Freemasonry & the Southern Baptist Church

by Ed Decker

The Beaumont Enterprise of August 31, 1985 bannered the news across the front page of its religion section. The headline, "Religious leaders blast Freemasonry as satanic" sat above a large Square and Compass complete with its encircled G.

The Religion Writer, Thomas Morton reported that, "Dr. Larry Holly, a Beaumont physician, and the Rev. Charles Burchett, pastor of First Baptist Church of Kirbyville, submitted a resolution at the June convention in Dallas stating that Freemasonry, often called Masonry, is ""not compatible with Baptist faith and message."

The article continued, " The strongly negative resolution, which parallels some positions from other denominations, went to the Home Mission Board of the convention for consideration.

Morton interviewed the top Mason in Texas. "Such attacks on Freemasonry are not new", says George R. Scott, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas, and no one talks about it. "We just ignore the whole thing. I have instructed our members not to comment on it."

Rev. Charles Burchett already knew he was in for some tough times. In 1984, when he read from several of Albert Pike's statements, about 85 people left his church, most of them with close ties to the Masonic lodge.

Burchett and Holly contacted me for permission to use portions of the text in "The Question Of Freemasonry" and distributed 15,000 copies of their resolution. Entitled, "FREEMASONRY NOT COMPATIBLE WITH BAPTIST FAITH AND MESSAGE, BOLD MISSION THRUST, OR COOPERATIVE PROGRAM", it created a major stir amongst the convention and its leadership.

It listed some six specific examples of how Freemasonry denied the Word of God and concluded,

"Be it therefore RESOLVED, that we the messengers of the Southern Baptist convention meeting in Dallas, Texas, June 11-13, 1985, recognizing that the vast majority of men in Freemasonry are unaware of the occult, satanic, and sensual nature of Freemasonry, declare Freemasonry as a contemporary example of what God calls and condemns in the Word of God as "profane....Jewish fables" which cause men to question and turn from the truth, and...

"Be it further RESOLVED, that we urge all southern Baptists to hear the Truth of the Word of God when it says,

"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." (II Corinthians 6:14 -17)

...And once having heard the Word of God, we urge every Southern Baptist to be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only, by confessing and repenting before the Lord of their involvement in this ungodliness and removing before men their names, energies and resources from this spiritually devastating and ungodly brotherhood of Satanic darkness."

After the Convention, Pastor Burchett wrote and updated me in a June 18, 1985 letter. "The resolution was entered into the official minutes Tuesday afternoon, and we passed out 15,000 copies of the booklet. The title is somewhat ridiculous but it was designed to capture the attention of Southern Baptists. Wednesday afternoon the Resolutions Committee considered the resolution and asked me questions. Although they didn't report it out of committee to the floor of the Convention for debate and a vote, they unanimously agreed to refer it to our Home Mission Board's cult department for study and dissemination of the facts of Freemasonry to Southern Baptists."

"This avenue is longer and less dynamic than a floor debate, " Pastor Burchett continued, "but in the long run it will have more lasting effects on peoples' lives and provide a better opportunity for extensive education of Southern Baptists on Freemasonry."

On February 8, 1989, I called the Home Missions Board in Atlanta, Georgia and spoke to a representative of the Interfaith Witness department at the offices of Gary Leazer, department head. I was told that the request for the study had ended up in the Interfaith Witness department for response , but that the Directors felt that the study did not fall within the scope of that department.

A brief statement was distributed to those who would (or knew to) request it and a copy was mailed to me on February 10, 1989. It reads:

"The 1985 Resolutions Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention referred to the Interfaith Witness Department of the Home Missions Board for their study and recommendation the resolution by Larry Holly and Charles Burchett entitled "Freemasonry Not Compatible with Baptist Faith and Message, Bold Mission Thrust, or Cooperative Program."

"In answer to the Resolution Committee, it is recommended that the Home Mission Board respond that after a thorough study by the Interfaith Witness Department, it is the Board's conclusion that Freemasonry does not fall within the scope of assigned responsibility of the Home Mission Board."

We can only assume that the issue has died an ignominious death. There seems to be no group within the entire structure of the Southern Baptist Convention that will admit the assigned responsibility for dealing with the subject of Freemasonry.

THE HIDDEN HOOK

There continues to be some sort of hidden hook to all this uptight refusal to deal with the heretical practices and roots of Freemasonry within the Southern Baptist Church. There are solid Biblical cautions about secret societies and blood oath taking, yet here were intelligent, normally Biblically sound Christians tap dancing through some sort of spiritual mine fields that let family background and cultural behavior override their dedication to Biblical inerrancy and obedience to God's Word.

One extremely important piece to the puzzle came in a book entitled, ROYAL AMBASSADOR CEREMONIES, DRAMAS AND RECOGNITIONS.

It's title page states, "Copyrighted in 1988 and published by the Brotherhood Commission, SBC., 1548 Poplar Ave. Memphis TN 38104-2493, James H. Smith, President, A Southern Baptist Convention agency supported through the Cooperative Program." It is the official ritual book for Recognition Services and the Initiation Ceremonies of the young men and boys groups in the Southern Baptist Church. It is specifically associated with the Royal Ambassador program.

First, let's understand that the Royal Ambassador program is part of a foundational program to raise up young men to be servants of God, and true Ambassadors for Christ. Throughout the pages of the ritual manual, the name of Christ is lifted up and Jesus is an obvious and integral part of the entire program. The Motto itself, "We are Ambassadors for Christ" comes from 2 Corinthians 5:20.

However, just as every step along the ladder of advancement is filled with deeper commitment to the cause of Christ, each step is equally filled with Masonic ritual, terminology and metaphor. This is not some accidental coincidence, but a planned system of Masonic indoctrination, as you will see.

In the recognition ceremonies on page 8, the young initiates are told, "Royal Ambassadors, keep this in mind. The shields, badges and other awards that are about to be presented to you are not prizes, These are tokens of what you have done or where you have been." The tone of the charge, the way the sentences are formed and spoken and words such as token, well done, travel, and journey are key Masonic words that are more than just subliminal here.

Some other simple examples are described in the instructions for the LADs, "You have just begun the journey to the mountain of adventure..." and for the Trialblazers (page 9), "Well done. You have advanced more than halfway up the mountain of adventure. Your token is in the form of a shield with a gold circle around it.". .and on it goes.

Again, we must realize that these young men are being prepared by subliminal force to be comfortable so that when they are later enjoined to step into the trap of the Gnostic mysteries of Freemasonry they will feel on familiar ground. As that young man stands at the Lodge door, with a hoodwink over his eyes, a cabletow around his neck and his sleeve and pant leg rolled back, embarking on the mystical journey for higher knowledge and seeking the light of lodgery, he must think, "well, it can't be too strange. I did almost this same thing at church when I was in Royal Ambassadors. It must be OK."

That's is the gravity of the matter. In looking into the rituals with our understanding of the Masonic forces at work, the ceremonies appear to have been purposely established by this Brotherhood Commission to prepare young men for that darker initiation into the occult mysteries of Freemasonry. Look into the actual initiation rituals itself, on pages 25-27, and compare them to only one of numerous Freemasonic counterparts. You will see what I mean.

INITIATION

Candidate is blindfolded, right shoe and coat are removed, and left sleeve is rolled up slightly.

(In the Masonic ritual for Entered Apprentice, the candidate is blindfolded-or hoodwinked, coat and shoes are removed, left arm is out of the shirt sleeve, left pant leg rolled up, slipper placed on right foot rope or cable-tow placed around neck.)

ONE: (Leads candidate by left arm to door and knocks twice, sharply.)

(In the Masonic ritual, candidate is led to door and the steward seizes candidate's right wrist and raps three times on door)

TWO: (Knocks from within)

(In Masonic ritual, Senior Deacon raps three times from within)

ONE: (Knocks once.)

TWO: Who comes here? (He shouts, opening the door. Raps candidate on left shoulder.)

(In Masonic ritual, the Steward opens the door partially and the Senior Deacon shouts from within, "Who Comes Here?)

ONE: Mr. (candidate's name), a weary traveler, along life's highway, seeking entrance and companionship

along his journey up the straight and narrow path.

(In the Masonic ritual, the Steward replies, "a poor blind candidate, who is desirous of being brought from darkness to light and receiving part of the rights, lights and benefits of this worshipful lodge, erected to God and dedicated to the holy saints John, as many a brother and fellow has done before him.")

TWO: Mr. (candidate's name), is it your free will and desire that you be allowed to enter into our midst?

(In the Masonic ritual, the Senior Deacon asks the candidate, "Is it of your own free will and accord?)

CANDIDATE: Yes, it is.

TWO: Have you the key with which to enter?

ONE: He has it not, but I give it to him.(Steps forward and clasps Two's hand and saying in a low voice)Share the light of the world.

( In the Masonic ritual, this secret key is passed on in the second or Fellow Craft degree. At an almost identical routine at the door, the Senior Deacon asks the Steward, "Has he the pass?" to which the Steward replies, "He has not. I have it for him." "Give me the pass," the Senior Deacon states. The Steward gives the pass or key, to the Senior Deacon in a whisper, "Shibboleth.")

TWO: Wait until I return. I shall inform our counselor(or President) of your wish. (walks briskly to front of room and makes his address.) There is a weary traveler outside our gate, seeking entrance.

(In the Masonic ritual, the Senior Deacon reports with the same message to the Worshipful Master)

COUNSELOR OR PRESIDENT: Let him be escorted in.

TWO: (Returns to door) You have permission to enter.

ONE: (Slowly leads candidate in and around the room three times. Counselor or President raps gavel or strikes bell once as candidate approaches each post. (Counting the President, there are 4 posts).

As the candidate passes each Post, a portion of Scripture is read. Romans 12:1, 12;2, Matthew 14:23 and Luke 14:23 are used in that order.

(On second and third trips around the room, each post rereads his Scripture as the candidate passes the respective posts.)

Following the tour, the candidate learns the Motto, "Share the Light of the world", taken from John 3:12.

Finally the candidate is led to the Counselor or President and kneels on one knee, in front of a Bible. and repeats the Royal Ambassador Pledge.

COUNSELOR OR PRESIDENT: To seal this pledge, you will place your hand on the Bible. (ONE holds Bible)

COUNSELOR OR PRESIDENT: Remove the blindfold so that (Candidate's name) can see the Bible. This is the key which opens the door to our fellowship so that we may work together in being Ambassadors for Christ...

(In the Masonic Entered Apprentice ritual, The candidate is led around the Lodge room three times by the right arm, in what is called the Rite of Circumambulation. As he passes each station of office, each one gives a loud rap on the floor. As the first rap is given by the Junior Warden, the Worshipful Master begins reciting the 133rd Psalm, timing it so that the Psalm is completed just as the candidate finishes his tour around the Lodge.)

(In masonry, the candidate is then instructed to advance to the Altar, "kneel on your naked left knee; place your right as to form a square, your body erect, your naked left hand supporting the Holy Bible, Square and Compasses, your naked right hand resting thereon.")

In that position, the candidate swears the Masonic oath or OBLIGATION, after being told by the Worshipful master that "The solemn engagements which you will be required to make before you can participate in our labors and privileges are made in the name of God, and once taken they can never be repudiated or laid aside; yet I am free to inform you that our obligation contains nothing which can conflict with your duty to God, your country, your neighbor or your self."

Of course, that is a blatant lie. The candidate is swearing an oath on the very Bible that prohibits such oath taking. The candidate will be obligating himself by, "binding myself under no less penalty than that of having my throat cut from ear to ear, my tongue torn out by its roots and buried in the rough sands of the sea, at low water mark where the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty four hours, should I in the least knowingly or wittingly violate or transgress this my Entered Apprentice obligation. So help me God and keep me steadfast."

He is then told that , "In token of your sincerity of purpose in these solemn engagements, you will kiss the Holy Bible now open before you." The design of the darkened lodge room is such that a single light now shines just at this moment upon the Bible. In both the Lodge and the Royal Ambassador rituals, the attention of the candidate is directed to the Bible, while the oath taking is being conducted.

THE BISHOP INITIATION

Specifically designed for Pioneers, this ceremony is set up with an air of secrecy and has even more direct ties to Freemasonry. It is detailed on pages 26-28 of the referenced Brotherhood Manual.

In it, the Counselor is instructed to be secretive in the operation of the ritual. "It is suggested that this initiation service be known only to you, a few selected leaders, parents and those boys who have been initiated. This initiation is a reprint of an emphasis incorporated some years ago by Ivyloy Bishop, the first national director of the Royal Ambassador program."

The room is prepared such that there are sequential piles of cans, bricks, rocks, sticks and a ladder. A Bible sits upon a table. There is a second room opening up into this ritual room. The candidate is taken to this side room by the Director, where his coat is removed, his sleeves rolled up. The candidate is then securely blindfolded. He is then led to the door of the ritual room.

"The Director gives the secret knocks which are: two quick raps, pause, then two more quick knocks. The Counselor [inside] answers with the same knock, opens the door, asks who the candidate is, if he will keep the secrets, do the work and bear the responsibilities of a Royal Ambassador. After the candidate answers "yes," he is admitted."

After he is admitted he is told that he is going on a journey and must pray for guidance. After a short prayer, the candidate is given a heavy sack of bricks or rocks. "It should be about all he can carry to symbolize a real burden."

"Carrying the burden, the candidate is led two or three times around the room....At the end of the last round he is rudely halted by the counselor....(removes the burden). The candidate is then walked rapidly forward....a stick is held across his path in such a way that it lightly taps him on the forehead. He is told that this is to teach him that if on the journey of life he is proud and high headed and does not bow humbly to the will of God, he will meet with obstacles. He is told to bow very low, and so passes under the rod..."

"He is now marched over various rough objects in his path. These may include tin cans, bricks, a ladder lying flat on the floor, stairs, etc. All this time the director is holding him by the arm to prevent him from falling down, but allowing the candidate to stumble along."

"The candidate is halted and told that the path of life is not always easy, but is often rough and difficult to travel. He will find pitfalls and stumbling blocks along the way. He will not be able to see what is ahead, but if he, with faith puts his hand in the hand of Christ as he did with the director, he will be helped along the way."

The candidate is led to the ladder and similar analogy is used as he climbs the ladder being held by several of the men.

"The candidate is now conducted to a low table or chair on which lays an open Bible. The candidate kneels before this Bible; his right hand is placed over his heart and his left hand rests on the edge of the table touching the Bible. The candidate is told that is kneeling before an open Bible and that his right hand is over his heart as a symbol of sincerity. He is instructed that in this position he is to take the obligation of his chapter and if he will promise to keep the obligation, he is to answer "I do" after each of [a series of] questions."

Following the obligation, which deals with Christian lifestyle, the room is made entirely dark. The Counselor turns a flashlight on the Bible. With the candidate still kneeling, the blindfold is taken off and he is told that the world is in darkness without the Bible; that the Scriptures are God's light that comes from above..." The lights are turned on and the candidate is greeted by each member of the Chapter. This ritual is repeated for each initiate.

The parallels to Freemasonry are astonishing. First, we have the usual blindfolding, the sleeves rolled up and the secret raps and signals at the entry door between two ritual workers. The Brotherhood manual clearly instructs that the candidate must be asked if he is willing to "keep the secrets". This is asked in Freemasonic fashion prior to the young mans knowledge of any of the details of those secrets.

He must trust his Royal Ambassador leaders, just as he may be asked in later life in Freemasonry to trust the Worshipful Master. Of course, we have seen that the Worshipful Master will lie to the Entered Apprentice so that he is seduced into swearing the Masonic Obligation.

In the Pioneer ritual, the oath is also referred to as "the obligation of the Chapter." Again, the candidate is asked to promise to keep the obligation without knowledge of the actual text. Here, it is simple and deals only with the young mans relationship with Christ. However, in Freemasonry, it binds the candidate to occult principles.

The bait and switch method of occult indoctrination is clearly present here. Why is it necessary to blindfold and lead these young men around some form of a lodge room? Why are Christian leaders asking young men to violate Scriptural warnings and swear oaths of obligation? I believe it is to soften their spiritual sensitivities for the actual rites of the higher degrees of Freemasonry.

In the Masonic ritual, we find several very close parallels to the Pioneer initiation. Perhaps the easiest to understand is the Royal Arch or Seventh Degree ritual in the York Rite. This is the degree in which the candidate steps directly into the occult path of Gnostic enlightenment. Here, he learns the secret name of the Masonic god and takes upon himself the password of the Royal Arch member, I AM THAT I AM.

Candidates are presented in groups of threes and it requires that same number of Royal Arch Masons to pronounce the sacred name. The candidates are prepared by having their coats removed, bandages placed over their eyes (or blindfolded securely) and are tied together with a long rope, with about 3 feet of slack between them.

The candidates are presented as three sojourners from Babylon. A Royal Arch member plays the role of the Principal Sojourner who leads them by the rope. Once past the entry door and its responsive knocking or rapping and passwords, he speaks to the candidates, "Companions, you will follow me. I will bring the blind by a way they know not; I will lead them in paths they have not known; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and will not forsake them. Stoop low brethren, he that humble himself shall be exalted."

Meanwhile Lodge members form two facing lines and interlock their fingers, forming a low arch under which the candidates must stoop and under which they are eventually forced to the floor to crawl their way through. This is a direct counterpart to the Pioneer ritual of stooping under the stick to "bow very low".

Notice the similarity between the Pioneer Director and the Principal Sojourner. Both are there to lead the blindfolded candidates through the perils of darkness and trials and bring them to the light. While the Director is portrayed as the example of Christ, the Principal Sojourner is not hampered by any such restriction, he and the Lodge represent the light, the truth and the way. Jesus is not mentioned.

Both rituals require the same form of solemn obligation, both ask its candidates to agree to the ritual and obligation in advance of knowledge and by virtue an implied but absent free will; both use the metaphor of darkness and light and both recognize the leader and group as the truth bearers. Both require the candidate to kneel before a Bible to take their obligation.

In the Royal Arch Degree, the three candidates are led around the Lodge room in a close equivalent of the Pioneer initiation.

"Each candidate shoulders his working tools and follows the Principal Sojourner, going single file to a corner of the room where a quantity of blocks or bricks are scattered around."

The candidates find a trap door and after returning to the High Priest of the Chapter to report their find, one of them eventually goes down into a lower chamber to first recover three small trying squares.. In this ritual, a ladder is usually used.

In the obligation of this Degree, the candidate swears an oath of severe proportions. In part he states, "I furthermore promise and swear, that I will keep all the secrets of a Companion Royal Arch Mason (when communicated to me as such, or I knowing them to be such), without exceptions." At the conclusion of this three page oath, the initiate is commanded to seal his oath by kissing the Bible (or other sacred book) seven times. One must wonder what dark secrets have been hid from the world of truth and justice under the guise of such fraternal fidelity.

The initiation ritual of the Shrine (The Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles Of The Mystic Shrine) is one that openly mocks the dignity of Christian integrity. The initiation ritual is designed with numerous sexual overtones and it is hard to imagine that any Shriner would want his wife or children to watch him.

In one of the least offensive parts of the Shriner ritual, we can see another connection to the Royal Ambassador initiation. "The candidates are hoodwinked and in stocking feet enter after three loud alarms (violent blows from the mallet). At first they proceed one by one on carpet, then upon a spread of corn husks, then a strip of stair cover or sheeting strewn with pebbles, followed by a ladder with close rounds, camp stools folded and a roller or any rough road most conveniently prepared out through hallways, etc."

We must realize that the young men going through the Bishop Initiation are being prepared to accept spiritual submission to the inner depths of Freemasonry without those spiritual warning bells ringing. Freemasonry will have that familiar spirit. It will bring to the surface those good feelings, that acceptance and approval by those in authority and those they love.

Perhaps you can now see what Larry Holly and Charles Burchett had their work cut out for them and why the National offices wanted nothing to do with the issue. To deal with it honestly would be the kiss of death to any career at the national level. I was told by one such leader, "No one dares touch this sacred cow. Too many influential Pastors and Lay leaders are dedicated Masons."

HOT POTATOES

A letter to Dr. Jerry Falwell in early 1988 brought this response regarding his position from Rick Lawreson, Theological correspondent for Dr. Falwell, dated March 23, 1988. "I have enclosed a commentary addressing the subject of Masons. I would encourage you to take time to study this commentary so that you will have a proper understanding of the position that Dr. Falwell and this ministry [Liberty Home Bible Institute/ Old-Time Gospel Hour] take with regard to this subject."

The printed commentary stated, "We appreciate the opportunity to be of assistance to you with regard to your inquiry regarding whether or not the Christian should be involved in Freemasonry.

"Without doubt, the Freemason organization and especially the Shriners and their particular interest in providing medical assistance to children, both burned and crippled, is to be commended. These humanitarian acts of charity are certainly showing forth the character of a Christlike compassion...

"It is unfortunate that there is not more charity being shown in today's society. Jesus Himself is our great example of One who willingly gave Himself compassionately to those who were in greatest need...

"Unfortunately, there are some individuals who condemn others to Hell for belonging to the Freemasons. They fail to understand the passage: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved (John3:17). People are not condemned to Hell because of some organization that they do or do not belong to, but people are condemned to Hell because of their unbelief in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal saviour...

"Dr. Falwell has never belonged to the Mason organization and does not intend in the future to belong to the Mason organization. He feels that all of his time should be given over to the Christian service to which God has called him.

"Dr. Falwell does not take a public stand concerning Masonry; but neither does he let this be the issue that draws a line between fellowshipping with other Pastors."

James Draper

During that time of family turmoil, when my Dad became so violently upset over my book, The God Makers, and the publication of my first article on Masonry, I wrote to several national Christian leaders who were Masons to seek their counsel in dealing with the dark side of masonry and its specific effect upon my family. One was Dr. James Draper.

On June 4, 1984, when I wrote to James Draper, he was the President of the Southern Baptist Convention. In the letter, I shared that my family had been involved in Masonry for a number of generations, and that my questions and bold position had caused a great division in my family because of my father's strong defense of the fraternity.

I said that I had been told he was a 33rd degree Mason and that I needed some straight answers. "If I can't trust you, I might as well throw in the towel."

I asked him, "Dr. Draper, how can a Christ centered Christian put his thumb to his throat in an oath? How can a Christian call upon the name of Jaobulon as the true God? Please! My father and mother talk about ending their lives and Dad has a very bad heart. I need help quick! I pray that you can speak to this problem before it destroys my family."

Dr. Draper responded in a letter dated June 18,1984. He stated that he was a 32nd degree Mason, having joined the lodge as a young preacher many years ago. He did not evade my implication that he might just be a stumbling block in this matter of my relationship with my father.

He wrote, "I do not recommend anyone become a part of the Masonic Lodge. I have not been active for many years. From what I read and the things I have been able to find out, some of the additional teachings of the Masonic Lodge are very heretical and certainly not conducive to Christian commitment."

"However, I have discovered that many Masons are not even aware of those things and feel they are actually extending their commitment through the Masonic Lodge. Do not ascribe to your father everything you have read about the Masons."

The letter closed with the remark, "Again, let me tell you that I do not recommend the lodge." It was signed, In His Love, Jimmy Draper.

JIMMY DRAPER DEMITS

In late July, I received a copy of Jimmy Draper's Letter of Demit, dated July 17,1984. Addressed to the Estelle Lodge No. 582, A.F. & A.M. in Euless, Texas, he described his membership as that of Blue Lodge masonry, having been raised to the degree of Master Mason. (In his letter to me, he had indicated he was raised to the 32nd degree. I am inclined to believe that his letter to me was in error on that point.)

Dr. Draper wrote that he had never felt his Christian walk challenged by his involvement in masonry. He said, "All this is to say that my experience with the masons has been a positive one." He wrote that while he had been inactive for the last 14 years, he had "maintained my dues in the organization. I have many cherished friendships in the Lodge and am grateful to God for them."

It wasn't difficult to see that Dr. Draper was struggling between his long term friendships with good people and the Biblical position regarding Freemasonry.

His letter of Demit continued, "For the past several years I have been studying the teachings of Freemasonry. Obviously, there is much taught in advanced degrees that I was not taught. (This is way I am sure he was in error stating that he was a 32nd Degree Mason...ed) In studying Mackey's Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and other books produced by masons, I have learned that there are additional teachings to the ones I learned. While Freemasonry teaches the unity of God, it does not center on the Jehovah God of the Bible and His only son, Jesus Christ... while the Bible is honored, it is not viewed as the sole rule of truth. Good works and virtue are seen as the key to heaven."

"In these critical times in which we live, I find that I must carefully identify myself with the Lord Jesus Christ and no other entanglement must be seen as competing with that commitment. The Bible tells me that "If eating meat causes my brother to stumble, then I will not eat meat." It is obvious that my membership in the Freemasons is a stumbling block to others. For that reason I must ask that my name be removed from the rolls of the [Lodge]."

"I make this decision after many months and several years of prayer and study. My love for you as brothers in Christ remains constant. I am not on a crusade to discredit Freemasonry. I simply must make clear in my own life that my sole and supreme allegiance is to my Lord Jesus Christ and no vow must be seen as competing in any way with my love for and commitment to Him."

Let me note here that after the publication of this article, the SBA pulled these youth rituals that were so blatantly Masonic. The greater question is why were they there in the first place, and if I am not telling the truth, why pull them after I revealed them? Remember that most of the adult male membership of the SBA went through these Masonic rituals as youth. Is it any wonder that the SBA still sits joined at the hip to the Masonic leadership within the SBC?

Footnotes:

1. A RESOLUTION FOR THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION, C. Burchett, J. Holly, 1985, page 3.

2. STANDARD FREEMASONRY ILLUSTRATED, THE POWNER CO, CHICAGO, 1983, pages 96-97

3. IBID, page 97

4. IBID, page 98

5. IBID

6. IBID

7. IBID

8. IBID, page 171

9. IBID, page 107

10. IBID, page106

11. IBID, page 109

12. DUNCAN'S MASONIC RITUAL AND MONITOR, Malcolm C. Duncan, Ezra Cook Publ., Chicago, 1974, page 226

13. IBID, page 228

14. IBID, pages 241

15. IBID, Royal Arch Oath, page 230

16. THE MYSTIC SHRINE, AN ILLUSTRATED RITUAL, Ezra Cook Publ., Chicago, Ill, 1975. page 32.

17. Letter Dated March 23, 1988, Rick Lawrenson, enclosure; notes entitled, Masons

18. Letter dated June 18,1984 James T. Draper, on file

(c) copyright 1997, Ed Decker

Contact Ed Decker at www.saintsalive.com

Freemasonry & The Masonic Lodge

I have been besieged of late to explain why I just won’t go away and leave the Masons alone to do their "good works." Let me share a little history about this ministry and me. My comments come from forward to an upcoming book on the subject.I lay on the floor of the bathroom, retching. I was sure I was going to die.

I had a TV show to do in just a few hours and I was certain that I wouldn't live to see it. I pulled myself up, leaning against the wall next to the toilet, trying to pull away from the pain I was in and sort out what was happening.I supposed that I had contracted food poisoning during the Pastors' lunch earlier, but then, my table companions, sharing the same pizza, were not in here fighting for space at this receptacle. I remembered the two out-of-town visitors, whose attendance our host expressed concern over. "This is a dangerous business, and I don't know these fellows," he warned.

"Don't give it another thought," I answered. "God is our protector."

Then I recalled that one of them had offered to refresh my drink and I had consented. A half-hour later, I was convulsing in pain.

Reflecting back, years later now, I guess I ought to have questioned the wisdom of going to Inverness, Scotland to do a TV program on "The Occult Origins of Scottish Rite Masonry." My host was correct in his concern, yet God truly was my protector.I rose up that evening by His strength and did that program, standing up. Yet, by the morning I was too ill to continue my tour and the next day began a terrible journey back to Seattle, to my own doctors and my own family. I arrived home barely able to walk.

The poison had effected my involuntary muscle system and it was difficult to use my hands and feet and hold my head steady. I arrived in Seattle more than 25 pounds lighter than when I left.Tests showed that I had sustained a high, lethal dose of arsenic, enough to kill me a few times over. It took months to recover from the incident. Not only had the poison done serious damage to my digestive system, but also I would lie in bed, sleeping fitfully while my body twitched continually.

Later, the heavy metal began to work its way out through vicious sores in the tops of my hands and my head, making a terrible odor that smelled like dog urine.Even just recently, years later, while I was undergoing lung surgery caused by a bus accident, several blood vessels in my lower back broke spontaneously for apparently no reason. The doctors puzzled over the phenomenon for the better part of the day until a nurse asked my wife if I had been exposed to metallic poison in a work environment. When Carol told them about the Scotland incident, they had their answer. Tests showed that pockets of arsenic still in my system [lower back area] had been the cause and the vessels broke while I was in severe trauma.

I suppose we could have pointed out the man who poisoned me. He would have gone to prison, but as one Scottish friend warned, our host would have paid the price at the hands of the Masons in response. It wasn't worth it. I am still alive and I am still speaking out the awful truth of the lodge. I am sure there are more than a few Masons in Scotland that can't understand why I am still alive. I do. It was because God intended me to live.

When I began to study the Lodge with a critical eye, it meant that I had to look back at my own father, grandfather and their fathers before them for almost two hundred years. They were honest men, churchmen who took our faith, our family and our country seriously, fighting in its many wars. Generation after generation, each son followed after his father and entered into membership in the Lodge.

That line ended when I stepped out of the DeMoLay to join the Mormon Church. Well, tonight we have an wonderful opportunity to learn some things about Freemasonry, the lodges, et al…that you will never hear from those involved and we need to rejoice that this data is available if for no other reason than to know how to pray with wisdom for those you love who are involved…and for those here who are involved, to test my words against the Bible and your lodge and make a decision based on knowledge.

I know that this is a subject that comes close to home for many of you. Many of you have loved ones who are in the Masonic Lodge.

A lot of men get involved with Freemasonry, not fully understanding what they are getting entangled with.

I spent 20 years in the Mormon Church where the temple rituals had been directly "lifted" from the Blue Lodge degrees. Other portions of the Scottish rites, such as the ordination of the "Holy Melchizedek" priesthood were also common.The more I have studied Masonry, the more I realized the depth of its satanic hold over those within its "strong Grip". Within the pages of the hundreds of Masonic books and secret ritual manuals I have gathered and read in our research is a tragic story of Godly men who have succumbed to the snare of the enemy and have been snatched from the very arms of Christ. They have brought the darkest side of Baal worship into their homes and congregations, opening the door to every demon in that Masonic corner of Hell.

Most Masons get involved with the Lodge out of peer pressure, their friends are in it, their grandfather was in it, and some go into it for business reasons. They see it as a way to progress in their business and social lives. Others are attracted by the secret, mystic rituals and symbolism of Freemasonry. Others see people like the Shriners parading around in the red fezzes riding their funny cars in parades when the Shrine circus comes to town.

People wonder, "Well, what about the Shriners? We hear about the Shriners Hospital, about Masonic homes for Masons, about all the good works they do. Everyone knows about the Shrine Circus and the many people who are helped by them. Why are you criticizing them? Are you saying that they have something to hide from the world"

Yes, I am saying just that. This is clearly the case with the Shriners. Their public image is that of a fun time group pouring out millions of dollars into charity, all the while dressed up in a party spirit, wearing their Red Fezzes with great aplomb.

The Fez itself, is an example of this double meaning behind most of Freemasonry’s facade. Worn by ever Shriner and even carried to the grave with pompous dignity, the history of the Fez is barbaric and anti-Christian. In the early 8th century, Muslim hordes overran the Moroccan city of Fez, shouting, "There is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet." There, they butchered many Christians.

These men, women and children were slain because of their faith in Christ, all in the name of Allah, the same demon god to whom every Shriner must bow, with hands tied behind his back, in worship, proclaiming him the god of his fathers in the Shrine initiation, at the Altar of Obligation.

We are going to discover that all those good works are simply an outer shell of an inner darkness. I am going to peel away all the outer wrapping. I will expose, very clearly, what Freemasonry is, and why no Christian has any business being any part of the Masonic Lodge.

The journey into Freemasonry begins at what is known as "The Blue Lodge." The Blue Lodge is the foundation of all Freemasonry. These are the many local lodge groups, scattered across the country in almost every little town and city. When a man goes into it, he is initiated into The Blue Lodge through three degrees. The first, or "Entered Apprentice" degree, the second, or "Fellowcraft Degree", and the third, or "Master Mason" degree.

After going through the three degrees of The Blue Lodge, the Mason has the choice to stay in the Blue Lodge or to seek the advanced degrees through either the Scottish Rite or the York Rite. Many Masons will go through both.

Within the Scottish Rite, there are the fourth through the thirty-second degrees, and the thirty-third being an honorary degree. The York Rite has thirteen degrees. Once the Mason has attained the 32nd degree, through either higher arm of the craft, he has the option to petition to leading to join the Shriners.

Many people think that Masons and Shriners are one-and-the same, but actually, the Shrine is a separate body of the craft. Shriners are Masons who have achieved the highest degrees of the Blue Lodge, and Scottish or York Rites Masonry, who enter into what is known as "The Ancient and Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine."

Every step of Masonry has its ritual initiation, the mildest, of course being at the Blue Lodge level. Even this is bizarre, to say the least. In order to join the Lodge, each Mason must first be initiated through an initiation ceremony, similar throughout the world.

The Cable Tow:

The typical ceremony begins with the initiate being first divested of his jacket and his tie and any money or metal articles he has. His left trouser leg is then rolled up over the knee, his shirt is opened to expose his left breast and his right shoe is removed and replaced by a slipper. Then the person who is to be initiated will have a blindfold put on him and then a noose will be put around his neck. This is called a "Cable Tow". The blindfolded initiate (they call this being "hoodwinked.") is brought, with the noose around his neck, to the outer door of the Lodge.

The candidate, thus attired, is said to be in darkness, an allegory of Masonry that signifies that everyone outside of Masonry is in darkness and only Masons have the true light of the world. Only they have the true knowledge that will bring light to the world.

And so, the new Mason is brought to the outer door, seeking the light of the lodge, and there the Doorkeeper, or Tiler, will put a sword or a sharp point to his breast and lead him into the lodge room where an altar sits in its center. The lodge members await the candidate in the darkness that surrounds the altar, which is lit from a single light above. Behind the altar stands a man called "The Worshipful Master." He is the master of the lodge and presides over the initiation.

When the initiate is brought before him, he bows before "The Worshipful Master" and he says something like this, "I am lost in darkness, and I need the light of Freemasonry, I am seeking the light of Freemasonry." He is then told he is entering into a secret organization and that he must keep the secrets he is going to be taught.

At this time, he is required to take a blood initiation oath; every Mason who joins the Lodge takes his thumb or his hand to his throat and he then repeats an oath that has been repeated by every Mason who has joined the Lodge.

The Entered Apprentice (first level of the Blue Lodge) includes the following words:

"Binding myself under no less a penalty than having my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by its roots, and buried in the rough sands of the sea…"

The Fellowcraft Degree of Masonry (second level of the Blue Lodge) oath includes the following words:

"Binding myself under no less a penalty than that of having my left breast torn open, my heart plucked out and given as prey to the wild beasts of the fields and the fowls of the air..."

The Master Mason's Degree (third level of the Blue Lodge). Every Mason must swear an oath including the following:

"Binding myself under no less a penalty than that of having my body severed in twain, my bowels taken from thence, and burned in ashes..."

Masons will tell you that there is nothing wrong in being a Christian as well as being a Mason.

And, when they are exposed to some of the anti-Christian secrets of Masonry, they say, "Well, those are in the high degrees. We don't know about those things. I'm just in The Blue Lodge." I am sorry, but that is just not true.

The Blue Lodge Mason, who also claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ, has to ask himself some basic questions. First of all, "How can I put a blindfold on, come before a man I call The Worshipful Master", say I am lost in darkness and need the light of Freemasonry?"

The Bible brings us a very different message about light and darkness, one that brings with it the hope of joy:

"We write this to make our joy complete. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
(1 John 1:4 - 7)

How can a Christian Mason say he is lost in darkness and seek to join the Lodge, because he needs the light of Freemasonry?

The Bible says if you are a Christian and say you are in darkness, you are living a lie, and the truth is not in you. Because, if Christ lives in your life, you have "The Light".

The second thing The Christian Mason must ask himself is this: "If you are going to join the Lodge how can you come before a man called The Worshipful Master, and bow before him in a religious ceremony (remember the altar in the center, with the single light from above shining down on it) and say you are lost in darkness? "

Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Mammon." (Matt. 6:24)

Jesus said that we cannot serve two masters. You can't claim to be a follower of Christ and then bow before a man you accept as your Worshipful Master any more than you can bow before a Buddha.

The mammon that Christ warned us about fits right into the lodge. What is it if it isn't the prestige, wealth, power and position among men promised by lodge membership?

The third thing we must ask is how can a Christian take a pagan blood oath? How can a man, who says he is a follower of Jesus Christ, swear to have his throat cut from ear to ear, his bowels ripped open, given to the beasts in the field as a penalty for breaking such an ungodly oath?

Most Masons respond by saying that these oaths are just some kind of fraternity type stuff that means little or nothing. What foolishness! The Mason would do well to take strong heed.

This isn't something silly that accidentally found its way in with real scripture. In the fifth chapter of the book of James, we are warned:

"Above all, my brothers, do not swear --not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned." (James 5:12)

The NKJV says you will fall into judgment

God's Word says that the penalty for taking Masonic oaths is condemnation. God isn't amused by this. He absolutely forbids taking these pagan blood oaths of Masonry.

But what is it that must be kept so secret? Why is it that Masons are required to take these pagan blood oaths of secrecy not to reveal the secrets of Masonry even before they're told what they are supposed to keep secret? Why must these men bow down while still in ignorance of the secrets to which they are being bound?

Why would a man who would never buy a car or a home or enter into a business agreement without first studying all the terms, kneel, blindfolded, in a lodge room with a noose around his neck, and swear obedience to things he has no understanding of? Crazy, isn't it! What could ever possess a sane man to do something like this?

The goal of Masonry, according to its leading authorities, is to do away with religions and their creeds and doctrines, and to establish a one-world, universal religion, free from the confining dogma of such narrow scope as is found in Christianity. We need to remember that the Masons only require its members to have a belief in a god, any god. The name is not as important as the belief there being a deity.

This is a necessary and key element in the puzzle. It's there so that the Mason will be zealous in seeking first the lost name of that god or deity and then in accepting the Masonic god is the one, true god over all. When I reveal his name, you will see why it is hidden from the initiates.

The problem is many Masons do not understand this, and it is because their own Masonic authorities have been deliberately deceiving and lying to them. The most universally accepted authority on Freemasonry is the great Masonic scholar, Dr. Albert Pike, who wrote what is termed by many to be the "Bible of Masonry." It's called "Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Rite"

Albert Pike, who was The Sovereign Grand Commander of the Southern Supreme Council, A. A., Scottish Rite for thirty-two years. He wrote "Morals and Dogma" as the "supreme authority" of Masonic Doctrine. In fact, the current Sovereign Grand Commander, C. Fred Kleinknecht says, "Pike's great book, Morals and Dogma, is the most complete exposition of Masonic philosophy there is."

The New Age Magazine, was the Scottish Rite Freemasonry magazine of America until just recently, when they changed its name to The Scottish Rite Journal. In September, 1989, they pointed out that there was going to be a service honoring the memory of Albert Pike held at the Washington Temple in Washington, D.C. Norman Vincent Peale was going to be the speaker. Norman Vincent Peale, a 33rd degree Mason, and a well known Christian leader, is also one of the leading Masonic promoters in America.

Albert Pike is so revered among Masons that he is actually entombed within the inner walls of the Scottish Rite world headquarters, The House of The Temple, in Washington, D.C. Those Masons who deny the importance of Pike's words to the craft are in ignorance of the real value placed on this man. In July 1990, the Scottish Rite Journal came out with a ten-page article extolling the virtues of Albert Pike and his authoritative work in "Morals and Dogma."

I want to quote from some of Albert Pike's teachings in "Morals and Dogma," to give you some insight to what is really lurking behind those lodge doors. Page numbers will be from that book, unless otherwise noted.

"The Blue degrees or The Blue Lodge of Masonry, whichever a Mason joins, are but the outer court, or protocol, of the Temple. Part of the symbols are displayed there to the initiate, but he is intentionally misled by false interpretations. It is not intended that he shall understand them, but it is intended that he shall imagine that he understands them. Their true explication is reserved for the adepts, the Princes of Masonry. It is well enough for the mass of those so-called Masons to imagine that all is contained in the Blue Degrees." (Page 819)

"Masonry, like all the religions, all the Mysteries, Hermeticism and Alchemy conceals its secrets from all except the Adepts and Sages, or the Elect, and uses false explanations and misinterpretations of its symbols to mislead those who deserve only to be misled; [note: this means the Blue Lodge Masons] to conceal the Truth, which it calls Light, from them, and to draw them away from it. Truth is not for those who are unworthy or unable to receive it, or would pervert it." (Pages 104-105)

You see, many Masons who go into the Blue Lodge do so out of ignorance, viewing it as a philanthropic organization, an organization of good works, never understanding what they are really involved with. I asked earlier, just what are the secrets that they are getting involved with? The first secret of the Lodge is the fact that Freemasonry is a religion. Most Masons will say that is it not a religion, but simply a brotherhood, a fraternal organization. Yet, as they describe the workings of the lodge, they are talking religion.

The problem is that Masonry fits every category of what a religion is, according to every definition of religion. In fact, Albert Pike says, "Every Masonic Lodge is a Temple of religion, and its teachings are instruction in religion." (Page 213)

"Masonry is the legitimate successor from the earliest times the custodian and depository of the great philosophical and religious truths, unknown to the world at large, and handed down from age to age, in an unbroken current of tradition, embodied in symbols, emblems and allegories." (Page 210)

Pike says that Masonry is:

"The universal, eternal, immutable religion, such as God planted it in the heart of universal humanity. No creed has ever been long lived that was not built upon this foundation...The ministers of this religion are all Masons... Its sacrifices to God are good works... and perpetual efforts to attain to all the moral perfection of which man is capable." (Page 219)

According to them, Masonry is a natural religion without the need of revelation, that every thing in nature is part of God, and part of the infinite thought of God. Creation becomes God itself. It's very interesting what Paul said about this in the book of Romans.

"For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator --who is forever praised. Amen." (Rom. 1:21 -25)

Albert Pike did not say things he didn't mean. His writings are corpulent with evidences of the true nature of Freemasonry.

"We belong to no one creed or school. In all religions, there is a basis of truth, in all there is pure morality... All teachers and reformers of mankind we admire and revere. Masonry has her mission to perform... She invites all men of all religions to enlist under her banner." (Page 311)

"It [Masonry] reverences all the great reformers. It sees in Moses, the lawgiver of the Jews, in Confucius and Zoroaster, in Jesus of Nazareth, and in the Arabian iconoclast, Great Teachers of Morality, and Eminent Reformers, if no more: and allows every brother of the Order to assign to each such higher and even Divine Character as his Creed and Truth require... Masonry is a worship; but one in which all civilized men can unite..." (Pages 525, 526) Pike also said, "The first Masonic teacher was Buddha." (Page 277)

Masonry claims to be the center of the one, universal religion. As Newton says in his book, "The Builders", they are "seeking to unify and bring a universal religion in which all creeds and all doctrines would be done away with, where individual faith will cease and men will join together in a universal religion of an ubiquitous brotherhood of good works."

They say that religion is the experience of relating to God, and Masonry is the experience of relating to mankind. While separate, they can and do naturally co-exist. Well, if Freemasonry is truly what it professes publicly, then "Bravo!"; it is a welcome fellowship.

If it is being deceptive, or as we claim, a serious danger to the Mason, his or her family and Church, then it should be exposed as such. It is that simple."

Let's look at just a few of the Lodge’s basic principles in the Light of Biblical truth.

NO OTHER GODS!

"And God spoke all these words: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me…"

(Exodus 20:1-5)

This is the first and primary Commandment! All the other commandments find their reason in it. God put it at the top of the list for a reason! If you have a faulty view of God, your whole spiritual perspective is skewed by that error. Listen to God:

"This is what the LORD says-- Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6)

If your view of God is anything but that which God, Himself has declared above, your view is not Christian orthodoxy. If your view of Christ is not that which is equally Biblically based, your view of Christ is just as filled with danger. Let’s see what the Masonic fraternity, itself has to say about the nature of God.

FREEMASONS BOW AT EVERY ALTAR

"The true Mason is not creed-bound. He realizes with the divine illumination of his lodge that as a Mason his religion must be universal: Christ, Buddha, or Mohammed, the name means little, for he recognizes only the light and not the bearer. He worships at every shrine, bows before every altar, whether in temple, mosque or cathedral, realizing with his truer understanding the oneness of all spiritual truth." ("The Lost Keys of Freemasonry", Manly P. Hall, 33o, p.65, Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply Co., Richmond, VA., 1976.)

THE BIBLE SAYS

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…" (1Tim. 2:5)

OUR LORD AMONG THE BAALIM

"Masonry, around whose altars the Christian, the Hebrew, the Moslem, the Brahmin, the followers of Confucius and Zoroaster, can assemble as brethren and unite in prayer to the one God who is above ALL the Baalim, must needs leave it to each of its initiates to look for the foundation of his faith and hope to the written scriptures of his own religion." (Morals and Dogma, Albert Pike, 1956, page 226)

[Ed note: The word "Baalim" is simply defined as "false god or idol." The Masonic author has included the God of the Christian in that category.]

IS JESUS LORD?

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

That is pretty straightforward. The question that has to be asked of the Mason here is simply, "Are you a Christian who confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord?" Is your answer, like many Masons, "yes!"??

Then our response to the Christian Mason is simply, "Why won’t you just do what Jesus clearly told you to do?

THE BIBLE SAYS

"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you, do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your `Yes' be `Yes,' and your `No,' `No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matt. 5:33 -37)

Take note that Jesus clearly describes the Masonic oaths and clearly states that these come from the evil one. Not from fun, not from some kind of macho male bonding, or some fraternity type of initiation, but from the devil. What would possess a man to stay bound by blood oath to this stuff, once exposed, except it come of evil?

That was Jesus Himself talking to those who believed on Him. Surely, it would be a foolish man who would defy the Lord in such a serious matter. What earthly thing would be worth violating a direct instruction from our Savior? None!

BOUND BY BLOOD OATHS

From the initiation rituals of the "BLUE LODGES" which I described earlier and through all 33 degrees of Freemasonry, every Mason in the world is bound by bloody oaths to maintain the secrets of the Lodge. These binding oaths are kept through the spirit of fear, because the penalties for betraying the brethren of the lodge include serious physical harm to the Mason.

THE BIBLE SAYS

Jesus, speaking again to His disciples, clearly dealt with this exact situation.

" There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.

What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." (Luke 12:2-5)

TRUSTING THE BIBLE

We do well to know the Word Of God. As Jesus prayed to the Father for His disciples, His prayer was:

"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17)

The Bible clearly teaches that the mature Christian must be grounded in God’s Word. This is probably the most grievous error of those enmeshed in the web of Freemasonry. It is the ignorance of or lack of regard for the truth of God’s Holy Word.

What true Christian man (or woman) would dare go through the rituals of Freemasonry knowing that someday, he or she would have to stand before a Holy God and account for those acts of darkness.

THE JUDGMENT OF THE DAMNED

The grave, Christless end awaiting members of the Masonic order can be demonstrated by the Apron Lecture, given every Mason in the Blue Lodge Ceremony. The following quote can be found almost word for word in most Masonic Monitors, the Craft ritual manual.

Each candidate, upon completion of the initiation is given a white Lambskin Apron whose pure and spotless surface, he is told, would be "an ever present reminder of purity of life and rectitude of conduct, and when at last, after a life of faithful service your weary feet shall have come to the end of life’s toilsome journey and from your nerveless grasp shall have dropped forever the working tools of life, may the record of your life be as pure and spotless as this fair emblem which I place in your hands tonight, and when your trembling soul shall stand, naked and alone, before the Great White Throne, there to receive judgment for the deeds done while here in the body, may it be your portion to hear from Him who sitteth as the Judge Supreme, the welcome words: Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee rule over many things! Enter into the joy of thy Lord."

While the words sound noble, it is to the everlasting pit of hell that the unsuspecting candidate has been assigned in the subtle words of the message. The promise is that the apron represents the works of the flesh when the Mason stands before God at the Great White Throne judgment.

There is only one Great White Throne Judgment in my Bible and it is found in Revelation 20:11-15.

It is the judgment of those dead not in Christ, the judgment of the damned, who will be judged... not by the gift of God through Christ, but by their own works, with an end in the lake of fire. What a tragedy! 

THE KING OF THE PIT OF HELL

In the seventeenth degree of the Scottish Rite, or The Knights of the East and West Degree, after the candidates have completed the initiation they are given the secret password, Jubulum, and the Sacred Word, Abaddon. Here is the clue to the true identity of the Masonic Deity. It is revealed in the "Sacred Word" of this ritual, "Abaddon." In Revelation 9:11, we learn what that actually is.

"And they [the demons and workers from hell] had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon!"

Again, I must ask, "How could any true Christian dare to take upon himself that evil name as a sacred word?"

THE WORD IS OUT

The supposed quest of the Blue Lodge Masons is the search for "The Lost Word." Most Masonic ritual is concerned with the recovery of this lost word, presumed to be the name of God—supposedly lost through the murder of the architect, Hiram Abiff, during the building of Solomon’s Temple. This quest is attained during the ritual of the Royal Arch Degree.

It is here that the SECRET NAME of the DEITY OF MASONRY is revealed. That name is "JAHBULON."

"JAH" is the short form of the Hebrew name of God, "Yahweh," or "Jehovah." "BUL" is a rendering of the name, BAAL. "ON" is the term used in the Babylonian mysteries to call upon the deity, "OSIRIS"! The secret ritual book of the Craft prints the letters J.B.O. It states that:

"We three do meet and agree—in peace, love and unity—the Sacred Word to keep—and never to divulge the same—until we three, or three such as we—do meet and agree."

No Royal Arch Mason can pronounce the sacred name by himself. What is represented as the god of Masonry is a three-headed monster so remote from the Christian Trinity and so blasphemous as to damn the soul of anyone who would dare to pronounce its name in a ritual of worship.

COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM

" Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." (2 Cor. 6:14-17)

ONE OR THE OTHER

"Even as Elijah called out on Mt Carmel 'You have abandoned the LORD's commands and have followed the Baals.' I cry out, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." (1 Kings 18:18, 21)

To the Mason, Are YOU ready to risk laying your Masonic works before the Lord, covered by an apron of your own works, on that last day only to be told:

"I never knew you, depart from me!" (Matt.7: 21-23)

Are You???

I pray that you will choose Jesus, repent and be set free from this wicked power unto whom you have submitted your very own soul, Even beyond that, you have surrendered the spiritual headship of your home (and church if you are a leader in the congregation) to this dark, occult evil thing. If this is your desire, remember that we have this promise:

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness…" (1 John 1:9)

If you are a Mason and you are ready to get your life back on track with Jesus, Pray this prayer right now:

"Father in Heaven, in the name of the Lord Jesus, I confess that I have sinned. I confess that I have allowed myself to fall under the power and authority of Lucifer, the god of Masonry. I confess it as sin, and ask that you forgive me. I reject it and cast it from me and will immediately remove my name from its rolls. Jesus, I call you Lord and Savior and ask that you come into my heart and fill me with your love and Holy Spirit. Let no unclean thing remain! I am yours and yours alone! I am set free, in Jesus’ name, Amen!"

Discernment or Deception: Which Will You Choose? Part 1

This week, Eric begins to summarize the many traps facing modern Christians and outlines the urgent need for believers to understand and utilize biblical apologetics today.

Podcast: Discernment or Deception: Which Will You Choose? Part 1

End-Time Occult Invasion Part 4

This week Eric Barger summarizes the rise and acceptance of the Occult in our culture, warns of the desensitization of it and details the facts about Halloween. Don't miss the advice Eric shares about what Christians should be doing on October 31st.

Podcast: End-Time Occult Invasion Part 4

End-Time Occult Invasion Part 3

This week Eric discusses the deception of the Occult as it pertains to the media and entertainment world. Eric also interviews his co-author on "Entertaining Spirits Unaware," David Benoit.

Podcast: The End-Time Occult Invasion Part 3

End-Time Occult Invasion Part 2

More insight from his book, "Entertaining Spirits Unaware," in this episode Eric discusses the Harry Potter phenomenon and the unbiblical nature of our culture's perverted criteria for heroes.

Podcast: The End-Time Occult Invasion Part 2

End-Time Occult Invasion Part 1

Adopted from his book, "Entertaining Spirits Unaware," Eric explains the "Nine Forbidden Practices of the Occult" and their biblical implications.

Podcast: The End-Time Occult Invasion Part 1

Should a Christian Swear an Oath?

http://ericbarger.com/oaths.htm

Eric's Note: In August 2005 a reader of our newsletter wrote about swearing oaths. Here is the email and my response.

Hello my name is Oleg and I've got a quick question. The Bible says not to swear in any way. I understand that but what should you do if you want to be a fireman or a doctor? They have to take oath. What does the bible say about oaths? Is it okay to take if it's necessary to take for your career?

Greetings Oleg!

You have asked a very sticky and problematic question.

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A Biblical Look at the Lodge

http://ericbarger.com/articles/biblical-look-lodge.htm

By Ed Decker

There have been many questions regarding the compatibility of Freemasonry and Christianity. The claim of every Mason is that Masonry and Christianity are totally compatible.

They say that religion is the experience of relating to God, and Masonry is the experience of relating to mankind. While separate, they can and do naturally co-exist. Well, if Freemasonry is truly what it professes publicly, then "Bravo!"; it is a welcome fellowship. If it is being deceptive, or as some claim, a serious danger to the Mason, his or her family and Church, then it should be exposed as such. It is that simple. Let's look at just a few of the Lodge's basic principles in the Light of Biblical truth.

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Proclamation to the Christian Churches

http://ericbarger.com/articles/christianproclaim.htm

PROCLAMATION

To the Christian Churches

Regarding the Participation of Christians in Freemasonry

Whereas, Freemasonry declares that its Deity, the "Great Architect of the Universe," can be worshipped by all men, whether they be Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, or Hindus, without controversy; while the Bible teaches that only through Jesus Christ can God be worshipped (John 14:6, 1 Timothy 2:5, 1 John 2:22-23); and...

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