IBA

For those Christians who are masons, there are no inherent conflicts with the Bible. Indeed, the Bible, they would argue, is revered as a holy book to be gleamed from and is in fact one of three indispensable pieces of furniture in a "Christian-oriented" masonic lodge.^⁴ Moreover, they would argue great Americans professing belief in God were masons as well!^⁵ Of course if we were to leave it at that, it would seem rather harmless for Christians to participate in freemasonry. Unfortunatially, it is not quite that simple! Genuine Faith, indeed, Christian doctrine rests on the foundation of biblical Truth as revealed in the Old and New Testaments and not on the "claims" of those in mere possession of a Bible. One need only look at the smorgasboard of Bible-pedaling pseudo-Christian cults which deny basic Christian doctrine, to refute a "bible-association equals truth" claim. Moreover, the fact that famous people held certain beliefs is a poor criteria for determining truth! For the Christian, Truth is grounded in what God has revealed both in reason and revelation.

Having said the above, the question before us is, is Freemasonry compatible with God's revealed Word? If it is, Christians should embrace it! If it isn't, Christians should reject it no matter how it presents itself! The supreme test with all truth claims is their view of the Person, nature, and work of Jesus Christ! Every mason (indeed, all men) must ask who is He and what did He accomplish? However, before we put Masonry to the test, we need to understand briefly the history and development on freemasonry.

Freemasonry is a term descriptive of the fraternity to which members are called Freemasons.^⁶ Freemasonry did not appear as an organized or formal institution until about 1717 which is the date for the foundation of the Grand Lodge in London, England. Dr. James Anderson, a Presbyterian, and Dr. John Theophilus Desaguliers, a French Hugenot turned Anglican, are credited with the inspiration to form the first Grand Lodge. However, many Masons will agrue their origin is traceable to the building of King Solomon's temple where carpenters and masons labored in this great project under the direction of Hiram, King of Tyre. Technically, masonry historically began in medival times as an association of craftsmen or operative masons.^⁷ Freemasonry in the modern sense of the term refers to symbolic or speculative Masonry.^⁸ According to some Masonic authorities, masonry has its philosophical and religious roots in the Ancient Myseries. That is, Masonry and the old Mysteries (Dionysian, Eleusinian and other Greek Mysteries) are only different streams issuing from a common fountain or otherwise the same stream flowing onward into modern times.^⁹ According to Albert Pike, Grand Commander, 1859-1891, masonry has been "...handed down from age to age by an unbroken current of tradition, embodied in symbols, emblems and allegories."^¹⁰ Pike also stated: "But, by whatever name it was known in this or the other country, Masonry existed as it now exists, the same in spirit and at heart, not only when Solomon builded the temple, but centuries before- before even the first colonies emigrated into Southern India, Persia, and Egypt, from the cradle of the human race."^¹¹

Freemasonry was planted in the American colonies by English, Scottish and Irish Masons during the early decades of the 18th century. In 1734 Benjamin Franklin (then 28 years old) was elected grand master of the Masons in Pennsylvania.^¹² While Masonry seemed to advance rather rapidly during this time in American history, there later arose an anti-Masonic movement by Christians who saw masonry as a threat to the Federalist order.^¹³ Nevertheless, at that time it was estimated that there were about 6,000 Masons in all the colonies along the Atlantic seaboard. Today, there are over 6 million Freemasons, over half of these in the U.S. alone with over 150 Grand Lodges in different parts of the world- one in every state of the Union. The California Grand Lodge has more than 600 local lodges (Masonic lodges or Blue Lodges as they are known) with total membership over 2,000,000.

The influence of the Lodge is widespread not only in its humaitarian efforts around the world^¹⁴ and can be seen in varing degrees in such non-Christian cults as the Uniterian-Universalists, New-age cults, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons), Swedendorgianism, Theosophy, Rosicrusianism, Mind-Science groups as Unity School of Christianity and Religious Science, and the mystical sects of Judaism. Again, while these groups don't originate from masonry, historically, there are points of comparison on various levels which raises the question of religion in Freemasonry.

As it is often stated, Masonry claims that it is not a religion in any sense of the word. Yet, Masonic authorties state time and again that Masonry is a religious institution.^¹⁵ Under the topic "religion," the Encyclopedia of Freemasonry has devoted 12 pages proving that Freemasonry is a religion!^¹⁶ The author of this encyclopedia goes on to say that Freemasonry not only fits the definition of religion but also fits the definition of "Church."^¹⁷ Albert Pike states in Morals and Dogma that "Every Masonic Lodge is a temple of religion; and its teachings are instruction in religion."^¹⁸ While it would be possible to quote other Masonic authorties on this point, suffice it to say under the modern definitions of religion, Masonry is descriptive of religion in every sense of the word!^¹⁹ For the sake of brevity, the following points must be made with this regard: Masonry is a religion because it requires a belief in God before he is eligible for Lodge membership;^²⁰ Masonry is a religion because it considers every lodge a temple of God;^²¹ Masonry is a religion because it carries on lodge activity and prayer in the name of the Lord;^²² Masonry is a religion because it practices a system of worship;^²³ Masonry is a religion because it claims to teach man's duty to God and his fellow men;^²⁴ And, Masonry is a religion because it teaches each man can, by himself, work out his own conception of God and thereby achieve salvation.^²⁵

While Freemasonry maintains that the Bible is a holy book, one of the three Great Lights of masonry, it is really only a symbol of divine law; its contents are not regarded as the final and authoritative.^²⁶ Masons do not accept the Holy Bible as the only inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God. In fact, most masons believe the Bible to be rather incomprehensible.^²⁷ Yet, great devotion and admiration is given to the Kabalah, a book of ancient Jewish mysticism and magic.^²⁸ We find therefore, for the average Mason, the Bible to be primarily instructive in principles of morality. Doctrines central to the Christian faith such as original sin and the Fall, the person, nature and work of Jesus Christ in redemption, the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, and ultimate and final judgment for sin are completely ignored or ommitted from Masonic literature as well. Perhaps the most revealing of Masonic teaching from a biblical point of view, is their identification of Lucifer as the source of Freemasonry's spiritual light. On page 321, Albert Pike boldly states: "LUCIFER, the Light-bearer! Strange and mysterious name to give to the Spirit of Darkness! Lucifer, the Son of the Morning! Is it he who bears the light, and with its splendors intolerable blinds feeble, sensual, or selfish Souls? Doubt it not! for traditions are full of Divine revelations and Inspirations: and Inspiration is not of one Age nor of one Creed. Plato and Philo, also, were inspired."^²⁹

Many other things could be said regarding Freemasonry and Christianity. It seems rather clear that in spite of its moral teachings and philanthropic deeds in society, Freemasonry fails to past the test of Scripture. The Bible, itself, claims to be God's final revelation to mankind, unique, inspired, without error, and authoritative (Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Pet. 1:3,4; 19-21; 2 Tim. 3:16,17). Contradictions abound between the Bible and other so-called holy books. While they may contain truth, ultimate truth, redemptive truth, is found in God's self-disclosure in the Bible aand in the person of Jesus Christ.

Having said that, the Masonic view of Jesus Christ also fails the test. Jesus' own claims as well as the testimony of Scripture is that He is unique: God the Son, Second Person of the Trinity (John 6:35; 8:58; 9:5; 10:7-10; 14:6) and that salvation comes only through Him (Acts 4:12; John 3:16; John 14:6; Hebrews 1:1-4).

Finally, the Masonic view that man can save himself falls short of Scripture. The Bible declares man a sinner in need of a saviour and incapable of saving himself (Eph. 2:8,9; Rom. 3:23; Titus 3:5-7). Human effort and works in order to reach heaven are based on man's attempt to become righteous on his own terms. It is the height of pride to think one is capable apart from the grace of God, to save himself!

One other final note: the Bible describes Lucifer as a fallen angel- degenerate, evil, full of lies and hatred for the things of God (Isa. 14; Ez. 28; Rev. 12:7-12). He is the author of sin in the universe (Isa. 14:13,14) and blinds the hearts of men from believing the Gospel of Christ (2 Cor. 4:4). It would do Masons well to find out who Lucifer really is before committing themselves to what appears to be his doctrine (1 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 2)!

We need to pray the Lord open the eyes of those claiming to be Christians so that they may see the evil of Freemasonry and come out and be separate from them (2 Cor. 6:14-17).

1 Southern Baptist Convention literature reports that at least 40% of active Southern Baptist ministers are Freemasons!

2 Actually, as early as 1738, Pope Clement XII, in his In Eminenti, condemned Freemasonry on the basis that the beliefs and observances of Freemasonry constitute it a deistic or pagan religion and that the masonic oath and the secrecy imposed are unlawful.

3 These bodies stated essentially that Masonic theology is 18-century deism tinged with gnosticism and therefore not only incompatible but not even complementary!.

5 Cited are such individuals as American presidents, Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Polk, Buchanan, Johnson, Garfield, McKinley, T. Roosevelt, Taft, Harding, F.D. Roosevelt, and Truman. Others noted are John Hancock, Benjamine Franklin, and Paul Revere.

6 Masonry is represented today by two distinct structures known as the Scottish rite and the York rite. Within these structures exist a number of branch representatives such as the Shriners, the Eastern Star, the Demolay, Job's Daughters and the Rainbow Girls.

7 Operative masons were those men who possessed a working knowledge of the nesessary tools for building, such as stonecutting and geometry.

8 During the third and fourth decades of the 18th century speculative lodges were open to men who were excluded from the operative ones for lack of Roman Catholic and later Anglican orthodoxy. This came about as a result of a movement of intellectual freedom called the Age of Enlightenment (1715-1790) where reason or rationalism was extoled over traditional beliefs and practices, and God and the Bible were subject to man's experience and knowledge.

9 See for example, Arthur Edward Waite's A New Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry (Weathervane Books: New York, 1970), pp. 22,23.

10 Albert Pike, Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, 1966 edition, p.210.

12 It should be noted that in 1734 Ben Franklin also published the first masonic book printed in America, a reprint of James Anderson's The Constitutions of the Free-Masons.

13 In his two-volume work, A Religious History of the American People, Sydney E. Ahlstrom states "... in 1798, when Jeffersonianism and the "French mania" were undermining the Federalist order, Jedidiah Morse of anti-Unitarian fame had raised the spector of subversion by the Bavarian Illuminati." He goes further to state: "In 1827 the old antipathy for the Masonic Lodge broke out again when William Morgan of Batavia, New York, was abducted and apparently murdered for exposing lodge secrets.

14 For example, in 1990 American Masonic Philanthropy was $525 million or $1.4 million per day. It has been estimated that for 1994 formal American Masonic Philanthropy was over $625 million, and in 1997 exceeded $1.75 million per day!

15 For example, in the Encyclopedia of Freemasonry by Albert G. Mackey (Revised Edition, 1921,pp. 618,619), it is stated: "Freemasonry is NOT Christianity nor a substitute for it"..." But the religion of Masonry is not sectarian. It admits men of every creed...rejecting none and approving none for his particular faith"...Masonry, then, is, indeed, a religious institution; and on this ground mainly, if not alone, should the religious Mason defend it."

16 As quoted in "Freemasonry on its Own Terms" by the John Ankerberg Evangelistic Association (1986).

19 Webster defines religion this way: 1. The service or adoration of God, or a god, as expressed in forms of worship. 2. One of the systems of faith and worship. 3. The profession or practice of religious beliefs; religious observances collectivelyl pl., rites. 4. Devotion or fidelity; conscirntiousness. 5. An awareness or conviction of the existence of a supreme being, arousing reverence, love, gratitude, the will to obey and serve, and the like."

20 According to Masonry, God and the immortality of the soul are immutable dogmas and "...it is unlawful for anyone who denies these to be made a Mason." See Waite, Ibid., A New Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry, p.34.

21 Albert Pike in Morals and Dogma, Ibid., p.7, stated: Every Lodge is a Temple, and as a whole, and in its details symbolic."

22 In Joseph Fort Newton's The Religion of Freemasonry, he states: "It is the business of Masonry to cut , carve, polish and place in order of wall, pillar and arch the stones of a Temple of Brotherhood, founded upon spiritual faith and moral truth, built in accordance with the laws of God, by His aid, and in His name."

23 Newton, Ibid., p.11 states: "Masonry is not a religion, but religion- not a church, but a worship, in which men of all religions may unite..."

24 Newton, Ibid., p.59 states: Masonry is a system of moral mysticism, expressing faith in God and the eternal life in old and simple symbols of the building art, awakening the better angels in the nature of man and teaching the brotherly life."

25 Pike, Morals and Dogma, Ibid., p. 855 says: "To achieve it [salvation] the Mason must first attain a solid conviction, founded upon reason, that he hath within him a spiritual nature, a soul that is not to die when the body is dissolved, but is to continue to exist and to advance toward perfection through all the ages of eternity, and to see more and more clearly, as it draws nearer unto God the light of the Divine Presence."

26 Masons recognize other "holy" books to be on par with Scripture. Coil's encyclopedia states: "We recognize as legitimate other Grand Lodges, and their Masons who use their discretion to walk in other lights which they deem just as good, possibly better." (Ibid., p.520)

27 For example, Pike states in Morals and Dogma, Ibid., p. 105: "The teachers, even of Christianity, are, in general, the most ignorant of the true meaning of that which they teach. There is no book of which so little is known as the Bible. To most who read it, it is as incomprehensible as the Sohar."

28 The Kabalah is considered by some to be "...the foundation of all religions and all sciences, the primary and immutable idea of things." See Pike, Morals and Dogma, Ibid., p.769

29 Ibid., Morals and Dogma. We find other references to Lucifer as well: In Manly P. Hall's Lost Keys of Freemasonry, we find this statement: "When the Mason learns that the Key to the warrior on the block is the proper application of the dyno of living power, he has learned the Mystery of his Craft. The seething energies of LUCIFER are in his hands and before he may step onward and upward, he must prove his abilityto propeerly apply [this] energy." See also, Occult Thescrasy by Lady Queenborough (Vol. I, pp. 220,221) where A.C. De La Rive is referenced quoting the theological dogma of Albert Pike.

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Table Talk The Masonic Lodge and Christianity

Table Talk
The Masonic Lodge and Christianity