Freemasonry 101
Before exploring the key issues in the Christian case against the
Masonic Order, it is important to have a basic understand of what
Freemasonry is. Many who join the Masonic Lodge become intrigued by its
eloquent ritual, its stunning regalia, impressive pageantry, and its
universality, including its secret modes of recognition. All of this, of
course, will naturally attract interested petitioning candidates,
impress the initiates, and "puff-up" its members. Yet rather
than instill the virtue of humility, as taught in the Bible, these
aspects of the fraternity often build pride and unfortunately encourage
an attitude of arrogance, and/or superiority. But, oh how this contrast
with Scripture: James
4:6 - "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture
says: 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' "
While a good number of people have, at least, heard about Freemasonry
and may even view it as a fraternal or civic organization, most people
in the world have no clue as to what it really is. It is our hope that
this article and website will help people have a better understanding of
this invisible cult within our midst.
What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is the world's largest, oldest and most prominent
fraternity. Yet, as you will soon see, it is a cult nonetheless. It
started in London in 1717. No one knows for certain how or why it
started. It is believed to have originated with the craft guilds of
medieval Europe and in recent times, it has expanded to admit those who
did not actually belong to an operative trade. Not much is known about
the very early, formative years, but not long after its inception, the
three foundational degrees were formed.
The Structure of Blue Lodge Masonry
The Blue Lodge consists of 3 degrees, labeled after the trade of
Operative Masonry:
- Entered Apprentice (the first degree)
- Fellow Craft (the second degree), and
- Master Mason (the third, considered the most sublime degree in all
of Masonry)
Although there are higher degrees within the Order, these 3 degrees
represent the foundation of the fraternity and, as such, are the
prerequisites to the higher degrees of the York Rite, the Scottish Rite,
and the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, as shown in the following chart:
The Emblematic Structure of Freemasonry
It was noted earlier, that the third degree is the
most important degree in Freemasonry. Why is it so important? We answer
this question in greater detail in The
Masonic Baptism, but for now let's see what one of Masonry's
authoritative bodies has to say about it:
"It was the single object of all the ancient
rites and mysteries practiced in the very bosom of pagan darkness,
...to teach the immortality of the soul. This is still the great
design of the third degree of Masonry. This is the scope and aim of
its ritual. The Master Mason represents man, when youth, manhood, old
age, and life itself have passed away as fleeting shadows, yet raised
from the grave of iniquity, and quickened into another and better
existence. By its legend and all its ritual, it is
implied that we have been redeemed from the death of sin and the
sepulchre of pollution."
Source; Ahiman Rezon, page 141, Grand
Lodge of South Carolina
On the contrary, the Bible teaches that we are redeemed from the
penalty of sin (which is death) by the precious blood of the Lamb of
God, Jesus Christ our Lord. What incredible heresy for Freemasonry to
say that by its legend
and all its ritual, it is implied that we
(Masons) have been redeemed from the death of sin.
Today, many Masons will generally claim that Freemasonry is, "A
Way of Life." A basic definition from a Masonic perspective is that
it is, "a beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory and
illustrated by symbols." However, the questions we explore
throughout this website are; is it really about morality, and what is
the deeper meaning of its allegory and symbols?
Veiled in Allegory
The dictionary defines allegory as:
"A story or narrative, as a fable, in which a moral truth or
principle is presented by means of fictional characters, events,
etc."
Funk and Wagnalls Standard Desk
Dictionary
The operative words here are "moral truth," as well as
"fictional characters" and "fictional events."
Contrary to this definition, Freemasonry takes real
biblical characters, such as King Solomon and Hiram of Tyre, to tell a
fictitious story based on a true historical event — the building of
the Temple to Yahweh (the God of the Bible). In other words, the
absurdity of the Legend in Freemasonry is that it tells a biblical lie
in order to teach a moral truth. Yet, "truth" is supposed to
be a chief tenet of the Masonic Order. How immoral can an organization
be than to distort the Word of God? Not only does it distort the truth
of God's inspired Word, Freemasonry doesn't even acknowledge He who
claimed to be Truth — Jesus Christ our Lord (John
14:6).
Supposedly, another one of Freemasonry's key principles is brotherly
love. Yet, it is the most segregated — in fact — the only segregated
fraternity in the world! While there are Black, White, Asian and
Hispanic fraternities and sororities, does anyone know of a sorority or
fraternity that is segregated within itself other than Freemasonry? In
fact, if you stop to think about it, segregated-fraternity is an
oxymoron.
Illustrated by Symbols
In Freemasonry all tools employed by the operative stone mason carry
moral or spiritual significance. Operative Masonry has to do with
Architecture, such as building construction, the literal stone masons,
brick layers, and the like, as it is practiced today. Speculative
Masonry, for which our ministry is dedicated, takes the working tools of
the operative mason, such as the 24-inch gauge, the common gavel, the
plumb-line, the square, compass and trowel, and assigns each with
spiritual or moral meaning in order to propagate its religious teachings
among its members. Even the "apron" of the operative mason,
used to protect his groan and guard his garments from stain and soil, is
used by speculative masons as a "badge" and symbol of good
works, which Masons are taught is essential for salvation.
While this website goes into greater detail, let us briefly review
some of the symbols in Freemasonry that represent the most heretical
teachings of the Masonic Order:
The Masonic Symbol of God
The first sign of heresy is a non-biblical worldview of the nature of
God. The Holy Bible teaches that there is only one God, and that God is
triune; that is, made up of three distinctly separate-yet eternally
united-personalities, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy
Spirit. On the other hand, Freemasons are taught to believe that, not
only is there one God, but each Mason can interpret the Supreme Being
any way he chooses, even if his interpretation is not biblical.
Freemasonry symbolizes this syncretistic God with the letter
"G" and the name, Great Architect of the Universe
(G.A.O.T.U.). A prominent Past Worshipful Master from the state of
Oregon put it this way:
"We, as Masons, believe that there is only one Supreme Being.
You may refer to that Supreme Being as you please. You may ask the
blessings of Jehovah, Allah, Yod, Mohammad, or any other Supreme Being
that you believe in. We make no distinctions in what you believe that
Supreme Being's name is. This is your preference and the preference of
all Masons everywhere."
William Larson, 33° Kenton
Lodge #145, Oregon USA
Therefore, since Freemasonry teaches a non-biblical view of God, it
is guilty of heresy. Unfortunately, due to biblical illiteracy, most
Christian Masons are spiritually blinded to this reality. By ignorantly
accepting the Masonic worldview of the nature of God, they unknowingly
violate the First Commandment, which is to love God with all their
hearts and to not place any other god before Him, instead of Him, beside
Him or in addition to Him (Exodus
20:2-4).
By praying among believers in other gods who call into presence their
gods during prayer in the lodge, while at the same time Christian Masons
call into presence Yahweh (the God of the Bible); Christian Masons are
consenting to worship Yahweh in concert with those who are worshipping
false gods in His presence. This is clearly a violation of the First
Commandment, whether the Christian Mason knows it or not, or whether he
refuses to believe it or not. Ignorance of the law of God is no excuse.
Therefore, the same applies to non-Christian Masons as well.
The Symbol of the "Hoodwink" or
Blindfold
The Hoodwink symbolizes that the candidate is in darkness in need of
light. What kind of darkness? Moral and spiritual darkness, which is
where all profanes (those without the light of Freemasonry) come from.
What "light" is the light of Masonry? Well, for starters, the
Three Great Lights of Masonry.
The Symbolism of the Three Great Lights of
Masonry
The Three Great Lights of Masonry are the Volume of Sacred Law (VSL),
the Square and Compass. The VSL emits spiritual & moral light, while
the Square & Compass both emit moral light. If the "3 Great
Lights" emit spiritual and moral light, then conversely, what does
the darkness in which the initiate came from represent? Again, the
answer Masonicly speaking, spiritual and moral ignorance of the secret
mysteries of life. What is a Christian doing going into a Masonic Lodge
accepting that he is in darkness when Jesus calls Christians the light
of the world? (Matthew
5:14-16)
Additionally, the VSL is a "rule or guide
to faith and practice," it is that volume of sacred law in
which the Mason believes to be the inspired Word of God. So, for
example, for the Muslim Mason it is the Koran, for the Hindu Mason the
Upanishads, and for the Christian Mason it is the Holy Bible. Again,
using the words of William Larson, 33° Kenton
Lodge #145, Oregon USA:
"On the Altar you will notice that the Bible here displayed is
of the King James Version. This is the Holy Writings that this lodge
prefers to use. However, these holy writings could just as easily be
the Veda, the Koran, the Jewish book of faith, or any other sacred
book you prefer. We, as Masons, make no distinction of one bible to
another."
This Masonic worldview is heretical, in that it suggests that all
holy writings are equally valid, equally true, come from God
(G.A.O.T.U.) and are therefore "on the same level" as His
inspired revelation to all mankind. Again, this is not biblical accord
to Joshua
1:8, 2
Timothy 3:16-17, 2
Peter 1:20-21, Matthew
5:18 and John
16:12-13, and is therefore heresy from a Christian perspective.
What about the Square & Compass? Masons are taught to use the
Square "to square their actions"
and the Compass "to circumscribe their desires
and keep their passions in due bounds with all mankind." So
effectively they are saying in order to behave appropriately and limit
sinful desires, Masons must somehow apply these working tools in their
day-to-day lives. Although they are never really shown how to do this,
Masons are expected to studying and apply Masonic principles and through
their own effort "improve themselves in
Masonry."
Is this biblical? Can we, in and of ourselves, improve from our human
frailties and fallen, sinful nature? Not according to Jesus in John
15 and Romans
8. Jesus said that apart from Him, we can't do anything, and unless
we surrender our lives completely to His Spirit, moment-by-moment on a
daily basis, and allow Him to live His life in and through us (Galatians
2:20) we will eventually fail and hopelessly fulfill the desires of
our sinful flesh (sinful nature).
The Symbolism of the Common Gavel
"The Common Gavel is an instrument used by operative masons to
break off the corners of rough stone, the better to fit them for the
builder's use, but we as Free and Accepted Masons use it for a more
noble and glorious purpose of divesting our minds and consciences of all
vices and superfluities of life, thereby
fitting us as living stones for that spiritual building, that house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens." North
Dakota Monitor, page 81
First of all this is another classic example of Masonic Scripture
Twisting. Notice how the following verses were mutilated then blended
together and taken completely out of context:
1
Peter 2:5 - "you also, like living stones, are being built
into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
2
Corinthians 5:1 - "For we know that if our earthly house of
this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
There is no mention of Jesus in the Masonic ritual, nor do they teach
that those who are in Christ are the tabernacle/temple of God. Besides,
the Bible teaches that we are to "divest our
minds and consciences from vice" (borrowing the Masonic
terminology) by the renewing of our minds, by the Spirit of God through
the Word of God (Romans
12). This is accomplished by diligent, daily Bible study (2
Timothy 2:15) and applying to our lives the principles found in
Scripture, not the principles of Freemasonry.
Finally, notice the adverb "thereby"
in the description of the Common Gavel, which signals the means to
salvation. In other words, if a Mason applies Freemasonry's Common Gavel
to his life, he can expect to go to heaven. Yet, the Bible clearly
teaches, that the only way to heaven is by faith in Jesus Christ alone (John
14:6), and in His substitutionary, sacrificial atoning death on our
behalf. This leads us to another symbol of Masonic eschatology.
The Symbolism of the White Leather Apron
"My Brother, I now present you this lambskin or white leather
apron. It is an emblem of innocence and the badge
of a Mason — the distinguished badge of a Mason."
Nevada Ritual,
page 25
"The Lamb has in all ages been deemed an emblem of innocence.
By the lambskin, therefore, the Mason is reminded
of that purity of life and rectitude of conduct so essential to
gaining admission to the Celestial Lodge above, where the
Supreme Architect of the Universe presides."
Louisiana Monitor,
page 49
The Bible teaches that faith without works, deeds or conduct of
behavior demonstrating that one's faith is actually alive, vibrant and
true, then such faith is dead (James
2:14-26). In other words, the Bible instructs us that good works are
the by-product of genuine faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians
2:8-13). Freemasonry, on the other hand, teaches that good works —
without the need of faith in Jesus — will get a Mason into heaven. If
not, where is the biblical prerequisite for salvation, of faith in Jesus
Christ alone found in Masonic ritual? Don't bother looking, because you
will not find it. It doesn't exist in Masonic ritual! Yet, clearly the
Masonic lecture of the Common Gavel and of the White Leather Apron both
tell the Freemason that by applying the principles of Freemasonry and
performing "good works" he can expect to
gain admission to the Celestial Lodge above.
The Symbolism of the Plumb
"The Plumb is an instrument used by operative masons to try
perpendiculars, the Square to square their work, and the Level to prove
horizontals; but we, as Free and Accepted Masons, are taught to use them
for more noble and glorious purposes. The Plumb admonishes us to walk
uprightly in our several stations before God and man, squaring our
actions by the Square of Virtue, ever remembering we are traveling upon
the Level of Time to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no
traveler returns."
If the VSL used in the second degree (Fellow Craft) is the Holy
Bible, then it is generally opened on the Masonic altar to Amos
7:7-8 are usually read:
"Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the LORD stood upon a wall
made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. And the LORD
said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then
said the LORD, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my
people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more."
The Masonic explanation of the symbolism of the Plumb to the Fellow
Craft Mason:
"Here the Plumb as a Jewel, the Plumb as a working tool of the
Fellow Craft, and the Heavenly Plumb in the hand of Jehovah, as told
in 'Amos VII', are so inextricably mingled that, while there are many
references to them in different parts of the degree, they must
symbolically be considered together. The Fellow Craft learns to judge
his work by his own plumb line, not by another's; if he erects that
which is good work, true work, square work by his own working tools -
in other words, by his own standards - he does well."
The Electric Lodge No. 495 of Hamilton,
District C, under the jurisdiction of the Grand
Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario
So, we see that a Mason is taught to go about establishing his own
righteousness, that his life's work is to be based on his own standards,
and as long as he is satisfied with how he is living his life and what
he has accomplished, he does well. This is reiterated in Grand Lodge
Masonic Education material:
"Masonry teaches the practice of all good morals, leaving the
interpretation of right and wrong to the individual conscience."
(Lodge System of Masonic Education,
Book 1, page 7)
Yet, is this appropriate from a biblical perspective? Absolutely not!
Romans
10:3 - "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and
going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted
themselves unto the righteousness of God."
Jesus Christ is revealed as the Plumb-line in Amos
7:7-8. A plumb line is an instrument used to measure an absolutely
perfectly straight vertical line. Jesus Christ is not only 100% God; He
is the epitome of human perfection. Therefore, Christ alone is qualified
to walk in the midst of His people, measuring and exposing good and bad,
true and false (Revelation
2 and 3).
For this reason, we as Christians are to examined ourselves and live
according to Christ's standard, being transformed (Romans
12:2) and conformed to His likeness (Romans
8:28-29), being made perfect (Matthew
5:48) by Him as we submit to His Will (Job
22:21) and allow Him to live His life in and through us (Galatians
2:20) to produce His fruit (good works), not ours (Galatians
5:22-23). For our fruit (righteousness), as well as the fruit of the
Mason and of all mankind is nothing more than filthy rags (Isaiah
64:6) when compared to the perfect righteousness of God found
through Christ Jesus our Lord (2
Corinthians 5:21).
The Symbolism of the Trowel
Finally, the last Masonic symbol we will examine here is the Trowel:
"The Trowel is an instrument used
by Operative Masons to spread the cement which unites the building
into one common mass; but we, as Free and Accepted Masons, are taught
to use it for the more noble and glorious purpose of spreading the
cement of brotherly love and affection,-that cement which unites us
into one sacred band, or society of friends and brothers, among whom
no contention should ever exist, save that noble contention, or rather
emulation, of who can best work and best agree."
This too is a non-biblical worldview. The Bible teaches us that it is
God the Holy Spirit who unites (1
Corinthians 12:13) mankind into the family of God (John
1:12-13), a sacred and royal priesthood (1
Peter 2:9) and seals us together until the day of redemption (Ephesians
1:13 and Ephesians
4:30) through faith in God the Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
So, you can see, the teachings of Freemasonry are very problematic
from a Christian perspective. Consequently, Masons who profess to be
Christian need to face the truth of the matter and resign from the lodge
and renounce its heresy.
We also challenge the non-Christian Mason to reconsider his faith in
light of Scripture. They too should take a very close look at what they
believe and compare it to the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ. We also
will make ourselves available to any Mason who would like to further
discuss these issues in order to explore and discover God's love so that
they can enter into a biblically-appropriate personal relationship with
Him.
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