Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
What is your opinion on the matter?
Freemasonry
Christianity and Freemasonry
Catholicism and Freemasonry
A similar thread was posted in Unorthodox Theology...
http://christianforums.com/t5992935
What Freemasons say they believe in and what they practice are not the same. They say they believe in God. But they were first formed in the Temple of Isis as a sort of union to keep stop others from obtaining work that they wanted.
They are not allowed to name Jesus at their ceremonies.
The name Freemason is a term that they gave themselves during The Middle Ages. It stems from the term free stone mason, who were the builders of the Churches.
Before that they were called Pharisees which means "of the Pharaohs".
Christianity is not something to wear on your sleeve, as freemasons do. It is something you keep in your heart.
They teach something called "Truth & Consequences". It means you must believe a lie as the truth or you will face the consequences.
What freemasons practice and what Jesus taught are two completely different things.
Jesus taught that love is the key to the Kingdom of Heaven. What they teach is very similar to Gnostic religion. The belief that you can learn the password and enter heaven regardless of what sins you commit.
Decide for yourself. But most of the freemasons I've met have been willing to backstab an innocent man to work their way up.
That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. The word Pharisee is of Hebrew origin and comes from the Hebrew word פרושים prushim from פרוש parush, meaning "separated", that is to say, one who is separated for a life of purity.Before that they were called Pharisees which means "of the Pharaohs".
I think it is unwise to bind oneself by an oath to keep secrets. Therefore, I consider it unwise for a Christian to become a Mason.
My Christian tradition tends to take Jesus' instruction not to swear oaths very seriously, even to the point of not swearing oaths in court. I realize not all Christians are as scrupulous about oaths.
Secrecy is not usually a good thing. Jesus said: [bible]John 3:19[/bible]
I do NOT say a Christian cannot be a Freemason. I do not call it idolatry. However, I think it is unwise for a Christian to bind oneself by an oath to a secret organization. If one later realizes the oath was unwise, they, like Jephthah, will have harmed their own integrity. Avoiding all oaths, and especially oaths of secrecy, is more consistent with maintaining Christian integrity. Foreseeing and avoiding future crises of integrity (even if the risk is small) is a matter of wisdom.
You cannot be both a Catholic and a mason.
By the way, "fraternity"? Yeah right. Welp, its just a good ol boy's club folks, we can all go home now. No I don't think so.
Is this the same Anglican church that embraces homosexuality and esteems men who are openly living in homosexual relationships (adulterers who have forsaken their families even)and are raised up in leadership positions?
Of course there aren't any perfect Christians out there, but freely choosing a sinful life - like prostitution, is a far cry from someone who is genuinely trying to live a holy life but falls short from time to time (or even all the time).
And by your reasoning, could I be a serial killer and a Christian ? How about a rapist and a Christian ? I'm sure you see what I am getting at. So in short, NO, you can't be anything you want and a Christian.
If you really want an answer to this question...one that's based on scripture and experience, not conjecture might I suggest
Beyond the Light
Illuminating...
The correlation between your response and quote is weak at best. I am glad this woman became a christian! I have heard that so did Jeffrey Dahlmer, and I have seen a documentary on David Burkawitz, (I make no claims of correct spelling,) as now being a very effective and pwerful preacher still in jail. The connection between all of these and others is that they left their old, sinful life and became new creatures. They did not claim to be both at the same time.The decision on that belongs to the individual and to God, not to others.
BTW, Aileen Wuornos was a prostitute, a serial killer, a rape victim, and a Christian (the last as a death row inmate). As a child, her and her siblings were abandoned by their parents when she was 7 years old and she had already been a victim of horrific physical and sexual abuse by then. While she claimed to have only murdered men who were her "Johns" (prostitution customers) who abused her no doubt she committed much evil just as much evil was done to her. But a "god" which would reject her because of what she became is not worth much as a god.
[to Gwenyfur]Would you like to join with me in a discussion about the heretical teachings of Freemasonry which cause it to be incompatible with the Christian faith?
The correlation between your response and quote is weak at best. I am glad this woman became a christian! I have heard that so did Jeffrey Dahlmer, and I have seen a documentary on David Burkawitz, (I make no claims of correct spelling,) as now being a very effective and pwerful preacher still in jail. The connection between all of these and others is that they left their old, sinful life and became new creatures. They did not claim to be both at the same time.
Actually, in order for something to be heretical, it must teach heresy. Doesn't matter to me what anybody wants to call Freemasonry. All that matters is what it teaches; and if its teachings are heretical, no Christian should be involved in it. Heresy is generally defined as being an opinion or doctrine at variance with the orthodox or accepted doctrine of a church or religious system.For something to be "heretical" it must be a religious activity; freemasonry, while having a religious basis in some sense, is not in any sense a religion.
We're going to be getting to that. Unfortunately, in response to Gwenyfur's original post, all any of the defenders of the faith (Masonic faith, that is) have done is engage in character assassination. By they way, hope you don't mind if I refer to you as anti-Christian, since you have taken the liberty to classify me as an antimason. Seems to me to be only proper that "one good turn deserves another", right? And speaking of that term you used, it immediately reveals your willingness to be dishonest, based on the fact that for you to call me antimason, you are insinuating that I am opposed to all who are members of the Masonic Order. That is untrue. In order for it to be true, I would have to have an aversion toward members of my own family, and for somebody to say that, brands that person as a liar. I am opposed to the heretical teachings of Freemasonry that necessarily cause it to be incompatible with the Christian faith.Your query above makes the false assumption there are such "heretical teachings" which you and any other antimasons participating here have failed to prove exist.
The charge of "heresy" is always a refuge for those lacking rational argument. This is no longer the Middle Ages and religious "political correctness" is no requirement anyone should ever take seriously.
Actually, in order for something to be heretical, it must teach heresy.
When one considers that Masonry requires of its candidates that they promise to conform to the tenets and teachings of the Craft, it behooves Christians to investigate said tenets and teachings and see if they line up with Scripture.
Masonry's teachings on "God" and "Salvation" are at variance with the accepted doctrine of the Church.
...all any of the defenders of the faith (Masonic faith, that is) have done is engage in character assassination.
By they way, hope you don't mind if I refer to you as anti-Christian, since you have taken the liberty to classify me as an antimason. Seems to me to be only proper that "one good turn deserves another", right?
And speaking of that term you used, it immediately reveals your willingness to be dishonest, based on the fact that for you to call me antimason, you are insinuating that I am opposed to all who are members of the Masonic Order. That is untrue. In order for it to be true, I would have to have an aversion toward members of my own family, and for somebody to say that, brands that person as a liar. I am opposed to the heretical teachings of Freemasonry that necessarily cause it to be incompatible with the Christian faith.
As to proof of the existence of heresy, one only has to look at what Freemasonry says is "essentially necessary" for gaining admission into heaven. The first thing we have to establish is that gaining admission into heaven - the term used by Freemasonry - necessarily means salvation. No dancing around the issue will change that fact. That being the case, we now look at what Freemasonry actually teaches in this regard:
"Y w prsntd w a l or w l a, because te l, i all ages h b dmd an e o i, Te l i therefore t r y of tt purity o l a rectitude o c which is so essentially necessary to your gaining admission to that Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides." (Nevada cipher).
This is de-ciphered in Nevada's EA Monitor:
"You were presented with a lambskin or white leather apron, because the Lamb has in all ages been deemed an emblem of innocence. The lambskin is therefore to remind you of that purity of life and rectitude of conduct which is so essentially necessary to your gaining admission to that Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides." ('Nevada Masonic Monitor, First Degree - Entered Apprentice', p. 14)
Any honest Christian can look at that teaching and immediately see that Freemasonry, in establishing that which it claims to be "essentially necessary", for gaining admission into heaven (salvation) has totally ignored the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and has instead, supplanted His authority with the candidate's own works.
...Ephesians 5:11/Ex Masons For Jesus...
it is these doctrinal statements that I supposed you have deemed to be something nobody "should ever take seriously".
This is a frequent antimasonic argument entirely misinterpreting the symbolism of the lambskin apron and implying it means things which it is never said to mean by masonic sources. You've got to have theology to have works theology; masonry has neither.
Ignore the truth and it will go away, right? I was a ritualist for five years. I know what Masonry is, I know what it teaches. Your denials remind me of the billboard I used to see on Desert Inn Road, here in Las Vegas. "What part of 'Thou shalt not', do you not understand?"
No problem. Those who are Christians plainly see what Masonry is teaching. Your denials are moot.
For those of you who know the truth when you see it, I will also touch on what "purity" means, as in "purity of life":
"The Apron is at once the emblem of purity and the badge of a Mason. By purity is meant blamelessness, a loyal obedience to the laws of the Craft and sincere good will to the Brethren; . ." ('A Lodge System Of Masonic Instruction' - Nevada, p. 28)
So, Masonry is saying that being totally without fault, obeying the laws of Masonry, and liking Masons is what is essentially necessary for gaining admission into heaven.
Pretty clear. That's the way truth is. Once can ignore it; one can deny it; one can run away from it. But it can't be changed.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?