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And yet they give the Knights of Columbus a pass?
Originally posted by defcon5
My church still holds that its an excommunication offense to join any secret organizations.
To many, the Masonic Lodge appears to be a secret and fraternal organization that emphasizes morality, as well as charitable and benevolent work. Indeed Masons themselves have often defined themselves in these terms, though they often disagree among themselves as to how to define Freemasonry with precision (See Mackey: 269; Daggett: 237). With such an understanding of Masonry in mind, many people view it as, at worst, a somewhat strange, but harmless society, and at best, a good and beneficial one. They also don’t see much difference between the Masonic Lodge and the local Rotary club.
It will surprise many, therefore, to learn that most Christians in the United States (at least 90 million, including Roman Catholics, the Orthodox, the LCMS and other Lutherans, as well as Evangelical churches) belong to churches that forbid membership in Freemasonry because they regard it as incompatible with Christianity. Why is it incompatible? Because the Masonic Lodge is held to be a deistic religious organization that requires belief (members must swear an oath) in a god that is not the triune God, and a god who is accessible apart from Jesus Christ through any religion that believes in god as Creator. In addition, they teach that entrance to the life to come is gained by following the precepts and morality of Freemasonry, that God will let them into heaven merely because they have been faithful Masons.
Originally posted by defcon5
For one thing, they hold that members may believe in any god (idolatry) even though most in the US are Christians...
...and because they teach a doctrine of salvation through works rather then faith:
Originally posted by defcon5
reply to post by KSigMason
Masonry is mostly about a bunch of old farts sitting around a room playing cards and hiding out from their wives, dressing up in costumes, giving morality plays, or participating in other fun activities like parades.
I don't believe that there is anything sinister about freemasonry in the way most practice it here now a days.
Originally posted by getreadyalready
The Creator could be any number of things, and isn't necessarily a Christian or Muslim "God."
Originally posted by getreadyalready
We don't do good works for Salvation, and we don't worship any particular God. We do good works to help one another out and we each provide according to our own means.
Originally posted by pez1975
i personally think its a great fraternity and will help you become A better man and help guide your moral compass toward charity and good will to fellow men.
Originally posted by defcon5
This is many churches first problem with it right here.
You are not supposed to believe in a generic god or be engaging in any kind of prayer or activity that condones a “common” (generic) god. That may not sound like its a big deal, and it might just sound like being tolerant of other religions, but the problem comes in when they start asking you to do things like praying together to a generic god. As a Christian I can be tolerant of other religions, but to start engaging in things with them such as “common prayer” is a no-no.
While both freemasonry and others teach that you can achieve a sort of “enlightenment”, “goodhood”, or “salvation” through your personal actions, Christianity teaches that we are all sinful by nature and are only justified through the actions of God.
Additionally, both these groups doctrines (for lack of a better word) are drawn from Gnosticism, and that has been considered heretical teaching by Christians
. Both Gnosticism and Cabala are considered heretical by Christianity.
Originally posted by holywar666
Originally posted by pez1975
i personally think its a great fraternity and will help you become A better man and help guide your moral compass toward charity and good will to fellow men.
What happened to blood and the killing and diamonds and riches, sacrifices, owls, red robes, secret locations in the woods, underground worlds and special privileges?.......
I thought that's what a Freemason was. I would join but it sounds like a group of Jesus loving fruit cakes.
What happened to Satan?
St. Paul says Romans, chapter 6: We are buried with Christ by Baptism into death, that, like as He was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. -Martin Luther
In one holy catholic and apostolic Church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
-Nicene Creed
Originally posted by network dude
Wrong group. Sorry, we stopped with all that months ago. It's all fuzzy slippers and white robes now.
Originally posted by network dude
Just to clear up your statement, Christianity as you describe it, is incompatible with masonry, not the other way around.
Originally posted by network dude
I suppose you stay away from large sporting events, like football games and baseball games and the like?
Originally posted by Masonic Light
Some Christian sects, as well as some Islamic ones, are ultra-elitists, claiming that their own concept of God is correct, and everyone else's false.
Originally posted by Masonic Light
I see this as extremely cultish and narrow-minded. Anyone who believes that he himself has a monopoly on religious truth is deluded, and such persons would not make good Masons anyway.
Originally posted by Masonic Light
Freemasonry does not teach that one can attain salvation or anything else through personal actions. It simply teaches that people have a duty to do what is right.
Originally posted by Masonic Light
No, Gnostic Christianity has been considered heretical by Roman Catholicism and its offshoots (Protestant sects). But on the flipside, Gnostic Christians consider Roman Catholics and Protestants heretical.
Originally posted by Masonic Light
it wasn't the Gnostic sects of Christianity who imposed the sword on unbelievers.
FREEMASONRY is religious but not a religion. Prayer is an essential part of every Masonic ceremony. Its prayer addressed to God as the Great Architect of the Universe, are stated in language which cannot give offense to the follower of any particular religion. It is un-sectarian because it does not favor any sect as against another; it is not irreligious because it respects all religious creeds and believes in the truth in all of them; it is not anti-religion because it does not oppose who believe in God and a future existence; it is not a church because it does not prescribe any particular form of worship.
Freemasonry looked apon men of different complexions as equals and believes that God had created men equal only in the opportunity of believing in HIM and receiving from HIM his grace. HE has given all men an equal chance to live in peace with each other and to enjoy the wondrous Miracle of life.