| Masonic Lodge |
SHOULD A CHRISTIAN BELONGING TO LODGES?
Lodges,
in general, attempt to justify their existence by stressing the “good” they do.
But there are many charitable organizations that do most, if not all, of the
things that lodges do, and they require no membership pledges, or oaths. Most
lodges have religious overtones, not all of which are true to the Bible. No
doubt the enemy of men’s souls enjoys these “good works” overtures, since they
tend to provide a substitute for the charitable works the churches do. At the
very best, this strategy has the tendency to make their existence acceptable in
the public eye.
In
Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth, he sets forth a principle that,
if taken seriously, forbids the involvement of Christians in activities of this
nature. While lodges, or guilds, may not have been specifically in mind, it is
certain that all such are included in his admonition:
“Be
ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with
darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that
believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with
idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell
in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my
people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,
and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you, And will be a Father
unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty (EL
SHADDAI)” (2 Cor. 6:14-18).
The
word “yoked” needs attention, since in this context it means more that simply
being “harnessed together” cooperatively. Webster says it also means “subjection;
bondage; servitude; enslavement.” This would involve obligation to honor a
promise or agreement, which, of course, is commendable where the cause is open
and acceptable; but lodges require an oath of allegiance to their secret order
or fraternity and whatever it stands for.
As
a rule, lodge membership is open to anyone who will subscribe to their oath;
whether Christians, Jews, Mohammedans, Hindus, or whatever: atheists as well as
professed believers in God. This is clearly a “yoke” of believers with unbelievers;
righteousness with unrighteousness: light with darkness: Christ with Belial;
believers with infidels; the temple of God with idols. The Scriptures call for
separation-” Come out from among them, and be ye separate, the inference is
that God will not be our Father unless we do this.
“...I spake openly [publicly] to the world; I
ever taught in the synagogues, and in the temple, whither the Jews always
resort; and in secret have I said nothing” (John 18:20).
Jn 12:46: I
am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide
in darkness.
Isa 29:15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from
the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who
knoweth us?
Ephesians 5:11-13
11. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather reprove them.
12. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are
done of them in secret.
13. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the
light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
Act 26:26: For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I
speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him;
for this thing was not done in a corner.
I.
LODGES-SECRET ORDERS (John 18:20; 12:46; Isa. 29:15; Eph. 5:11-13;Acts 26:26)
God
is Light: The Apostle John had much to say about LIGHT as opposed to DARKNESS.
In his Gospel, chapter 1, verses 4 through 14, he introduces Jesus as “the true
Light” which shone in darkness but was not comprehended, or understood. One
marginal reading uses “apprehended” instead of “comprehended,” meaning that men
of darkness did not lay hold of that Light. Later, Jesus Himself, said
unbelievers are “condemned already.. .And this is the condemnation, that light
is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil” (John 3:18, 19).
Still
later, He said that He had come into the world as a light so that all who would
believe in Him would not abide in darkness concerning the Father’s truth. Then,
when He was on trial before the high priest-at night, or under the cover of
darkness, as it were, more or less in secrecy-He was interrogated concerning
His doctrine, or what He had taught. Jesus answered him, “I spake openly to the
world. ..and in secret have I said nothing” (See John 18:19-21). He came to
shed God’s light abroad. Anything done deliberately in secret is suspicious in
its intent.
Lodges
are known as “secret orders” because the main element of their teaching is
concealed from all who have not subscribed to their “order,” or fraternity. In
fact, some “orders” indoctrinate their members by “degrees,” and those who
“join” may not know what they are embracing until much later-perhaps too late!
Despite their “Bible language,” this is not the Bible way. The light of God is
not shrouded in darkness, but is open to “whosoever” will accept it.
God,
through His prophet, pronounced “woe,” or judgment, upon “them that seek deep
to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark” (Isa.
29:15). Again, God’s name was on their lips, but they feigned to believe that
He could not see or know what they were doing. This was a “religious” way of
saying there was no God. Some “oaths” plainly show that belief in God is a
mockery, or else that nothing at all is known about the true God. For example,
consider the following “oath”:
“Binding
myself under no less penalty than that of having my body severed in twain, my
bowels taken from thence and burned to ashes, the ashes scattered to the four
winds of heaven, so that no more trace or remembrance may be had of so vile and
perjured a wretch as I, should I knowingly or willingly violate this my solemn
obligation...” (-”What’s Wrong With Lodges?”)
Instead
of “yoking” ourselves with such unbelievers, we are warned to “have no
fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For
it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.”
The apostles followed Jesus’ example. Paul. when defending himself before
Festus, the Roman governor, and King Herod Agrippa (Acts 26) said, “...this
thing was not done in a corner,” or in secret. Again in Acts 20:20, he reminded
the Ephesian elders that he had kept back nothing, but had taught them
publicly.
If you have never accepted or if you have fallen away from Jesus Christ here are three steps you need to take to be saved:
You must admit you are a sinner, confess your sin to Jesus, repent (turn from all you know is wrong), ask Jesus to come in your heart, and begin to follow Jesus by reading and obeying his word and go to a bible believing church that teaches his word. And tell someone what Christ Jesus Has Done For You (Rev 12:10)
May God through Christ bless you!
If you enjoyed this blogpost and believe some else can be helped and may be blessed pass it along:
If you have a prayer request or have questions that need clarification please contact me at: neverstoppraying8@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment