masons

Jim1203, welcome to the BB! After this why don't you look in to the welcome forum and introduce yourself.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>From the link provided by jim1203: ANNUAL OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Three
One Hundred Thirty-Sixth Session,
One Hundred Forty-Eighth Year
Houston, Texas, June 15-17, 1993
Prepared by
David W. Atchison, Recording Secretary of the Convention
Distributed by
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
Morris H. Chapman, President & Chief Executive Officer
901 Commerce Street
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
Freemasonry Report<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Summary: In light of the fact that many tenets and teachings of Freemasonry are not compatible with Christianity and Southern Baptist doctrine, while others are compatible with Christianity and Southern Baptist doctrine, we therefore recommend that consistent with our denomination's deep convictions regarding the priesthood of the believer and the autonomy of the local church, membership in a Masonic Order be a matter of personal conscience. Therefore, we exhort Southern Baptists to prayerfully and carefully evaluate Freemasonry in light of the Lordship of Christ, the teachings of the Scripture, and the findings of this report, as led by the Holy Spirit of God.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The above is from the URL you gave. I do not agree that Baptists or for that matter Christians should be a part of the Freemasons, as the latter is considered to be a cult. Question is, since 1993 was there another evaluation on the part of the SBC?

 

Being a Southern Baptist I asked them if they had a more up to date stance on Masonry and sadly they do not at least as of Sep 2001. The report they adhere to has been the source of much controversy.
Because it is as wishy washy as you can get. It would be like us endorsing Islam because they also premote charity for the less fortunate. 'We find the rejection of Christ to be inconsistant with our beliefs but we find acts of charity and love for all to be consistant. So since we really don't want to say anything is 'right' or 'wrong' we leave it up to the individual to sort out.'
Stinko there is no place in a Christians service to Almighty God for Masonry of any form.

 

Hi Jimi,

My church is a member of the predominantly black National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. It is rural. The congregation is about 200 strong. It is located outside of the city limits of my hometown (Pop. 3,700) It is surrounded by farmland and forests. 75% of the membership and officers are former blue-collared factor workers, and many of them are masons. In fact 3/11 deacons are masons and 5/11 trustees are masons. One our trustees recently passed; he was a mason. The leader of the local lodge spoke at his funeral.

Is freemasonry really that bad? All of these masons are some of the most devoted followers of Christ in our church.

I don't know as much as I should about it. Why can't someone be a member of freemasonry (or any fraternal order for that matter) as long as they do not compromise the Gospel?

Thank you for this topic, Jimi. It's good.

Welcome to BB. I'm kinda new, too.

BB Newbie in Christ
Jamal5000

 

I have a problem with freemasonry... so many good things they do but very cultish.

I don't think there has been an updated report.

 

i am currently holding to a tape on freemasonary from darkness to light by jeremiah films... will share some thoughts after viewing it

[ December 20, 2001: Message edited by: ventin ]

 

I have it. It's an excellent tape. It will be interesting to hear Ventin''s report...

When he has given it, there are some other links which might be of interest.

 

Here is my summary of the show:

Free Masonry

Definition: defines itself as a system of morality.

Begins at blue lodge
entered apprentice --&gt;fellow craft --&gt;master mason.
Most never get to master mason.
New Masons will get a blood initiation rite. Strip of clothes, blindfolded and made to knee before a master. Master use sharp object to poke left breast till blood flow.
Take blood oath not to reveal the secrets of masonary.
Somewhat similar to witchcraft. End prayer with “so ‘mould?’ it be”
Called Lucifer god.
Quote: “Masons don’t need to understand but imagine to understand.”

Gives worship to different gods. But due to high use of occultic symbols, masons usually do not know what they worship. They have a Eyptian trinity and worship nature à the regenerative power.
Their symbol – square and compass with a G in the center. Understood as its early founders were craftsmen of cathedrals.
Square rep woman while compass rep man. G rep the geometrical principle of life.
Woman cannot be mason.

What has this got to do with Christianity?
They use scriptures and members of churches (deacons) are seen there. They are on a search for the lost name of God. They have a trinity – Jehovah, Baal, and “Osirus?”
They reduce Jesus Christ to a mere reformer… just like Muhammed, Buddha.

For more info:
Free the Mason Ministries
PO Box 1076
Issaquah, WA
98027


Now i would rather stay clear of masons, what about u?


[ December 22, 2001: Message edited by: ventin ]

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Why can't someone be a member of freemasonry (or any fraternal order for that matter) as long as they do not compromise the Gospel?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Because someone would always be asking where their priority lies.

God Himself told us: We cannot serve two masters.

If what Ventin and others have given us is true (and I say "if" for the sake of not causing a discussion in that direction, and attempting to focus an answer on this question), then a day will come when the freemasons must make a decision. Who do they serve: God, or someone else?

 

Ventin,

Masonary is not a religion, does not offer a way of salvation, does not place any barriers in a man's way to God, and is nothing like your last report described. There is no "blood letting", no worship of or references to Lucifer, no nudity or immorality, There is no "worship". It is not a replacement of or method of a Man's worship of God.

I have read so many of these "factual" reports by self proclaimed experts of the organization. Each seems to dwell more on sensationalism than the one before it.

If you are going to damn it, damn it for what it is, an ancient system of educational and moral instruction for young craft masons, used for probably a thousand years or more, at a time when education was unheard of for common men, and centralized into it's present system around 300 years ago. Damn it for it's role in promoting liberty and freedom, when doing such things meant death as a traitor aginst the king or the state church. Damn it for producing such "Godless" men as George Washington, Ben Franklin, Gen Lafayette, Baron Von Stuben, and so many more who used these ideals to bring us a nation. Damn it for it's hospitals which spend more than a million and a half dollars each day taking care of kids, without any outside financial assistance, including insurance money. Damn it for what it is, not for what a film claims it to be.

Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. There is no devided allegiance for me or for millions of other men who also are proud of the tradition and good work done by the Masonic fraternity. I've known so many who have suffered the attacks of ignorance, distortion, and outright lies and have remained silent. I guess I'm not as good a man as they.

 

The Ku Klux Klan is an active group in our area, and back years ago, there were many "good members--including deacons" who would go to the meetings.

That doesn't justify.

 

Thomas how many men that you personally know of have been led to Christ only through the lodge? How many men have you heard of that have been led to Christ by the lodge? I have found in my studies and prove this wrong if you can that there is nothing in masonry to offend any one religion. This is one of the things that masons are proud of that any relgion can kneel at their altar and pray to what ever god they choose. Do you prepose that it is ok to promote Islam, buddiasm, Hinduism ect and put them on a spiritually equal plane with Christ and serving God?
No one condems the masons for spending money on needy sick childeren. I do condem them however for hiding what they are behind a screen of good works.

 

On last question Thomas when every thing is said and done will you be at the foot of the
Great White throne of Judgement standing with Christ or will you be before that very Throne depending on your little white apron to be your covering?

 

Hi Dr. Griffin,

Do you know what confuses me a lot: How can people who practice freemasonry still lead people to God into genuinely devoted service with His Son? If we see freemasonry as a religion inconsistent with God's Word and presumably heretical, why does God continue to use these men for His salvation plan? Why does he not expose them as leading lives that taint their effectiveness to preach God's unadulterated Word?

Jamal5000

 

Well, I was wondering if I could remain a Southern Baptist. Now I know I cannot. Looks like I've capitulated to IFB's for now.

 

Jamal, In most cases the mason is decived about masonry and are taught that they must believe in the 'great archetect' or god (lower case on purpose) but masonry won't tell them which one to serve. Simply because any other than the one true God is just fine with satan. They are also taught that good works building the incorruptible temple from the corruption of thier earthly body(temple) is the goal of masonry. So many choose Christianity more out of loyalty to the lodge than God. The active participation in the Great Commission is two fold 1. it is encouraged by their choice of worship and 2. it fullfils the works requirement of masonry.

It IMO does not 'taint' the conversion of the believer who is presented the Gospel. Jesus reffered to those who would say Lord, Lord did we not... and He replies be gone...for I never knew thee. Look up that badly butchered paraphase for context but you get the picture.

One last thing I have noticed having been in a church that had a heavy masonic influence lots of work goes on but not a lot happens.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Damn it for what it is, not for what a film claims it to be.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Thomas, if you are still following this topic, will you tell us what masonry is? How can we know what it is if it is secret? I have had g-grandfather, grandfather, and uncles who were masons, but I don't know what it is because it is secret and they would not/will not reveal it. How can we condemn it for what it is when you won't tell us what it is? Will you tell us some of the ceremonies, oaths, handshakes, beliefs, etc. so we might be able to condemn it for what it is?