Lodge Membership

MANY DENOMINATIONS ALLOW THEIR MEMBERS TO JOIN

THE MASONS AND OTHER LODGES. WHY DON'T WE?

Many churches view lodges like the Masons as a purely service-oriented organizations. It is true that Masons perform many important charitable works in our country and around the world. We are perhaps most familiar with their funding of hospitals and children's charities. It is certainly not our place to disparage the work that they do.

We do, however, have many serious concerns about the motives for what they do. You see, the Masons are not just a service organization. The Masons are a religion and, more ser-iously, they are a religion based, not on Christ and His righteousness, but on do-it-yourself salvation. They are a religion based on the belief that heaven is gained by a person's own good deeds, regardless of whether or not one believes in Jesus as their Savior.

The quotes below (in red) are taken directly from Masonic books. Bible passages that refute these Masonic teachings follow each quotation.

"The Masonic Lodge is a social organization only so far as it furnishes additional inducement that men may gather in numbers, thereby providing more material for its primary works of education, of worship, and of charity ... it impresses upon its members the principle of personal righteousness." (Blue Book of Masonic Law)

Their own books speak of their primary work as one of "worship" and the principle of "personal righteousness" (that each man is responsible for making himself right before the Creator).  Here is what the Bible says, "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and call short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:22-24) See also Romans 3:10; Romans 1:17)

"Therefore Masonry teaches that redemption and salvation are both the power and responsibility of the individual Mason. Saviors can show the way, but men must follow and demonstrate, each for himself, his power to save himself, to build his own spiritual fabric in his own time and in his own way. Every man in essence is his own savior and redeemer; for if he does not save himself, he will not be saved." (The Meaning Of Masonry)

"It's far more important that men should strive to become Christs than that they should believe that Jesus was Christ." (Mystic Masonry)

Jesus says in Scripture, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)  It is clear from these quotations (and the Bible passages that refute them) that Masonry is not Christian, but rather flies in the face of the Gospel which teaches that we are saved, not by our works, but solely by what Christ did for us by His life, death, and resurrection. Many other Masonic practices (oath taking, etc.) also show that Masonry is not simply a social club. It is a religion, a belief system, and more seriously, a religion based on works, not faith.

But, can't a person be a Christian (one who believes in salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, not salvation by human works) and still be part of the Masonic Lodge, taking part in all of the good that it does?

The above question really comes down to this: Can a person ignore or deny what a group teaches and believes, yet still be involved in what that group does?

Speaking broadly, the initial answer to that question could be yes. There have no doubt been sincere Christians who have also been Masons, participating in the Masonic Lodge and turning a deaf ear to the anti-Christian notions that were being taught to them in the lodge.

The real question, however, is "Why?" What would motivate a Christian to stand by silently while his own faith was being undermined and his Lord and Savior was lowered to the status of one savior among many? The pull to do charitable deeds and to belong to a group is very strong. It is so strong that a Christian might consent to work shoulder to shoulder with men who believe that such good works were earning them their place in heaven. Yet shouldn't a Christian speak up to expose error, to share the Gospel that Jesus did it all for us or, at the very least, to separate himself from an organization that denies Christ? (2 Cor. 6:14 - 7:1 is a "must read" for those considering joining the Masons!)

It is not safe for a child of God to associate with an organization founded on the premise that Christ is not the only way to heaven. It also gives a very mixed message about where one's true beliefs and allegiance are to be found (Matt. 6:24; 10:32-33). Even if a local lodge does little or nothing to promote Christless selfrighteousness, it remains a basic tenet of Masonry, a tenet that each Mason must swear allegiance to. Once a Christian clearly sees the difference, he knows a choice must be made (Joshua 24:15).