Post by pitbull on Nov 13, 2008 7:56:07 GMT -5
DAILY WISDOM
“A righteous [man] hateth lying: but a wicked [man] is loathsome, and cometh to shame.” [Proverbs 13:5]
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
FOUR HEROES IN THE BIBLE
1. Enoch [Hebrews 11:5; Genesis 5:22-24] – How did he walk with God?
• He walked by faith [2 Corinthians 5:7]
• He walked in the Spirit [Galatians 5:16]
• He walked in love [Ephesians 5:2]
• He walked in light [1 John 1:7]
2. Noah [Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 6:8-9] – How did he find grace with God?
• He was a just or honest man
• He was perfect or spiritually mature
• He walked with God
3. Abraham [Hebrews 11:8, 17-19; James 2:23] – Why was he called a friend of God?
• He was willing to obey when told to leave his home
• He was willing to obey when told to sacrifice his son
4. David [1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22] – Why was he a man after God’s own heart?
• Even though he committed adultery, lied, and conspired to murder, he was willing to confess his guilty before God.
• He stood up to Goliath when he blasphemed God and mocked Israel
• He wanted the Ark of the Covenant and God’s blessings upon Israel
• He wanted to build a temple for God’s glory
RELIGIOUS AWARENESS
Should A Christian Become A Mason?
Masonic Doctrine -v- Christian Doctrine
Seek the Truth through the Word of God!
"...ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Jn. 8:32)
What is a Mason? What do they do? These are just a couple of questions you may ask. Most people know them to be a fraternal order of men that is usually involved in good civic activities, such as the Shriner's collecting money for the children's hospital. However, very little is known to the non-Mason, about what the Masons believe or what they do behind closed doors. Most Masons have never read some of the sources cited in the following. All of these Masonic sourcebooks are in the libraries of most local Lodges and the libraries of the Grand Lodges of the states. Let me further state that there are a lot of well meaning men and Christian men who are members of the Masonic lodges in small town America, and many never advance beyond the Blue Degrees. Remaining at this level, they are kept in the dark about a lot of what goes on as one obtains "more light," as they call it. If much of what is about to be disclosed was known to a lot of these men and Christian men, they would not be a part of such an organization.
I urge those that really want to know the truth to check out these materials cited below, also before going any further, ask God to confirm in your own heart the truth as you read it.
I. JESUS CHRIST
"In his private petitions a man may petition God or Jehovah, Allah or Buddha, Mohammed or Jesus; he may call upon the God of Israel or the First Great Cause. In the Masonic Lodge he hears petition to the Great Architect of the Universe, finding his own deity under that name. A hundred paths may wind upward around a mountain; at the top they meet.” (Carl H. Claudy, "Introduction to Freemasonry." p. 38)
• Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the Life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me. (Jn.14:6)
• Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name {but Jesus} under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
II. GOD
"...Since every man's conception of God must be proportioned to his mental cultivation, and intellectual powers, and moral excellence. God is, as man conceives Him, the reflected image of man himself. (Albert Pike, "Morals and Dogma," 14th Degree, p. 234) "The only personal God Freemasonry accepts is humanity in toto...Humanity therefore is the only personal God that there is.” (J.D. Buck, "Mystic Masonry," p. 216)
"The Absolute is Reason. Reason IS, by means of itself. It IS because IT IS...If God IS, HE IS by Reason.” (Albert Pike, "Morals and Dogma," 28th Degree. p. 737)
• In the Beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Gen. 1:1)
• For there are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word {Jesus}, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (I Jn. 5:7)
• God said undo Moses, I AM THAT I AM... (Ex. 3:14)
III. THE HOLY BIBLE
"...The literal meaning (of the Bible) is for the vulgar only.” (Albert Pike, "Digest of Morals and Dogma," p. 166) "Masonry makes no profession of Christianity...but looks forward to the time when the labor of our ancient brethren shall be symbolized by the erection of a spiritual temple...in which there shall be but one alter and one worship; one common altar of Masonry on which the Veda, Shastra, Sade, Zend-Avesta, Koran and Holy Bible shall lie...and at whose shrine the Hindoo, the Persian, the Assyrian, the Chaldean, the Egyptian, the Chinese, the Mohammedan, the Jew and the Christian may kneel..." ("The Kentucky Monitor." Fellowcraft Degree, p. 95)
The removal of the name of Jesus and references to Him in Bible verses used in the ritual are "slight but necessary modifications.” (Albert Mackey, "Masonic Ritualist." p. 272)
• The Words of the Lord are pure words, as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (Ps. 12:6)
• All Scripture is given by inspiration of God... (II Tim. 3:16)
• ...If they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isa. 8:20)
IV. REDEMPTION
"These three degrees (1st, 2nd, 3rd) thus form a perfect an harmonious whole, nor can it be conceived that anything can be suggested more, which the soul of man requires.” (Daniel Sickles, "Ahimon Rezon or Freemason's Guide." p. 196)
"If we with suitable true devotion maintain our Masonic profession, our faith will become a beam of light an bring us to those blessed mansions where we shall be eternally happy with God, the Great Architect of the Universe.” (Daniel Sickles, "Ahimon Rezon or Freemason's Guide." p. 79)
"...Salvation by faith and the vicarious atonement were not taught as now interpreted, by Jesus, nor are these doctrines taught in the esoteric scriptures. They are later and ignorant perversions of the original doctrines.” (J.D. Buck, "Mystic Masonry." p. 57)
• As it is written. There is none righteous no not one: (Rom. 3:10)
• For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23)
• For He hath made Him {Jesus} to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. (II Cor. 5:21)
• For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)
V. SATAN
"The conviction of all men that God is good led to a belief in a devil..." (Albert Pike, “Morals and Dogma." 19th Degree, p. 324)
"...there is no rebellious demon of Evil, or Principle of Darkness coexistent and in eternal controversy with God, or the Principle of Light..." (Albert Pike, "Morals and Dogma," 32nd Degree, p.859)
• Ye are of your father, the devil...he is a liar, and the father of it. (Jn. 8:44)
• Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (Jas. 4:7)
• Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Eph. 6:11-12)
• ...your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (I Pet. 5:8)
VI. TRUTHFULNESS
The Mason Doctrine teaches that it right to lie, if necessary to protect the secrets of the Lodge, or to protect brother Masons by concealing his wrongdoing. It can even be right to deliberately deceive sincere Masons seeking to learn the lessons and secrets of Masonry.
"The Blue Degrees are but the portico (porch) 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 ecplication (explanation / understanding) is reserved for the Adepts, the Princes of Masonry.” (Albert Pike, "Morals and Dogma," 30th Degree, p. 189)
"You must conceal all crimes of your brother Masons...and should you be summoned as a witness against a brother Mason be always sure to shield him...It may be perjury to do this, it is true, but you're keeping your obligations.” (Ronayne, "Handbook of Masonry." p. 183)
"Furthermore do I promise and swear that a Master Mason's secrets, given to me in charge as such, and I knowing them to be such, shall remain as secure and inviolable in my breast as in his own, when communicated to me, murder and treason excepted; and they left to my own election.” (Master Mason's / 3rd Degree Oath of Obligation)
• Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. (Ex. 20:16)
• Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. (Lev. 19:11)
• ...lie not to one another. (Col. 3:9)
• ...all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death. (Rev 21:8)
VII. SECRECY & BLOOD OATHS
Secrecy is indispensable in a Mason of whatever degree.” (Albert Pike, "Morals and Dogma," 4th Degree, p. 109)
I...do hereon most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear that I will always hail, ever conceal and never reveal any of the arts, parts or points of the secret arts any mysteries of ancient Freemasonry which I have received, am about to receive, or may hereafter be instructed in.” (Oath of Obligation, Entered Apprentice/1st Degree, and include in all subsequent degrees, always on penalty of mayhem and violent death)
"...Binding myself under no less a penalty that that of having my body severed in twain, my bowels taken out and burned to ashes, the ashes scattered to the four winds of heaven..." (from the Oath of Obligation, Master Mason/Third Degree)
"...In willful violation whereof may I incur the fearful penalty of having my eyeballs pierced to the center with a three-edged blade, my feet flayed and I be forced to walk the hot sands upon sterile shores of the Red Sea until the flaming Sun shall strike me with a livid plague, and may Allah, the god of Arab, Moslem and Mohammedan, the god of our fathers, support me to the entire fulfillment of the same.” (from the Oath of Obligation, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine ["Shriners"])
• I {Jesus} spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple...and in secret have I said nothing. (Jn. 18:20)
• Provide things honest in the sight of all men. (Rom. 12:17)
• Thou shalt not kill (murder). (Ex. 20:13)
• But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. (Jas. 5:12)
VIII. "THROUGH THE FIRES OF MOLECH"
An earnest question is continually asked of us who minister to members of the Masonic fraternity. "So, if Masonry is un-Christian," people inquire, "What about the youth orders of Masonry? Are they so bad?"
This is born out of genuine parental concern for the well being of their children. In this increasingly carnal world, are there worthwhile places one can send their son or daughter for fun and fellowship with the assurance that they will only be exposed to wholesome ideals and influences?
What about the Masonic orders for youth--the Order of DeMolay? The Rainbow Girls? Job's Daughters? Are these innocent enough? This assumption neglects very central principles found in God's Word--the very Bible which is found reposing on the altars of Masonry.
The first question is one of spiritual authority. Surely no Christian parents needs to be reminded of the responsibility they have for the precious young souls God has entrusted unto them. The Bible is full of admonitions to carefully train one's child.
• “And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” -- Deut.11: 9.
• "And ye, fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” --Eph.6: 4.
Conversely, there are dire spiritual warnings for those who either fail to teach their children or who lead them into error-filled teachings:
• "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea.” --Mt.18: 6.
Thus God has given Christian parents ultimate spiritual authority, or headship over their children. Even if the child has not yet received eternal life, he or she is protected under the covenant of the parents' commitment to Jesus Christ to an incredible extent. The Lord has placed a strong hedge of protection around Christian families. (Job.1: 10)
What does this have to do with Masonic youth orders? It is the same question of headship. Masonry is a false religious system, and its god is not the Biblical God. Therefore, temples of Freemasonry are temples to a false god; and Freemasons are, knowingly or not, priests of a false, Baalish system.
Please bear in mind that this is a spiritual principle that has little to do with the appearances or even the philosophies of these youth groups. None of these groups are allowed to meet without the presence of a Master Mason. They function solely under the charter of Masonic authority! They are also designed to draw young people into the adult orders. The youth groups of Freemasonry are "adoptive" orders, which means that upon being initiated the young man or woman is spiritually "adopted" into the Masonic family, even though they aren't actually Masons. Even a Christian youth who has been adopted into the family of God (Rom.8: 15- 17) comes under the spiritual authority of Masonry as well when he or she joins these orders. This cannot help but make them "double-minded" (Jas.1: 5-8) at an already difficult phase of their young lives.
No matter how apparently "innocent" the ceremonies and teachings of these youth orders are, they function under the shadow of an anti-Christian spiritual power which the Master Mason brings with him.
No parent would knowingly permit their son or daughter to attend a coven of witches; and yet the same spiritual principality (Eph.6: 12) which presides over witchcraft also presides over Masonic ceremonies--the false god of magic and ancient pagan fertility cults, from which Masonry proudly claims descent! (See Albert Pike 33o, MORALS AND DOGMA, pp.730-732; Albert Mackey 33o, ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
FREEMASONRY, p.560, 573.)
Thus, the youth is walking innocently into a spiritual minefield, without warning or advance knowledge, when they enter a Masonic youth order. They stand on Satan's territory and have thus opened a doorway in their lives for him to begin to corrode their very souls! They have broken down the hedge that God has around them! (Eccl.10: 8) Not only that! At the very age when their powerful emotional drives are running at peak, they are surrendering themselves to a spiritual power that is engineered to provoke lust! The elements and symbols of Masonry, even as in witchcraft, are sexual in spirit. A young person who is receiving sound moral instruction at home would be having that instruction subtly undermined by submitting to the headship of Masonic authority!
Masonry glorifies the sexual attributes of humanity, in a disguised way. The square and compass symbols actually represent the male and female reproductive organs! The "point within the circle" and the twin pillars are all disguised forms of ancient talismans of paganism designed to invoke lust! (Albert Mackey, 33o ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FREEMASONRY, P.560, p.573 and his SYMBOLISM IN FREEMASONRY, pp.352-53) Thus, while teaching pious principles on the surface, these orders only serve to pour fuel on the already smouldering fires of adolescent emotion, and the God-given rights of the Christian parent are diluted by the very real authority of a strange god who appeals to all that is carnal in the young person.
The desire to be "something special," and to "lord it over" others is enhanced by these groups, which bestow impressive, high sounding titles upon their officers ("Honored Queen" etc.) and dress them up in all the pomp of royalty! Crowns and scepters, satin robes or cloaks and chains of office: these all serve to glorify the egos of the young people instead of conforming them to the humble image of Christ (Phil.2: 5-9,Romans
12:1-2).
Certainly, these orders make a show of teaching "religion;" but religion is not what our young men and women need. They need the gospel of grace! Subtly but completely, a doctrine of salvation by works and labor is taught in these orders; contrary to scripture. The secrecy and elitism of these groups is both uncharitable and forbidden by Jesus Christ Himself, who forbade the taking of oaths. (Matt.5: 34-37) True Christian love does not exclude, but rather embraces whosoever will come.
Listen to the Word of the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah:
• "And they built the high places of Baal, which are the valley of the son of Himnon, to cause their sons and daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.” -- Jer.32: 35.
Elsewhere the Lord specifically commanded:
• "Thou shalt not let any of they seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.” --Lev.18: 22 (also Lev.20: 1-5).
Now, obviously what is being spoken of is a particularly vile form of child sacrifice. Molech was a god of the Ammonites, and his idol was metal and heated up by flames within. The child was placed in the idol's red-hot arms and one hesitates to even imagine the result. (EERDMANN'S HANDBOOK TO THE BIBLE, p.178). The Hebrews were forbidden by God to do this.
Yet, unthinkable as it sounds, the Israelites persistently fell into this precise sort of idolatry! They were so beguiled by the exquisite-sounding promises of the priests of Baal and Molech that they willingly passed their sweet children through the fires; in spite of the repeated warnings of the prophets! Even the wise Solomon, one of the "patron saints" of Masonry built an altar to this god. (1 Kings 11:1-8)
Horrifying as this may seem, in Masonry the same thing is happening to the young person on a spiritual level! The fires of Molech only consumed the bodies of these innocent children; but the spiritual fires of the Masonic order corrode the very souls of our youth! The "initiation rites" which they put the young people through are unhallowed conflagrations that sear their consciences with a red-hot iron!
In our society, there are enough "fires" through which our children must walk: drugs, sex, occult movies and heavy metal music. Most of these the child chooses for himself, however unknowingly. But in the Masonic youth orders, the young person is often urged to join with the "blessing" of the parent. The very virtuous appearance of these Orders is what makes them all the more dangerous! These teens are drinking spiritual poison in unlabeled bottles!
Let us remember the "curse of the millstone" which Jesus proclaimed in Matthew 18:6 and try not to pass our adolescents through any more "fires" than our culture already subjects them to! It is the unseen trap that is the most deadly, and their very souls are at stake! If you are allowing your young person to partake in these societies, you need to get them out immediately! If you, yourself, had an involvement with them earlier; you need to renounce them and repent before God! Only then can you have the full victory that Jesus Christ can bring!
It is important to realize that as you draw your child from these "fires," they also will need to repent in prayer for their involvement and simply ask our loving Lord, Jesus Christ, to wash them clean in His blood and take all of that spiritual debris out of their lives! He is indeed "faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)