"LODGES EXAMINED BY THE BIBLE'

by Pastor Rick Bickelhaupt


As I begin this article, I want to begin by stating that I am not judging people, but rather teachings. God is the Final Judge, and has commanded by his Word to expose error, and warn both the sinner and the saint that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God.

Today Christians seem to find time to be involved in almost anything. Many have time for ball games, the county fair, camping trips the Boy Scouts, the P.T.A. some lodge or fraternity etc. Now some of these involvements are good and some are not. One thing is for sure, if an organization takes you away from the House of God and or call of God, you need to get your priorities straight.

In this article I will attempt to bring forth some plain as day scriptures and reasons why a Christian should not be apart of, or associated with any secret oath bound societies, or Lodges, such as the Masonic Lodge. In this article I would like to give you seven Biblical reasons why a Born-again Christian should abstain from such an unequal yoke.

First, the Bible gives plain as day Scriptures forbidding any type of Lodge Membership. Let me share with you three areas you need to consider. 1). The Bible teaches that it is unscriptural to yoke up with unbelievers. Please read and study the following verses: Ps. 1:1; Amos 3:3; II Cor. 6:14-18; Eph. 5:11-12; Matt. 12:48-50. In the Lodge, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslim, Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Brethren, are all considered "Brothers", (You need to understand that the "FATHERHOOD OF GOD AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN", IS NOT SCRIPTURAL. Whether these people are pagan or Christian, the Lodge yokes them all together. This is not Biblical! 2). It is also unscriptural because of the Secrecy it maintains. Jesus said, "... and in secret I have said nothing" Jn. 18:20, Jesus had nothing to do with secret teachings or doctrines. Christians are not to keep the truth within our own walls, but according to Matt. 10:26-27, whatever we have been taught, we are to "Preach From The Housetops". 3). The Bible also states in Eph. 5:11-12 that Christians are not to have fellowship with those who have works of darkness, i.e. those things done in secret. By the way, the word "Fellowship" means, "co-participate in". Christians are not to be a co-participant with the hidden works of darkness. Another thing that needs to be considered is this; It is unscriptural because of the secret oaths that are required. Jesus said, "SWEAR NOT AT ALL..." Matt. 5:34-37. No lodge member in the world has ever kept this commandment! James 5:12 says: "But above all things, my brethren, SWEAR NOT..." Ex. 20:7 tells us we are not to take the name of the Lord in vain, ye the name of God is used repeatedly in Lodge rituals, and used in insincerity by unconverted men.

The second reason why it would be a sin to be involved in the Lodge is because of the godless, horrible, secret oaths that they require. Please read the "Entered Apprentice Mason" Oath. "Binding myself under no less a penalty than that of having my throat cut across, 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 ever knowingly or willingly violate this my solemn oath and obligation as en Entered Apprentice Mason. So help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same." Every succeeding degree of Masonry has a terrible, bloodthirsty, horrible oath and penalty connected with it as the obligation of the degree. Should a Christian take such an oath? God forbid!

The third reason that a Christian should abstain from the Mason Lodge is because it is not a Christian religion, but pagan, and Anti-Christian. You might say; 'I thought the Masons were a Christian organization'? Listen to what a leading mason states about his own organization. "The religion of Masonry is not sectarian. It admits men of every creed within its hospitable bosom, rejecting none and approving none of his peculiar faith. It is not Judaism, though there is nothing to offend the Jew: it is not Christianity, but there is nothing in it repugnant to the faith of a Christian. Its religion is that general one of nature and primitive revelation-- in which all men may agree and none may differ." - by Dr. Albert Mackey - Encyclopedia of Freemasonry; pg. 619. According to William C. Irvine and his book, Heresies Exposed, he cites W. Hoste, B.A. in his chapter on Freemasonry. Mr. Hoste states: "Freemasonry, viewed doctrinally is Theosophy," and to this sad fact that the god of Masonry "is a composite deity--Joehovah, Baal, and On, or Osiris, rolled into one, under the initials J.B.O." Ex. 20:3 states: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Isa. 42:8 says: "I am the LORD: (Jehovah) that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." God is not a composite of many gods, but he is one God, Deut. 6:4; Jn. 10:30; I Jn. 5:7. This is nothing but heresy to teach that pagan gods and Jehovah God are all one and the same.

The fourth reason that Christians should not be apart of the Masons is because they Pervert the Scripture and deny Jesus Christ. Now we need to understand that the Masons use a Bible and many scripture passages, but they twist and pervert them and leave Jesus Christ out of them altogether. Remember many false cults, use the Bible, even Satan used Scripture when tempting Christ, (Matt. 4:6). So just because they use a Bible doesn't make them Biblical or right with God. In a tract, The Christian and Secret Societies, the Rev. Wendell P. Loveless, nationally known bible teacher, ex-chaplan of the Masonic lodge at Wheaton, Ill. tells of Masonry's use of the scriptures as follows: "In the charge to be read at the opening of one of the degrees the following scripture passage is given, 'If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious, to whom coming as unto a living stone, disallowed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also as living stones be ye built up a spiritual house, and holy priesthood to offer up sacrifices acceptable to God.

Wherefore it is contained in the scripture,'etc. This is a quotation of I Pet. 2:5, but please notice that the words 'by Jesus Christ' are left out." "Another example is found in one of the other degrees, where Second Thess. 3:6 is quoted, ..... 'in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ' are omitted out of this ritual." The same is done with II Thess. 3:12, where the words 'by our Lord Jesus Christ' are omitted. (From the Christian and Secret Societies; National Christian Association.).

The fifth reason Christians should abstain from the Masonic Lodge is because they present and represent "Another Spirit". Please read II Cor. 11:4; I Jn. 4:1-6. "The secrecy of the lodges is the very opposite of the Great Commission. The lodge says, 'Stay'! We have wonderful spiritual lessons, lessons that subdue the passions, lessons that inculcate charity and virtue, lessons to fit men for Heaven. But tell them to no one except lodge brothers, those who have paid for the right to hear." (Dr. John. R. Rice, "Lodges examined by the Bible". pg. 38. This is exactly opposite of the command of the Gospel. The Lord Jesus Christ said in Mark 16:15; "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." And in Matt. 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations." The lodge says, "Keep the message secret." but Jesus said, "Tell it abroad". You see, the message is not the same, and the spirit is not the same. Hence, we should separate from it! The lodge denies the spirit of Christ. But God's Word says: "... now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Rom. 8:9.

The sixth reason I would like to give for not being apart of the Masons is because of its use of blasphemous words to describe its hierarchy. In Matt. 23:5-12, the Bible clearly states that we are to call no one "Father" because one is your Father in heaven. It also says we are to call no one "Master" because Christ is our Master. Please notice the words to describe the hierarchy, "General High Priest of the General Grand Chapter of the United States." "Past Grand Patriarch", "Worshipful Master", "Sublime Master Elect", "Grand Master Architect", "Grand Pontiff", "Grand Inspector Inquisitor Commander", "Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret." Do these terms and titles of secret orders fit with the plain command of Jesus Christ for his children? I think not!

Lastly, Christians should abstain from these organizations because Lodges damn millions of souls with a false plan of salvation. The Lodge teaches men that by joining the lodges, by subduing their passions, by doing good unto others, particularly their own lodge, that by this growth in character and by these good deeds they will earn and deserve happiness and eternal blessedness hear after. Notice the following Masonic Burial prayer: "... and in Thy favor, may we be received into Thine everlasting kingdom, to enjoy, in union with the souls of our departed friends, the just reward of a pious and virtuous life. Amen" Salvation to the Masons is simply "the just reward of a pious and virtuous life." Please read the following verses, Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Rom. 3: 10, 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-10, 10:13. These verses, along with the rest of the Bible tells us salvation is not by good works, but forgiveness of sin and salvation is offered freely through the shed blood of Jesus Christ upon the Cross of Calvary. Masons teach salvation by good works, the Bible teaches salvation by Grace, through Faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Don't be deceived, there are many out there that are wolves in sheep clothing. Trust the One who can make an eternal difference! Trust Jesus Christ.

Pastor Rick Bickelhaupt