. Masonic ritual teaches that imitation of Hiram Abiff is the way to reconciliation with God, whom they refer to as the Supreme, or Great, Architect of the Universe."
That is completely wrong. There is no ressurection. PERIOD.
I would suggest to you that you avoid Freemasonry. I'm staying. There is nothing in freemasonry that could possibly interfere with Christianity. There is a difference between myths, wivestales and just regular stories. Every mason knows that the Hiramic legend is fiction.
"Masonic ritual teaches that imitation of Hiram Abiff is the way to reconciliation with God, whom they refer to as the Supreme, or Great, Architect of the Universe."
We do not try to lead people to salvation through our dramas. All masons are encouraged to commune with God in whatever way their faith dictates. The lodge is not the medium.
Masonry has no plan of salvation because masonry is not a religion. I don't believe that Christians are forbidden from taking these kind of oaths. Masonic oaths don't change your lifestyle one bit. They primarliy involve NOT DOING CERTAIN THINGS which prior to initiation the candidate was NOT DOING IN THE FIRST PLACE. James 5:12 simply refers to making a promise you can't keep. It doesn't need to be interpreted from a Phariseeical, legalistic standpoint.
Again I'd advise you to simply stay away from masonry. No one is asking you to get involved. Witch hunters will always find a scapegoat to blame for their percieved troubles. Nevertheless, the world is a better place because of masonry. 1.5 million dollars a day are poured into Shriners hospitals and they're not even chartered as a charitable organization.
If you love God then show it with your actions. Your energy would be better spent on anything besides crusades, persecutions and witch hunts. You see all you have really succeeded in doing is alienating people. I'd never visit your church now because I'd feel most un-welcome. Refer back to HankD's post then read the following story.
Luke 10:27
And he answering said, `Thou shalt love the Lord thy God out of all thy heart, and out of all thy soul, and out of all thy strength, and out of all thy understanding, and thy neighbour as thyself.'
28
And he said to him, `Rightly thou didst answer; this do, and thou shalt live.'
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And he, willing to declare himself righteous, said unto Jesus, `And who is my neighbour?'
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and Jesus having taken up [the word], said, `A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and having stripped him and inflicted blows, they went away, leaving [him] half dead.
31
`And by a coincidence a certain priest was going down in that way, and having seen him, he passed over on the opposite side;
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and in like manner also, a Levite, having been about the place, having come and seen, passed over on the opposite side.
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`But a certain Samaritan, journeying, came along him, and having seen him, he was moved with compassion,
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and having come near, he bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine, and having lifted him up on his own beast, he brought him to an inn, and was careful of him;
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and on the morrow, going forth, taking out two denaries, he gave to the innkeeper, and said to him, Be careful of him, and whatever thou mayest spend more, I, in my coming again, will give back to thee.
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`Who, then, of these three, seemeth to thee to have become neighbour of him who fell among the robbers?'
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and he said, `He who did the kindness with him,' then Jesus said to him, `Be going on, and thou be doing in like manner.'
