By: Mark Tabata (Evangelist)
Through the years, I have had many friends who were involved in the Masonic Lodge.
When I first started studying Freemasonry, I was simply curious to see if it was compatible with Christianity.
After all, I had known many Christians who were also members of the Lodge; so surely they were compatible, I thought.
I found an intriguing book online that I ordered and read entitled Morals and Dogma. Written by Albert Pike, who was Supreme Commander of the Lodge for a number of years.
I was eager to find out just what the Lodge was about. (After all, who better to explain it than the man who was the head of the Lodge?)
I had heard so many different things, and I wanted to find out the truth of the matter.
I still remember my excitement as I began reading various Monitors from the states of Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, and Tennessee, along with Pike’s book. (Monitors are the official standards of practice for the lodges in various states).
It was not long until I found this interesting statement in Pike’s book:
“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 MISREPRESENTATIONS of its symbols to MISLEAD those who deserve only to be misled; 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. So God Himself incapacitates many men, by color-blindness, to distinguish colors, and leads the masses away from the highest Truth, giving them the power to attain only so much of it as it is profitable to them to know. Every age has had a religion suited to its capacity. The Teachers, even of Christianity, are, in general, the most ignorant of the true meaning of that which they teach. There is no book of which so little is known as the Bible. To most who read it, it is as incomprehensible as the Sohar. So Masonry JEALOUSLY CONCEALS its secrets, and INTENTIONAL LEADS CONCEITED INTERPRETERS ASTRAY” (Albert Pike, Morals And Dogma, 89 (Kindle Edition, emphasis added M.A.T.); Public Domain Book)
When I first read this quotation, I thought, “Self, maybe you are misunderstanding this quotation.”
After all, I certainly could NOT believe that all Masons were intentionally misleading people.
Sadly, however, I then found this quotation in Pike’s book:
“[The Blue Degrees are but the outer court or portico of the Temple. Part of the symbols are displayed there to the Initiate, but he is INTENTIONALLY MISLEAD BY FALSE INTERPRETATIONS. It is not intended that he shall understand them; but it is intended that he shall imagine he understands them.” (Albert Pike, Morals And Dogma, 690 (Kindle Edition, emphasis added M.T.); Public Domain book)
Pike freely acknowledges that at least some Masons are intentionally mislead by other Masons about some elements of Masonic ritual and teaching.
Friends, please compare this with the teaching of Jesus Christ:
Matthew 10:27-Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.
Ephesians 4:25-Therefore, putting away lying, “LET EACH ONE OF YOU SPEAK TRUTH WITH HIS NEIGHBOR,” for we are members of one another.
In this regard, Masonry and Christianity are incompatible.
To be a Mason, a person must be willing to deceive others about what is involved in the Lodge. This is completely opposed to the Word of Christ.
How can those who follow the very revelation of truth itself swear allegiance to an organization which is inherently deceptive?
My friends, I encourage you to carefully compare the teachings of Christ with that of every religion and religious institution.
I implore you to-please, choose CHRIST. He loves you enough to tell you the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). That truth includes the fact that we are separated from God because of our sins (Isaiah 59:1-2). Yet He loves us so very much that He laid down His life for us, was buried, and three days later arose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-8).
Why not today, as a believer, repent of your sins and be baptized in the name of Christ for the remission of your sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38)?
If you are an erring child of God, I implore you to repent of your sins and pray to The Lord for forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
The grace of The Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
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