How Fasting Changed My Life

     As I prepare to write this post, I am well aware of what the Bible tells me regarding how I am to speak of fasting.  And it is not my intent to call attention to myself by writing about my fasting experience -- that is personal between me and God.  But I want to share the results of my fast in order to encourage others to consider this practice as a means of opening revelation from God to the sincere  Believer.  Let me explain...
     I have instinctively known the importance of fasting because of its significance in the Bible.  Before Jesus began His public ministry, He fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness in preparation to resist the temptations of the devil that were coming.  Remember, Jesus lived His life on earth as a man, so if fasting was a critical tool for Him in defeating the devil's schemes, then don't you think we should have it in our spiritual arsenal?

     In addition, as Jesus taught His disciples how to carry out the Commission He was assigning to them, He shared that some of satan's spirits aren't defeated except by prayer and fasting ... again showing us that fasting is a powerful spiritual weapon.
     Without sharing the details of my week-long fast, I will tell you that I approached this time of fasting as a means to achieve a spiritual breakthrough with God.  I knew of some issues that I had been struggling with; issues that I felt were keeping me from experiencing the intimacy that I so desperately desired.  The Lord spared no spiritual matter that needed addressing.  I was humbled by facing the truth of my deficiencies and inadequacies, yet also experienced the Grace of God in confronting them with a heart that sought cleansing.
     But it was the consequence of that week's fasting that I am most surprised and grateful for.  The reason that I stopped my fast at a week was because I was leaving the next day to spend several days with my family in Illinois.  And it had been nearly 10 years since I had returned to where I spent my grade school and high school years.  I am in constant touch with my brothers and sisters, and we have visited each other on vacations.  But most of my four siblings have strong ties to the state, while I do not.  And my two sisters and their husbands and children still live there, so they are the only reason that I even consider going back.  You see, when I graduated from high school, I couldn't wait to leave there -- not from any difficulties with my family, but because I instinctively felt I didn't belong there.  There was always a sort of subtle darkness or heaviness that my 17-year-old self could never explain, but I felt it nonetheless.  And I sensed it every time I have returned over the next 46 years.  I thought it was just me; that I was unfairly casting this place in an unfavorable light --- until this time.
     As I look back on the last few days, the word "amazed" doesn't even cover what the Lord has shown me.  And I believe that, because for the first time in my Christian life I had just finished a sincere and devout time of fasting, I was able to receive new revelations and a new consciousness of seeing through spiritual eyes -- something I had been unable to do in all my other return trips to my childhood home. And here is what was revealed to me... Everywhere I looked was evidence of Freemasonry: Masonic lodges every few miles; the Masonic symbol of the square and compass was displayed openly and conspicuously on government and public buildings -- even on the City Limit sign of the town I grew up in!  And when I went to visit my parents grave, I was shocked to see the immense section of the cemetery devoted to the Masons. Freemasonry was everywhere, yet I was unable to perceive it for all those years.

     Now I understood why I felt such an oppression there and knew I didn't belong.  Now I understood why I was so anxious to leave and escape to an out-of-state college.  Now I understood why the state of Illinois is bankrupt and the people seem so defeated and unhappy.  And especially sad for me, was that I could see the effect of the occult spirit of Freemasonry on my beloved nephews.  And I began to see the path that God had designed for me.  It is no coincidence that I felt I needed to leave that area at a young age. And it was now obvious why I would suffer a terrifying car accident in which I was rear-ended by what I assume was a car (all I saw was bright lights in my rearview mirror, and then something slamming into my car) and then rolling my car five times up an embankment that stood at the foot of a known Freemasonry "dark site" -- yet no one stopped to help me.  It was as if no one saw it and it happened in the spirit realm -- even though I had a totaled car to prove it, and six stitches in my scalp.  Or that years later, the subject of Freemasonry would cause a rift with a local church community because it offended some that I could personally testify that Jesus had set one woman free from the effects of Freemason oaths.
     These last few days, it has become startlingly clear to me that God truly does know all the days of our lives and what we will be faced with.  Although He has given us free will to make important decisions throughout this life, I believe He has a purpose for each of us to advance His Kingdom here on earth.  And I also believe that He knows how the Enemy is going to try to thwart our assignment.  But even more importantly to me, at this moment, is the fact that I believe that my time of fasting succeeded in opening my spiritual eyes to see "the big picture" of what has turned out to be a pretty consistent spiritual battle throughout my life.
     I'm sure there are some of you who will dismiss this as either the product of an active imagination; and even some who will discount my thoughts as unjustified vilification of Freemasonry.  But this last trip "home" was different than the other 30 or 40 times.  It was as if a veil had been lifted from my spiritual eyes and all the unanswered questions and inexplicable feelings of unease I had felt were accounted for. I now could understand why I had always felt in a funk when I was there, or sensed that family members were struggling just under the surface.
     And I am convinced that my genuine desire to get closer to God [during my fast] opened the lines of communication between Heaven and earth and I could see with a new heart and transformed mind.  Needless to say, I am grateful for this revelation, and more determined than ever to storm Heaven with prayers and intercession on behalf of my family as I continue my battle with the occult forces existing in Freemasonry.  And it goes without saying that I will continue to fast because it opens this dark realm to the Light of God's heavenly realm. Fasting pours out His revelations on me, and helps loose the power of Heaven so that His will might be done in our lives.  And, best of all, fasting allows us to partner with Him to see Him glorified in all circumstances.  So, the question is this ... Have you considered fasting?

Isaiah 58:6    "Is this not the fast which I choose, to undo the bonds of wickedness, to tear to pieces the ropes of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free and break apart every [enslaving] yoke?"

Freemasonry And The God-Shaped Hole: A Personal Testimony

     I very rarely reprint another's writing verbatim, but because of what I believe is the destructive power of Freemasonry in a person's life, I embrace this personal testimony as worthy of your consideration.  
     I have ministered to people who have Freemasonry in their family line and seen the devastation it can cause; even unto death. And I have personally witnessed the freedom that comes when those blood oaths are removed and grown women soar in their new identities as Daughters of God; when the light comes into a young child's eyes, and what was once a nearly non-verbal state is transformed into vitality and boyish energy; and when men who have suffered from inferior [and worthless] self-identities their whole lives discover that the Son of God truly loves and cherishes them.
     I will be honest -- my stance on Freemasonry has cost me in the Church.  Christians whose much-beloved fathers or grandfathers were Freemasons don't exactly want to hear about the dark side of this organization.  They don't want to believe that their relatives' activities could be seen as rejecting God. And granted, there are some lower members of the organization that probably have no idea of what the higher levels of the Order engage in, but no Christian [at any level] should be ignorant of the fact that other deities are acceptable in Freemason Lodges.  As a Christian, one cannot [by word or deed] dispute that Jesus is the only Way!
     So, it is with gratitude, that I present the testimony of Christian and former Freemason Jay Lloyd. When I felt it necessary, you will find my commentary in italics.

     I grew up attending a Southern Baptist Church.  Like many of my peers, I could quote scripture and I thought I knew all about Christianity.  However, looking back, I can see that my faith really fell into the category of moralistic therapeutic deism (PK's explanation: God is a principled God who makes me feel good about myself -- a topic I will discuss on Friday).  I was not a Christian nor was I spiritually satisfied.  I was a teenager in the seventies and one of the big questions of that period was “What’s it all about, man?”  I thought there was something bigger in life than religion and that all religions were basically the same, kind of like ice cream – just pick your flavor.  As I came into adulthood, I was searching for something that was transcendent, something that had a weightier meaning and a greater purpose than what I encountered in my mundane workday life.  I came to believe that I could find fulfillment in the Masonic Order.
     I come from a long line of Masons.  All of my uncles (on both sides), one grandfather, one great grandfather, and one great- great- grandfather were Freemasons.  (PK: Mason membership is actively sought throughout family lines). Since my family members were so involved and since I was searching spiritually, the Craft appealed to me.  I had been taught that masons looked after each other in business and personal affairs. That kind of brotherhood was attractive.  So, at the age of 24, I asked a friend from work who was a Freemason how I could become one. He submitted my application and I was voted into the Order in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.  It was there that I completed my Entered Apprentice Degree.  Before I could progress further, I moved.  My Fellowcraft, and Master Mason degrees were conferred upon me in Jacksonville, Florida at Mandarin Lodge no. 343.
     In order to be initiated into the degrees of Blue Lodge, I had to swear to keep secret the tenets and rituals of Freemasonry.  I swore blood oaths to do so.  (PK: Oaths and vows in the Bible are associated with offerings and sacrifices. And the Bible states that the life of a creature is in the blood.  But who are these oaths dedicated to; upon whose altar are you offering yourself; and which "god" are you offering your blood to?) The swearing of these blood oaths was required.  I remember in particular that one oath involved my being hung by the neck where the tide ebbed and flowed twice in 24 hours, my throat being slit from ear to ear, and my body being hung for the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air to devour so there might be no more remembrance of me whatsoever should I divulge the secrets of Freemasonry.  I was instructed and given secret words and handshakes at each level. The placement of the thumb moved from the first knuckle to the second and finally the third through each degree. The only secret word I remember was the Master Mason word which was “Ma-Ha-Bone.”
     The whole order is built around the legend of an ancient extra-biblical character named Hiram Abiff [who was allegedly involved in] the building of Solomon’s temple. This supposedly biblical legend gives Masonry a perception of legitimacy to religious men.   I remember going through the degrees and thinking and hoping that the next degree would be the one that would finally satisfy the longing I had to find some kind of real meaning. Disappointment came when I was “raised” from figurative death to the degree of Master Mason.  (PK: Do you see the counterfeit substitution for our resurrection in Christ)? It was really a big letdown. I was encouraged to go further into the higher degrees of Masonry, through the Shriners, but these degrees were considered more honorary and I was disillusioned by this point anyway. (PK: More "honorary" degrees is what the Masons may represent the Shriners as, but when they take an oath to the false god Allah, as the god of their fathers, then "dishonorable" and "disgraceful" is a more apt description). 
     Within two years of joining the Order, my wife gave birth to our second child and my dad died. I remember going fishing with a friend of my dad’s on the day after his funeral.  While we were fishing he said, “Hey all that stuff about Heaven and Hell, it don’t matter.  It’s how you live your life, that’s what matters.”  I agreed with my mouth, but my heart and mind were screaming, “All that matters is heaven and hell!”  When my daughter was 6 weeks old, my in-laws came to town and it was time to go to church. I had agreed to raise my family in the church and they held me to my promise. We visited a local church.  The congregation sang a song of greeting:

“Oh, how He loves you and me, Oh how He loves you and me. He gave his life, what more could he give?

Oh, how He loves you; Oh, how he loves me; Oh, how he loves you and me.

Jesus to Calvary did go, His love for sinners to show.  What He did there brought hope from despair".

      Everyone was smiling and greeting one another while I just wanted to cry. That Sunday the preacher preached on the Prodigal Son. I didn’t know if I was prodigal or if I even believed but I knew I needed to; I came to Christ in that service.  From that day my life changed.  The way I saw things changed.  Masonry no longer drew me.  About six months after I came to Christ, the Worshipful Master Mandarin Lodge no. 343 came to me and asked me why I hadn’t paid my Masonic dues.  I told him that I had become a Christian and had found the real meaning of life. He said there was nothing contrary to this in Freemasonry. I said, “Great, I will be at the next meeting and get up and share with all present what had happened to me and the good news of salvation through Christ and Christ alone.”  He told me that I would not be allowed to do that.  (PK:  Any Mason may bring a book dedicated to his deity before the meeting and to the podium, but a Christian cannot declare that salvation is through Jesus alone.  In effect, Jesus is seen as just another god; equal on every level to any other god a Mason may worship, and to every false god in the universe). So, I told him that when I could I would gladly come and pay my dues. That was thirty-two years ago and I haven’t heard from him or them since.

     When a person gets his meaning and purpose from any source other than Jesus, it is just another form of [sic] works righteousness. Freemasonry involves rituals and secrets that give it a pseudo spirituality and meaning which can further harden an unregenerate person’s heart. Many of the people that are Freemasons -- in fact I would venture to say a majority -- see their affiliation with the Order as giving them merit before their fellow man and, most disturbingly, before God.
     My conclusion on the matter of Freemasonry comes from Ephesians 5:3-13 ... But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you".
     To any man that claims the name of Jesus and is involved with this cult, I encourage you to separate yourself and repent. I am not judging you; I am judging an activity that I know to be heretical and anti-Christian.  It is a false righteousness that is leading many to a sinners Hell because of a reliance on something other than Christ and His sacrifice for you to be right with God.   Like all cults, it is full of sincere “good” people. They are sincerely wrong.
     I pray my experience will serve to help others to leave the cult and give Christians ammunition to dialogue with friends and loved ones who are trapped in Freemasonry.

In Christ,

J.L.

     I am extremely thankful to Mr. Jay Lloyd for his personal testimony and to Seth Dunn at the website "Pulpit and Pen" for publishing this exposé.  Sadly, Freemasonry has infiltrated the Church and led many good Christian men and women astray (women are encouraged to join the Eastern Star appendant body to the Free Mason Lodge). Freemasonry is a secret organization and members hide their identities within the Church, often serving on Finance Committees and positions of leadership within the Church.  It is just one more way that the Enemy has penetrated God's House.  
     I'm sure that both Mr. Lloyd's testimony and my opinion will offend Christians who have no real idea of the truth. But I'm willing to take that chance, if it will wake one person up to seek the freedom that Jesus offers. If your family has been involved in Freemasonry, I would ask you to take a good hard look at the spiritual health of your family.  See any problems? Any secrets lurking in the shadows, or unspoken darkness that needs the Light of Jesus shined upon it?  There are often family secrets that are buried and never spoken about, but you know they are there ... incest, molestation, suicide, murder ... the list goes on.  Mr. Lloyd's testimony barely scratches the surface of the insidious bond between Freemasonry and the Dark Side.  I hope it will cause some serious introspection and a heartfelt desire to receive Jesus's Truth on this subject.

John 18:20:   Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret". 

Freemasonry Part 3: How It Has Infiltrated the Church

     This is perhaps the most difficult segment of my three-part exposition on Freemasonry.  It is in this post that we must examine the existence of Freemasonry in our Church bodies and how it effects not only the salvation of those involved, but the work of the saved Christian for the Kingdom of God.
     I am writing from the supposition that Freemasons are members of our Churches, and I assure you, they are.  I know that there are many who will argue that they (or  their beloved fathers or grandfathers) do not share the same understanding of Masons that I have alleged; that for them, their membership in the Masonic Order has been for business contacts, or social purposes, or because it is a family heritage.  And they may even be ignorant of the underlying religious teachings of Freemasonry.  As I have stated in the previous posts, they may think that the oaths they took to the Creator, the Eternal God, or the Everlasting God referred to YHWH and Jesus.
     But do they know of the spirit of deception that controlled Albert Pike, the Sovereign Grand Commander of the Masonic Order, and the founder of much of modern Freemasonry's rituals?  Do they know that he wrote in his Morals and Dogma (p. 333), "The Book of the Law shall be an indispensable article of the lodge furniture. This book, however, need not necessarily be the Holy Bible; but according to the religious faith of the members of the lodge. It may be the Koran, the Zend Avesta, or the Vedas or Shasters."  The Koran, we know, but what of the others?  The Zend Avesta is the sacred book of Zoroastrianism containing its cosmogony, law, and liturgy, the teachings of the prophet Zoroaster.  The Vedas is the most ancient Hindu scriptures, written in early Sanskrit and containing hymns, philosophy, and guidance on ritual for the priests of Vedic religion.  Shasters, in Hindu, is any book of instructions, particularly containing Divine ordinances.  Wouldn't this present a problem for a Masonic Christian who professes his belief in Jehovah, the One True God?
     Furthermore, do these Christians who are members of a Masonic lodge know that on page 524 of his Morals and Dogma that Pike proclaims, "We do not undervalue the importance of any Truth. We utter no word that can be deemed irreverent by anyone of any faith ... And as little do we tell the sincere Christian that Jesus of Nazareth was but a man like us, or His history but the unreal revival of an older legend."  I can certainly see how Christians could be ignorant of the foundation of Freemasonry.  It is quite apparent that deceiving them into believing they are honoring their God is an acceptable practice ... and make darn sure you don't tell them that YHWH isn't the only god being worshipped!  In fact, multiple deities are being worshipped at the altar of Freemasonry!  And do you think that is acceptable to our God?!?  Is He agreeable to being lumped in with all the other foreign gods?  Does that sound like the same God of the Bible, who said, You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God?
     I admit that all I am saying would be very confusing and contradictory to a Christian who is also a Mason.  And all Christian Masons cannot be judged by the same standards.  In his fine article, Freemasonry and the Christian Church, Russ Wise points out that there are different categories of Christian Masons.  First, there are some who do not have a clear knowledge of Christianity. They believe that religion and Christianity are the same and that if someone uses the Scriptures, that person must be a Christian. Such people are sincere but untaught. Because they do not know what Christianity teaches, they see nothing wrong with Freemasonry.   A second category would be those who do not know what Masonry is and what it teaches. They are not only uninformed about Christianity but are equally uninformed about the teachings of Freemasonry. These individuals are without any theological foundation on which to discern truth from error. Likewise, they are often ignorant of the occult direction the Lodge has taken over the past few decades.
     A third group is made up of individuals who profess Christ, yet continue as Masons regardless of how much they know about Christianity and Freemasonry. They are indeed in a state of rebellion and have chosen not to follow the truth of Christ.  The final group are those who profess Christ and yet have abandoned the Christian faith. Those who have embraced this position are essentially Unitarian in their belief. They no longer hold to the absolute deity of Christ or His blood atonement.
     In any of these cases, and independent of the degree of ignorance of Freemasonry's foundations, I am reminded of the words of the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 18:21.  In his confrontation with the occultic wickedness of Kind Ahab and Jezebel, Scriptures says Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing.  And so today, The Great Architect of the Universe in Freemasonry has become the modern Baal.  And the Bible is clear ... you cannot serve two masters! But the people said nothing...

     And here is where Satan is winning the battle.  You see, Masons are encouraged to be an active member in their local church, and therefore, you often find that the most influential members of a particular church are Masons.  They can be found on various Church boards, are deacons or elders, and often control the finances of a church.  And, of course, many are pastors.  While not advocating that Masons be denied membership in churches, I would be very careful about the positions they hold within your church body.
     It is also interesting to note the varied stances that different denominations have taken on this subject.  Dr. David R. Reagan of Lamb and Lion Ministries has written a concise blog on church denominations and their acceptance or rejection of Freemasonry.  It is his contention that a Christian who is a Mason can never grow to his full potential in Christ.  And isn't that what we all aspire to?
     There is another issue that I feel cannot be ignored when considering the infiltration of Freemasonry in the Church.  How does the presence of Masons in the congregation affect what is said from the pulpit?  That is where the inspiration of the Holy Spirit comes into play.  True Christians would recognize the false religion of Freemasonry if expressed in its fullness and truth.  But remember ... it is an organization based on SECRECY.
     And the Church must recognize the foundation of Freemasonry, as spoken by Albert Pike, once again in his Morals and Dogma:  "Religion ... must needs be alloyed [mixed] with an amount of error [lying] ... the religion of the many must necessarily be more incorrect than that of the refined and reflective few" (page 224).  And again on page 102 in his Teaching for the 3rd Degree:  "A spirit ... that loves wisdom and contemplates the Truth close at hand, is forced to disguise it, to induce the multitudes to accept it ... Fictions are necessary to the people ...".  There you have it!  Lying is not only encouraged, it is necessary to protect the false truth of "the refined and reflective few".
     So, I come to you, pleading in all earnestness --- Do your research on Freemasonry!  Can you really turn a blind eye to the implications of false religious doctrine, even if it means conflict within your Church?  Don't you want your Church to stand for God's unadulterated and pure Truth?  Or are you willing to compromise with the world to keep the peace and maintain unity within your Body?  Will you be able to stand before God and profess that you did all you could to remove false doctrine and influences from His Church?  Will Jesus remove your lampstand?
     But I warn you... it will cost you.   To stand against Satan and his false religious systems is not for the fainthearted.  I urge you to read the testimonies of Southern Baptist pastors Stewart Bedillion, Pierce Dodson and Stoney Shaw, as they provide classic examples of the response to any rejection of Freemasonry in the Church.  Funny thing is, I can identify with each of these scenarios... it is a lonely road.  But one that I cannot shy away from because my Lord has shown me the truth through the Holy Spirit.  And that is my prayer for you.  That you will search the Scriptures for God's Truth, and not blindly follow any human leader or organization.  Pray for your pastor that he will have the strength to stand for True Doctrine, and that he will be like Elijah, unwilling to compromise for the sake of glorifying The One True God.  Do not be tempted to fall for the lies, deception, and delusion that Satan so enticingly offers.  And most of all, put on your full armor of God to withstand the slings and arrows that will come from exposing the Enemy's false and blasphemous promises.  May the Lord bless you and keep you.  May He make His face shine upon you, and be gracious towards you. And may He lift up His countenance towards you, and give you peace.

When doing your research on Freemasonry, there are many knowledgeable articles from which to choose, and you will find many that speak the truth from a Biblical perspective.  Here are just a few:  Christians and Freemasonry; Freemasonry and the Christian Church; The Impact of Freemasonry Within The Church; and What Are the Ramifications of Freemasonry in Your Church?

Galatians 1:6-9     "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.  But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed."
   
   

Freemasonry Part 2: Blending Christianity and Freemasonry

     If you are reading my blog today, then at least I know you have kept an open mind to what I have to say.  And I pray that you will take what I present and continue in your own diligent research... because I think it is that important!  So, today, I want to present the opinions of Freemasons, in their own words, as to the origin of Freemasonry and how it correlates to Christianity.
     First, a little history .... I would venture that few subjects are as enveloped in mystery and misunderstanding as Freemasonry.  For sure, no one can explain with certainty how or when the Masonic Fraternity was formed. A widely accepted theory among Masonic scholars is that it arose from the stonemasons' guilds during the Middle Ages. The language and symbols used in the fraternity's rituals come from this era.  Known under a variety of names (the Craft, the Brotherhood, the Order, the Fraternal Order, the Lodge, etc.), Masonry has been aligned with both the Christian church and the occult.  It can't be both, so which is it?
     If you go to the website for the Masonic Service Association of North America's website, you will note that the emphasis is put on "service to the community", and because of all the controversy, they even post a statement on Freemasonry and Religion.  And they actually do a pretty good job of explaining away all the criticisms and condemnations that have been lodged against the secret society.  If, as a Christian, one is willing to water down God's commandments as to how He wishes to be worshipped, I suppose you could rationalize becoming a Mason.
     That being said, there was a period in time in America where the Christian influence in Masonic lodges held sway.  In his book titled, The History of Freemasonry; It's Legendary Origins, Albert Mackey writes that in the 18th and 19th centuries, such leaders as Rev. James Anderson, William J. Hughan, William Hutchinson, Rev. George Oliver, and others had a Christian view of their Craft. Hutchinson, in particular, noted that Jesus Christ was the example for the Master Mason. He stated, "The Master Mason represents a man under the Christian doctrine saved from the grave of iniquity and raised to the faith of salvation. As the great testimonial that we are risen from the state of corruption, we bear the emblem of the Holy Trinity as the insignia of our vows and of the origin of the Master's order."
      But in the early 19th century, there were a series of incidents that cast a negative light on "the Brotherhood", most notably what would become known as "the Morgan affair".  This resulted in a mass exodus of Christians from Masonic lodges across the nation.  And is it really surprising that when Christian influence vacates a situation, that Satan is waiting in the wings to fill that void?  That's exactly what happened.  During this time Albert Pike seized the opportunity to spread and entrench his pagan interpretation of the Craft, and along with others, Pike began to reinterpret the symbols of the Craft.
     What I find interesting is that while Pike is paganizing Freemasonry in the mid-19th century, there is simultaneously a new influx of Christians into the Fraternal Order.  Can you see the cosmic chess match between YHWH and the devil?  However, the Christian influence wasn't enough to fight off the pagan domination.  Manly P. Hall, a 33rd degree Mason, was one of the early authors who claimed a pagan origin for Freemasonry. In his book entitled The Lost Keys of Freemasonry, he says that Freemasonry is not a material thing: it is a universal expression of the Divine Wisdom. "The Masonic order is not a mere social organization, but is composed of all those who have banded themselves together to learn and apply the principles of mysticism and the occult rites."  With book titles such as The Secret Teachings of all Ages, The Secret Destiny of America, and Freemasonry of the Ancient Egyptians, you should be getting a clearer picture of the occultic mysticism that surrounds this organization.
     The religious cornerstone for the Brotherhood became "universalism".  The primary standard for membership was, and continues to be, that the candidate believe in "God." This god could be Krishna, Buddha, Allah, or any other god, but Jesus Christ is not to be considered anything more than their equal.  This universalist, or inclusive, idea about God has opened the door for every false deity to have a place within the Lodge. Hall makes his universalist orientation unmistakable by stating, "The true disciple of Masonry has given up forever the worship of personalities. With his greater insight, he realizes that all forms . . . are of no importance to him compared to the life which is evolving within." (My emphasis).

     That statement alone tells me that the worship of the One True God and the reverence for His character (or "personality" to put it in Masonic lingo) is replaced by the worship of self, or becoming your own god.  Sounds like the same message that was delivered in the Garden, doesn't it?
     Hall adds to his belief in universalism by stating that "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." So, for the Mason, God is not a personal being, but an impersonal force, an energy that has no substance.  And if one only recognizes the light, and not the bearer, that bearer could be any false god or demonic spirit posing as the light.  So, I simply must ask the question that should be on everyone's mind .... how can a Christian remain a Mason?
     But believe me, the tradition and the subterfuge within Freemasonry is strong enough to delude many a Christian.  Here are a couple of testimonies from a website called Ex-Masons for Jesus.  I urge you to visit the site and read poignant declarations of men and women who came out of the darkness and into the real light, Jesus Christ.  Here are some snippets from their testimonies:
•  "The Grand Master informed me that one of my duties as a Worshipful Master of my Lodge was not to offend any brethren who were not Christians, even if this meant I had to refrain from using the name of Jesus Christ in my prayers. He advised me that as Grand Master he had the authority to disband my Lodge and remove its Charter as a Lodge, if I persisted in using the name of Jesus with members present who objected ... In the center of every Blue Lodge is an altar. Resting on top of the altar is what many Masons refer to as the Great Light of Masonry, the Bible. I later discovered that Freemasonry declares the sacred book of any and all religions in the world equivalent to the Bible. Any "sacred book" may rest on the altar in a Masonic Lodge, to oblige a Mason who does not accept the Bible as God's word ... After reading and studying various Masonic authors, I realized that Freemasonry considers Jesus Christ as no greater than Moses, Elijah, Mohammed, or Buddha"  (Jack Harris).
•  "I didn’t know anything about the Masons at that time. I knew I had been intrigued at one time, in younger years, by things of the supernatural and New Age, and had renounced that. I didn’t really know anything about the Masons except what I was hearing from my husband, which was very little. He took his oaths to the Lodge very seriously, and didn’t disclose any secrets. To him, that oath, I believe, was more sacred than the vows we had made.  He wanted me to join the Eastern Star. I still didn’t know anything about it; I didn’t feel right about it. I felt a check in my spirit. But, he felt that this would help us as a family, and help in our relationship, so I agreed to go ... As I entered that place, there was such a feeling of oppression. I felt that I could hardly breathe. The spirit of fear came over me so strongly, it was such a place of darkness, and I just prayed, “God, if You get me out of here, I promise You I’ll never be back.” After we left, I told Tom that I could not go back there." (Kay Hilton).
•  "I started each of the three degrees of Masonry with my eyes blindfolded. I discovered some time later that I had been spiritually blindfolded as well ... Every prayer offered in lodge, and even in open funeral services, is closed with the invocation, “So Mote It Be.”. I had never heard any such thing when prayers were offered in any other organization or setting. With the advantage now of Internet searches, it is easy to learn that beyond Masonic references, one can find the phrase in common usage in witchcraft and other similar secret bodies."  (Now you know the origin of that phrase that I used in yesterday's post) ... "A new Mason has to acknowledge before entering the lodge room – that he is “in darkness” and is seeking true light in Masonry."  What was that again?  "The true light" in Masonry?  Seems to me if you are a Christian, the True Light is Jesus!  So, once again, I ask... how can a true Christian remain a Mason? 
     I could continue with testimonies and evidence, but I hope by now I have provided enough to encourage you to become knowledgeable about Freemasonry; to pray about it and seek guidance and counsel from the Holy Spirit.  Sadly, it is not enough to seek counsel from your Church leaders, many of whom have not done their own due diligence.  Take for example this 1993 Report on Freemasonry, from the Southern Baptist Convention:

"In light of the fact that many tenets and teachings of Freemasonry are not compatible with Christianity and Southern Baptist doctrine, while others are compatible with Christianity and Southern Baptist doctrine, we therefore recommend that consistent with our denomination's deep convictions regarding the priesthood of the believer and the autonomy of the local church, membership in a Masonic Order be a matter of personal conscience. Therefore, we exhort Southern Baptists to prayerfully and carefully evaluate Freemasonry in the light of the Lordship of Christ, the teachings of the Scripture, and the findings of this report, as led by the Holy Spirit of God." 

     Think that fits the description of the "lukewarm" Church of Laodicea?  I do!  If any tenants and teachings are incompatible with Christ, why would you not denounce Freemasonry for Christians?  Once again compromise wins out, and Jesus is devalued.  But that's the way the devil works, isn't it?  He weasels his way into being accepted as "almost" like God and offers us the tempting titles of leadership and good standing in our community.  So, prideful Christians look the other way, and remain loyal to the Lodge.  In the next post, I will show you how Freemasonry has left the Lodge and entered the Church.  Stay tuned!

2 Corinthians 6:14   "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness?"
   

Freemasonry Part 1: The Necessary Conversation

     I am constantly amazed at the boldness and tenacity of women who will stand for what they believe in.  Last week, just such a woman, whom I admire greatly, traveled to Washington D.C. to pray at the Supreme Court as the Justices heard oral arguments in a Texas case, Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt.  As many of you know, this case is about setting strict limitations on abortions in the state of Texas, and before the death of Supreme Justice Antonin Scalia, there was actually hope that if the Supreme Court upheld Texas's law, we might be seeing the death of Roe v. Wade.  
     As much as I would like to discuss this case and its implications for the millions of prospective aborted fetuses, this case was not the sole reason my friend was in D.C.  She also went to our nation's capitol to pray against the influence of Freemasonry on the Court and in our Government.
     Now, I am fully aware that this is a highly controversial subject and there are those who will refuse to even consider it.  And before I go any further, I want to make it clear that I am not speaking out of ignorance or personal bias.  I have done my research and so should you!  Do not take my word for it, do not agree with me because we might be on the same page on other issues, and most importantly, do not accept what others have said about it, either.  Do your own research because it is that important of a topic, and you should be educated on the subject and form your own opinion.  And please ... the one thing I do not want you to do is simply ignore it.  I believe Freemasonry will become increasingly important to us as we select our next President and as we come ever closer to the return of our Lord.
     Why?  Aren't the Masons just another organization like the Rotary Club or the local Optimists Club?  Aren't they just a group of networking professionals?  After all, how many of our grandfathers were Masons, and they always told us it was a charitable and community organization, right?  But here's the first thing you need to know ... it is a highly secretive society.  And if you are a Christian that should be your first red flag.
     Before I get into my concerns about the organization, I want to make this statement: to determine if something is right or wrong, according to God's will, we should always go to the Bible.  If we are immersed in God's Word, and pray for God to reveal His truth, we can count on the Holy Spirit to help us discern any matter.  That has been the basis for my taking on the task of understanding the history and consequences of Freemasonry.

     So, as I have already stated,  Freemasonry is a secret and exclusive organization.  While it may seem as if they are a harmless fellowship of businessmen, and they appear to promote a belief in God, you should know that my research has shown the only belief requirement is not that one must believe in the True and Living God, but rather, that one must believe in the existence of a “Supreme Being”, which includes the “gods” of Islam, Hinduism, or any other world religion.   In fact, Masonry teaches that it is G.A.O.T.U. [the Great Architect of the Universe], whom Masonry believes is the true God of the universe, and who is representative of all gods in all religions.  So, while it may appear to be compatible with Christianity in outward appearances, it clearly contradicts God's first commandment:  You shall have no other gods before Me.
     You will hear all kinds of arguments that Freemasonry in America is different; that our Founding Fathers (including George Washington) were Masons, so how can it be bad?  I find it interesting that those who say that there's nothing wrong with Freemasonry will use this argument... we all know George Washington was an honorable man, and he was a Mason.  Yet these same people, when confronted with skepticism about Freemasonry, are quick to point out that there are only one or two references to him ever attending a meeting, and he eventually quit his local Lodge.  So, which is it?  Are you defending Freemasonry, or trying to create distance between it and the Father of our Country?
     What these same people may be unaware of is that there was such concern about the nefarious activities of Freemasons in the early years of our republic, that John Quincy Adams ran for President on an anti-Masonic ticket.  In fact, the movement against Freemasonry was quite extensive and lasted throughout the 19th Century.
     There are still others who will try to say that, yes, historically Freemasons may have included practices and symbols from ancient Egypt, but they don't have any real significance to the modern Mason. This fact alone should be enough to steer away any Christian. Egypt in ancient times was known for pharaoh-worship and dedication to various false gods.  That certainly could not be the practice of today's modern Masonry ... or could it?  Read what an ex-Mason, who is also a Christian, shared about his experience:  In January of 1968, I was installed as Worshipful Master of a Masonic Lodge of about 600 men. As far as I was concerned, I had reached the pinnacle of life. As a Worshipful Master, I had total autocratic authority over the affairs of my Lodge with accountability only to the Grand Master of my State....
     Very early during my term as Worshipful Master, while conducting a Masonic business meeting, one of the brothers present voiced his objections to the closing of Lodge prayers in the name of Jesus Christ. Masonic tradition in Maryland had been to close the prayers by saying: "May every moral and social virtue cement us, Amen, So Mote it Be."
     In all my years as a Mason, I had never heard one objection to the name of Jesus being used by our Chaplain to close his prayers. I assured the Masonic brother who objected that I would take up the matter with the Grand Master. Several days later, I met with the Grand Master and explained the problem with the prayers, as well as other concerns. The Grand Master informed me that Freemasonry accepts for membership men of every faith or religion, so long as the prospective member believes in a Supreme Being (whomever he may be) and in the resurrection of the body to a future life (however and through whomever that was accomplished.) This was a great shock to me. I had not realized that those who were members of anti-Christian religions could become Masons. 
     The Grand Master informed me that one of my duties as a Worshipful Master of my Lodge was not to offend any brethren who were not Christians, even if this meant I had to refrain from using the name of Jesus Christ in my prayers. He advised me that as Grand Master he had the authority to disband my Lodge and remove its Charter as a Lodge, if I persisted in using the name of Jesus with members present who objected. 
     In March of 1973, The Grand Lodge of Maryland Committee on Masonic Education approved the following statement regarding prayers in a Masonic lodge:  

All prayers in a Masonic Lodge should be directed to the one Deity to whom all Masons refer as The Grand Architect of the Universe. We address Him as our Heavenly Father, Eternal God, Almighty, or Everlasting God. We should close our prayers with an expression such as, 'In Thy most holy and precious name we pray...’, using no additional words which could be in conflict with the religious beliefs of other Masons present at the meeting. The brother who offers up the prayer does so for all members and visitors present, rather than for just himself. (Maryland Mason Magazine, March 1973). 

     Now this man's faith in Freemasonry was shaken; although his faith in Jesus Christ was not.  And it caused him to take a closer look at the "fellowship" of this organization and how it corresponded to his Christian faith.  With new eyes, he was able to see that in the center of every Blue Lodge is an altar. Resting on top of the altar is what many Masons refer to as the Great Light of Masonry, the Bible. I later discovered that Freemasonry declares the sacred book of any and all religions in the world equivalent to the Bible. Any "sacred book" may rest on the altar in a Masonic Lodge, to oblige a Mason who does not accept the Bible as God's word.
     He came to the shocking realization that "I now had an irresistible force meeting an immovable object, namely the God of the Universe, Jesus Christ, and the god of Freemasonry, Satan. How could both belief systems be regarded as truth? I believed that the primary purpose of every Masonic degree was to depart spiritual light, wisdom, truth, and knowledge regarding life, death, the hereafter, and our interpersonal relationships with others.  [But now] after reading and studying various Masonic authors, I realized that Freemasonry considers Jesus Christ as no greater than Moses, Elijah, Mohammed, or Buddha."
     Now, maybe this doesn't matter to you.  If you aren't a Christian, then I doubt that these revelations will have much impact on you.  But if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, then there is much more in the oaths and the demands on men and their families that I will be revealing to you in the next post.  It is not my desire to bash the sincere desires of men to better themselves or society. But it is my wish that everyone understand the deception and the temptations that lure people into this organization.  And I especially want to warn Christians about letting it into their families or their Churches!  I want you to put on your spiritual armor and concentrate on the Belt (or Girdle) of Truth -- it is God's Truth! -- Not the truth of the world or men, no matter how enticing and convincing it may be.
     I know that I may have offended many people with this post and will be discounted as an alarmist or unduly inflammatory.  But I am accountable to Jehovah God and when the Holy Spirit pricks my spirit with something to speak forth, then I cannot suppress that command.  It is my sincere hope that you will not dismiss this topic as inconsequential, because I fear that the spirit behind this organization can cause great damage to both believers and non-believers, alike.  Please take the time to study it and pray about it, asking God to reveal to you what you need to know.  And tune in for the next post, where I will discuss the blending of the Church and Freemasonry.

John 18:20    "I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing."