Today the local church is suffering greatly under the watch of preachers who have little regard for those who enter the fellowship of the church. Some preachers are guilty of trying to build a church, so they invite anyone and everyone to become a member of the church body. Other preachers are not trying to build a church, but they are guilty of the same thing when people seek membership within the local church. In both cases the preacher never asks for the people to give a testimony in order to validate their relationship with Christ. This often leads to churches that are full of unconverted church members.
Many churches today have no qualifications for membership and they are willing to accept anyone who walks down the aisle and shakes the preacher’s hand. Is this the biblical model? Doesn’t this harm the view of church membership and cause problems within the body (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)?
Recently I have been teaching a series on cults on Wednesday evenings. The series goes through major cults in our day and exposes their heretical teachings. I am currently studying “Freemasonry”. I was amazed and surprised as I learned what these people believe. Not only was I amazed due to the teachings of Freemasonry, but I was also amazed of the percentages of Masons within the local church. Many Masons have their “G” symbol on their license plate while others wear it on a ring. The Masons pride themselves on secrecy and they operate under specific vows to never break their secrecy and oaths. I am planning to teach on Freemasonry during the final week of our cult series. My goal is to expose the teachings and ideology of the Masons.
Many mainline denominations have severed ties with Freemasonry. These groups include the Roman Catholic Church, the Methodist Church of England, the Wesleyan Methodist Church, the Russian Orthodox Church, the Synod Anglican Church of England, the Assemblies of God, the Church of Nazarene, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, the Reformed Presbyterian Church, the Christian Reformed Church in America, the Evangelical Mennonite Church, the Church of Scotland, the Free Church of Scotland, General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, Grace Brethren, Independent Fundamentalist Churches of America, the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, the Baptist Union of Scotland, the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, and the Presbyterian Church in America.
In 1992, a man by the name of James Holly requested that the Southern Baptist Convention conduct an investigation on Freemasonry. The SBC agreed and came to the conclusion that the teachings of Freemasonry were somewhat incompatible with Christianity, but the subject was open to each individual’s conscience.
Should the SBC sever all ties with Freemasonry? Should pastors lead their individual churches to adopt policies that prohibit Masons from joining the local church? What advantages would this have within the church? Would it purify the local assembly? Would it open the eyes of church members to the dangerous doctrines of Freemasonry?
God Bless,
Josh Buice
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Resources on Freemasonry:
1. “The Masonic Lodge – What You Need To Know – Quick Reference Guide” by: Ed Decker
2. “Fast Facts On The Masonic Lodge” by: John Ankerberg & John Weldon
3. “Should A Christian Be A Mason” by: E.M. Storms
4. http://www.biblebb.com/files/J94-52-1.HTM by: Eddy D. Field II and Eddy D. Field III
5. “The Deadly Deception: Freemasonry Exposed by One of Its Top Leaders” by: Jim Shaw & Tom McKenney
6. “One Nation Under Gods” by: Richard Abanes.
7. “Closer Look. Freemasonry” – NAMB article.
8. Comparison Chart – NAMB chart.
9. “Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions” by: John Ankerberg and John Weldon
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506 Responses to “Freemasonry in Christianity — Is there room on the pew?”
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No, that is not what i said.
If i want to be a catholic or a protestant or a buddah or an islamic or what ever i choose I am not right nor wrong for chosing that religion,
if i believe that path to be right for me.
This is why i don’t follow any religion… Because as Ron Hubbard said
“I might start a religion, thats where the money is”
Islam is as peaceful a religion as christianity… It’s not a terrorist organisation. There are bad eggs in it that ruin it for the rest of them and those people should get whats comming to them.
However, are you saying that we should all practise religious intolerance and fight wars in gods name? Is the christian god better and bigger than the islamic one?
People need to be responsible for their own actions. Killing in gods name is not doing that. Killing is inexcusable. Period…
If you were to do those things you mentioned i would say to you… What are your motivations? Political or religious?
Mr. J
What if I decide to do as Mr. Hubbard said – “I might start a religion, thats where the money is”? What if I start a religion that kills innocent people in the name of god – and if one kills over 100 people in the name of “god” they are automatically given a ticket to heaven? Is that right? You said so – you said whatever path you follow is right – there is not wrong!
I say – you are seriously wrong in your position.
Turn to Christ. — Yes, the God of the Bible is much bigger than the god of Islam. The god of Islam does not exist. The God of the Bible is alive and well.
Turn to Christ!
Josh Buice
John 14:6
So,
The church having killed many during the time of the inquisition and crusades are justified in doing so because they believed in the bible?
Your also willing to tell a few billion islamic’s their wrong?
It is this religious intolerance that causes wars…
While i appreciate your beliefs are your own I am not saying your right in believing in jesus nor wrong. It is what you believe to be true. I have not seen anything or experienced anything in my lifetime to suggest either. I’ve certainly not met jesus, and had discussions with him… Nor have I seen any actual evidence he existed. But religion is a question of faith isn’t it?
I’m sorry i don’t share with you your same views on jesus, however i do believe in a god. I have had profound experiences with prayer that have lead me to feel that way.
Again, Killing is an inexcusable act, regardless of what religious brand name you adhere too while doing it. Killing in gods name is wrong in any religion… I thought it was the point of such beliefs to unite people with love and well being, to share and to be accepting.
To love thy neighbour…
It is however apparent that this is not the way…
I believe it is not up to you or anyone else to judge me upon my acts
or choices in religion, unless they are a judge or they are god.
“Judge not lest ye be judged?”
*J
Mr. J
You said, “I am not saying your right in believing in jesus nor wrong. It is what you believe to be true.”
Then you said, ” Again, Killing is an inexcusable act, regardless of what religious brand name you adhere too while doing it”
My response – So, there must be a right and wrong religion after all – if killing is inexcusable. Therefore, we must realize that absolutes do exist – and Christ is the absolute authority in religion. He is the only way.
Acts 4:12
John 14:6
Josh Buice
Can god create a rock?
Lets just assume that he can seeing that he created the universe…
Now can god create a rock so heavy that even he cannot lift it?
There is no right nor wrong religion… Since when is religion the absolute moral authority on anything? I do not subscribe to any religion and yet I do not feel compelled to commit murder. But i should shouldn’t i? after all jesus isn’t there telling me not to… I guess its because i have my own sense of morality.
There is no right or wrong religion, there are however right or wrong acts. There are laws other than the 10 commandments. These exist for the sake of keeping civilisation from destroying itself, because should people be given free reign to act upon every impulse you have anarchy. If the only law existed was that of the 10 commandments then you would have a state run by the church.
hence why state and church are seperate.
Hence also why no religion can be considered right or wrong. I have not struck any religion that preaches murder… It is a primary goal of religious followers to obtain enterance into heaven, is it not? This is why i say it makes no difference as to how you do it.
I am familiar with the teachings of john, the whole I am the way the truth and what not… And he very well could be. However, i could say that too…
I see it like this… (Metaphorically speaking) Every number can be divisible by 1. If god was the number 1, then he is infinitly divisible and therefore omnipresent. Every single ounce of space can be said to contain god.
If there are 2 gods or 3 gods then it doesn’t work… unless it goes back to the 1 single thing from which everything was created. So perhaps there is only one god with 300 names, and every religion is just a path to that.
Now, i can see that i’ve left myself open to the whole what about the terrorists again so…
I say to you, can you find me a religion that says god will have you in heaven if you kill? I cannot see why a person would bother belonging to a church of any kind under this light… How can killing further a person? In gods name or any others…
J
Mr J,
You said, There is no right nor wrong religion… Since when is religion the absolute moral authority on anything?
I Say — Religion is not the absolute moral authority — God is! The “religion” of Christianity is based on Christ – and therefore, we simply worship the true and living God – rather than some comic book god that takes the shape of different cultures, people, and names as you suggest. The God of the Bible is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the true and living God.
The reason you desire no religion is because you don’t know the true God! If you did, you would worship Him and reverence Him for what He has done for you. Therefore, you do not impress me with your lack of desire to worship and reverence God – nobody who is outside of His love and Grace has a desire to worship Him.
As far as you possessing a sense of morality that has kept you from murder – has it kept you from committing ALL sin? James 2:10 says that if you keep the whole law and yet offend in one point you are guilty of all. Therefore, just because you have not committed murder, does not mean you stand righteous before God. All people are sinners [Romans 3:10, 23; and 5:12] and all sinners must receive the GRACE of God [Ephesians 2:8-9] in order to be saved from the wrath of God [Romans 1:18; 6:23].
For the glory of God!
BTW — God cannot create a rock that is so big that He could not lift it – that would mean that He would violate His omnipotence – and He will never violate His own omnipotence.
Josh Buice