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I started each of the three degrees of Masonry with my eyes
blindfolded. I discovered some time later that I had been spiritually
blindfolded as well.
Like many others, I had grown up in a “Masonic” family, where I was led to
believe Masonry was compatible with Christianity. My maternal Grandfather
was an immigrant from Germany. He was accepted into the Lodge, and in time,
was Worshipful Master of his lodge. My dad joined the lodge and was always
active in the Craft. My Grandmother and Mother were both active in the
“Star”. Both, in time, were Worthy Matrons. My dad was soon a Worthy Patron
in the Star chapter. He later went through the chairs to become the
Worshipful Master of his blue lodge.
Our social life revolved around the Masonic Hall and the many events. We
even moved to be closer to the lodge – though farther from our church which
we attended regularly. We considered ourselves to be Christians.
Soon, I was in a chapter of the Order of DeMolay. “Our” lodge then sponsored
a new DeMolay chapter and in no time I found myself installed as the Master
Counselor.
Following time in college and a stint in the Army, I was back home and now
ready to start my Masonic involvement to the level of a Master Mason. Yes, I
was even initiated into the Order of Eastern Star, and was approached to start my climb as
the Associate Patron. I declined.
After a few years of dating, I found myself with a wife. A year later, we
had a child. Now I was responsible for my own family and the need to take
the lead of my own family life. Although my parents had touted the Lodge and
the Star as “all from the Bible”, my own studies of God’s written word
didn’t reveal it that way. Rather, I saw some ritual and lodge symbolism
that had ties to Osiris and the Mystery Religions that were not “only
Christian” based. This is not what my parents had led me to believe. I then
read in my ‘Grandfather’s New Age Scottish Rite’ magazine, a question
concerning whether a person had to be a believing Christian to be accepted
into the Lodge. The answer was very revealing to me. Obviously, I was not
listening closely during my journey to become a Master Mason.
The responsibility of a Christian father to lead his family to grow in the
faith, requires him to measure his own belief according to Scripture. Now,
away from the lodge culture, I could see lodge ritual and teachings as being
very strange when contrasted and compared to a real study of the Bible.
Thinking back to some of the lectures, several things bothered me: In the
discourses, ritual teachings and lectures, we never heard that sin is the
problem in our lives that requires repentance and the payment for sins by a
sinless Savior. Yet, Paul discloses that the true gospel of our salvation in
1 Corinthians 15:1-4, where the death, burial and the resurrection of Jesus
is described and defines the real basis of Christianity. I soon found that
most Masons that I spoke with had little understanding of Scripture, and no
real answers. In 2 John 9, we read, ”Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth
not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine
of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”
During the initiation lectures, I remember being told that the things we
were taught in the lectures were things we think we understand, but we would
learn the real truths later in further degrees. We were told we were being
deceived. That should have tipped us all off immediately, but it didn’t.
As a young unmarried Master Mason, I remember an oath was required that I
would not have “illicit carnal intercourse” with a Master Masons’ wife,
widow, mother, sister, or daughter. Were all others not related to those in
our Masonic fraternity “fair game”, in the eyes of the brotherhood? This is
real Masonic morality, but not the same standard I found in Holy Scripture!
Every prayer offered in lodge, and even in open funeral services, is closed
with the invocation, “So Mote It Be.”. I had never heard any such thing when
prayers were offered in any other organization or setting. With the
advantage now of Internet searches, it is easy to learn that beyond Masonic
references, one can find the phrase in common usage in witchcraft and other
similar secret bodies.
Scriptures were “quoted” in some of the Masonic lectures. If the name Jesus
Christ was contained within the scripture, His name was usually omitted in
the Masonic quotation. When Jesus was mentioned in the lectures, he was
never lifted up, but considered, co-equal with Hiram Abiff or non-Christian
gods such as Vishnu, Buddha, Confucius, Allah, etc. It now seemed
blasphemous to say that Jesus could be included in the Masonic Great
Architect of the Universe (GAOTU). You can't be a Christian and believe that
Jesus is just one of many "gods." A Christian cannot accept Masonry’s
concept of God embodied as the GAOTU.
Requiring that a candidate for Masonry believe in the existence of “A
Supreme Being,” is merely causing him to bind his Masonic vows in the name
of whatever god he may hold himself accountable to. Freemasonry has no
problem with those who have faith in the gods of witchcraft, Satanism,
Mormonism, etc.
I have observed Masons who declare themselves “Christians” that may be
attending church regularly, but I have found that Masonry is truly a
millstone that hinders growth in the Christian faith. I cannot recall
knowing a Mason who had grown in his Christian faith as a result of his
study of Freemasonry and its teachings.
I have observed one characteristic concerning Masons – Pride! In Proverbs
16:5, 16, 19, we find, “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination
to the Lord. . . Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit
before a fall. . . Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly,
than to divide the spoil with the proud.”
A new Mason has to acknowledge before entering the lodge room – that he is
“in darkness” and is seeking true light in Masonry. A Christian is taught in
the Light of the Scriptures and is not in darkness. In 2 Corinthians 6:14,
we are told, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath
light with darkness?” Jesus taught nothing in secret, but was always open
and forthright in his teachings.
How long will it take Masons to understand that even the configuration of
the lodge room and its “furniture” is arranged according to pagan worship of
the sun and other occultic practices?
In the Apron Lecture, Masons are promised entrance to the Celestial Lodge
above when appearing with their spotless lambskin aprons before God at the
“Great White Throne Judgment”. But Revelation 20:6 says, “Blessed and Holy
is he that hath part in the first resurrection: (a believer who trusted in
Christ Jesus) on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be
priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” In
verse 12, we find, “…and the dead (an unbeliever who rejected salvation)
were judged of those things which were written in the book, according to
their works” at the Great White Throne Judgment.
In John 5:25-29, Jesus tells us, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour
is coming, and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God,
and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in Himself, so
hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; and hath given Him
authority to execute judgment, also, because He is the Son of Man. Marvel
not at this; for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves
shall hear His voice. And shall come forth: they that have done good, unto
the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the
resurrection of damnation.”
Masons looking forward to standing before God at the Great White Throne
Judgment have rejected God’s provision for salvation through faith in Jesus
Christ and must accept the judgment of the damned. Don’t expect God to be
impressed by your apron at that Judgment. It is better to study God’s Word
for Truth – you will not find it is the “circumambulations” of Masonic
teachings.
The Scriptures tell us in 1 Timothy 2:5,6 “For there is one God and one
mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a
ransom for all….” There is NO salvation through Masonry’s GAOTU!
Freemasonry is NOT compatible with Christianity. Therefore, “come out from
among them.” Joy and freedom from bondage is found in leaving Freemasonry
and trusting in Jesus for salvation. Find the proper way to sever your ties
to Freemasonry. Ex-Masons for Jesus can help you. God will forgive your
excursion into the fruitless valleys of Masonic wanderings if you repent and
leave the lodge. With a new life in the Body of Christ, you will be free of
the stains of those who search for meaning in all the wrong places.
If my earnest testimony has not yet convinced you to forsake Freemasonry,
consider yourself standing naked and alone before God at the Great White
Throne Judgment, wearing only you Lambskin Apron, and perhaps a red fez. Do
you really believe that will impress the Divine Judge and Creator of our
universe?
Being of Scottish ancestry, I have, however, found one very good use for
what was formerly my lambskin apron. It serves me well as a chamois in
washing and drying my cars. They are left “spotless”.
Sincerely,
Ken C.
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