Freemasonry, Eastern Star, and other similar "secret" organizations appear to be harmless fellowship gatherings. Many of them appear to promote belief in God. However, upon closer examination, I find that the only belief requirement is not that one must believe in the True and Living God, but rather, that one must believe in the existence of a "Supreme Being", which includes the "gods" of Islam, Hinduism, or any other world religion. The unbiblical and anti-Christian beliefs and practices of this organization are partially hidden beneath an outward appearance of a supposed compatibility with the Christian faith. The following is a comparison of what the Bible says with the "official" position of Freemasonry:
Salvation from Sin:
The Bible's View: Jesus became the sinner's sacrifice before God when He shed His blood and died as the propitiation (payment) for the sins of all those who would ever believe.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB
(8) For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
(9) Not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Romans 5:8 NASB
(8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
John 3:16 NASB
(16) "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Mason's View:
The very process of joining the Lodge requires Christians to ignore the exclusivity of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. According to Freemasonry, a person will be saved and go to heaven because of his good works and personal self-improvement.
The Bible's View:
The supernatural and absolute inspiration of the Scriptures" that they are inerrant and that their teachings and authority are absolute, supreme, and final. The Bible is the Word of God.
2 Timothy 3:16 NASB
(16) All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
1 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB
(13) For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
Mason's View:
The Bible is only one of several "Volumes of Sacred Law," all of which are deemed equally important in Freemasonry. The Bible is an important book, only as far as those members who claim to be Christians are concerned, just as the Koran is important to Muslims. The Bible is not considered the exclusive Word of God, nor is it considered God’s sole revelation of himself to humankind; but only one of many religious sourcebooks. It is a good guide for morality. The Bible is used primarily as a symbol of God's will, which can also be captured in other sacred texts, like the Koran or Rig Vedas.
The Doctrine of God:
The Bible's View: There is one God. The various names of God refer to the God of Israel and reveal certain attributes of God. To worship other gods or to call upon other deities is idolatry.
Exodus 20:3 NASB
(3) "You shall have no other gods before Me.
Paul spoke of idolatry as a heinous sin.
1 Corinthians 10:14 NASB
(14) Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
And John said that idolaters will perish in hell.
Revelation 21:8 NASB
(8) "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
Mason's View:
All members must believe in a deity. Different religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, etc.) acknowledge the same God, only call Him different names. Freemasonry invites people of all faiths, even if they use different names for the "Nameless One of a hundred names," they are yet praying to the one God and Father of all.
The Doctrine of Jesus and the Trinity:
The Bible's View:
Jesus was God in human form.
Matthew 1:18-24 NASB
(18) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.
(19) And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.
(20) But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
(21) "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
(22) Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
(23) "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US."
(24) And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife,
John 1:1 NASB
(1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jesus is the second person of the trinity.
Matthew 28:19-20 NASB
(19) "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
(20) teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Mark 1:9-11 NASB
(9) In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
(10) Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;
(11) and a voice came out of the heavens: "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."
While on earth, He was fully human.
Mark 4:38 NASB
(38) Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they *woke Him and *said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
Matthew 4:2 NASB
(2) And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.
and fully divine.
John 20:28-29 NASB
(28) Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"
(29) Jesus *said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."
John 1:1-2 NASB
(1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(2) He was in the beginning with God.
Acts 4:10-12 NASB
(10) let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health.
(11) "He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.
(12) "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."
Christians should pray in Jesus' name and proclaim Him before others, regardless of offense to non-Christians.
John 14:13-14 NASB
(13) "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
(14) "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
1 John 2:23 NASB
(23) Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.
Acts 4:18-20 NASB
(18) And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
(19) But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;
(20) for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."
Mason's View:
There is no exclusivity in Jesus Christ or the Triune God who is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; therefore, there is no doctrine of the deity of Jesus Christ. It is deemed to be un-Masonic to invoke the name of Jesus when praying, or mention His name in the Lodge. Suggesting that Jesus is the only way to God contradicts the principle of tolerance. The name of Jesus has been omitted from biblical verses that are used in Masonic rituals. Jesus is on the same level as other religious leaders.
Human Nature and Sin:
The Bible's View:
All humans are born with a sinful nature, are totally depraved, and need a Savior from sin.
Romans 3:23 NASB
(23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 5:12 NASB
(12) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned
Psalms 51:5 NASB
(5) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
Ephesians 2:1 NASB
(1) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
The Bible denies that because of the Fall, humanity has within itself the capacity for moral perfection.
1 John 1:8-10 NASB
(8) If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
(9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
Romans 1:18-32 NASB
(18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
(19) because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
(20) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
(21) For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
(22) Professing to be wise, they became fools,
(23) and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
(24) Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
(25) For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
(26) For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
(27) and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
(28) And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
(29) being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
(30) slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
(31) without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
(32) and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
Mason's View:
Through symbols and emblems, Masons teach that man is not sinful, just "rude and imperfect by nature". Human beings are able to improve their character and behavior in various ways, including acts of charity, moral living, and voluntary performance of civic duty. Humanity possesses the ability of moving from imperfection toward total perfection. Moral and spiritual perfection lies within men and women.
When a Christian takes the oath of Freemasonry, he is swearing to the following doctrines that God has pronounced false and sinful:
1. That salvation can be gained by man's good works.
2. That Jesus is just one of many equally revered prophets.
3. That they will remain silent in the Lodge and not talk of Christ.
4. That they are approaching the Lodge in spiritual darkness and ignorance, when the Bible says Christians are already in the light, children of the light, and are indwelt by the Light of the World" Jesus Christ.
5. By demanding that Christians take the Masonic oath, Masonry leads Christians into blasphemy and taking the name of the Lord in vain.
6. Masonry teaches that it is G.A.O.T.U. [Great Architect of the Universe], whom Masonry believes is the true God of the universe, is representative of all gods in all religions.
7. Masonry makes Christians take a Universalist approach in their prayers, demanding a "generic" name be used so as not to offend non-believers who are Masonic "brothers".
8. By swearing the Masonic oath and participating in the doctrines of the Lodge, Christians are perpetuating a false gospel to other Lodge members, who look only to Masonry's plan of salvation to get to heaven. By their very membership in such a syncretistic type organization, they have severely compromised their witnessing as Christians.
9. By taking the Masonic obligation, the Christian is agreeing to allow the pollution of his mind, spirit, and body by those who serve false gods and believe false doctrines.
As you can see, Masonry denies and contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture on numerous issues. Masonry also requires people to engage in activities, which the Bible condemns. As a result, a Christian should not be a member of any secret society or organization that has any connection with Freemasonry.
Grove Oak Church
