Freemasonry's Plan of Salvation
THE LAMBSKIN APRON AND THE GREAT WHITE THRONE
by Duane Washum
(Former Past Worshipful Master of Las Vegas Lodge #32)
Dr. Paul D. Feinberg, of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School,
delivered a lecture in which he listed six features that characterize a
cult. One of those six features is, "They Usually Have Their Own
Eschatology."
Whether you consider Freemasonry as being a cult, or a full-blown
religion, there is one basic truth about Freemasonry, regardless of its
proper classification, and that is: It definitely has its own
eschatology.
The World Book Encyclopedia's dictionary defines the word,
"eschatology", as being, "doctrines of the last or final
things, as death, the judgment, heaven, and hell; the branch of theology
dealing with these doctrines."
Judgment is properly listed among these last or final things, and
when it comes to judgment, Freemasonry certainly does have a version all
its own. Freemasonry certainly does have its own eschatology. And no
place in blue lodge ritual is this Masonic doctrine more pronounced
than, first of all, in the symbolism of the lambskin, or white leather,
apron; and secondly, in the lecture accompanying the presentation of
this apron to the newly initiated Entered Apprentice.
First of all, regarding its symbolism, we find this in the Nevada
Ritual, page 32:
"You were presented with a lambskin or white leather apron,
because the lamb, in all ages has been deemed an emblem of innocence.
The lambskin is therefore to remind you of that purity of life and
rectitude of conduct which is so essentially necessary to your gaining
admission to that Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect
of the Universe presides."
As expected, we find it similarly expressed in the 'Nevada Masonic
Monitor, First Degree - Entered Apprentice', page 14:
"The Lamb has in all ages been deemed an emblem of innocence.
The lambskin is therefore to remind you of that purity of life and
rectitude of conduct which is so essentially necessary to your gaining
admission to that Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect
of the Universe presides."
Similar language can be found in every monitor or ritual book of
every grand lodge jurisdiction in this country. Here are a few examples.
Examples:
'North Carolina Lodge Manual': "Let its pure and spotless
surface be to you an ever-present reminder of a 'purity of life and
rectitude of conduct'..."
'Book of Constitutions - South Carolina: The Badge Of A Mason
".by the lambskin, the Mason is, therefore, reminded of that
purity of life and conduct which is so essentially necessary to his
gaining admission into the celestial Lodge above,..."
'Washington Monitor': "...he, therefore, who wears the
lambskin as the badge of a Mason, is thereby continually reminded of
that purity of life and rectitude of conduct which are so essentially
necessary to his gaining admission into the Celestial Lodge
above..."
'Kentucky Monitor': "By the lambskin, therefore, the Mason is
reminded of that purity of life and conduct which is essential to his
gaining admission to the Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme
Architect of the Universe presides."
And, the 'Monitor of the Lodge - Texas', similarly states,
"May the pure and spotless surface of this Apron be an
ever-present reminder of that 'purity of heart and uprightness of
conduct so essentially necessary' ..."
The point I wish to make here is this: It doesn't matter what any
members of the Masonic Order, from any part of the country, may try to
tell you, if any one of them attempt to tell you it is any different in
their lodges, they are being deceitful at the very least, and it is
intentionally done so.
How important is the symbolism of this apron to the Craft?
From the 'Encyclopedia of Freemasonry', Albert G. Mackey:
'Mackey's Revised Encyclopedia', Volume 1, page 92:
"There
is no one of the symbols of Speculative Masonry more important in its
teaching, or more interesting in its history, than the lambskin, or
white leather apron. Commencing its lessons at an early period in the
Mason's progress, it is impressed upon his memory as the first gift
which he receives, the first symbol which is explained to him, and the
first tangible evidence which he possesses of his admission into the
Fraternity. Whatever may be his advancement in the "royal
art", into whatsoever deeper arcane his devotion to the mystic
Institution or his thirst for knowledge may subsequently lead him,
with the lambskin apron — his first investiture — he never parts.
Changing, perhaps, its form and its decorations, and conveying, at
each step, some new but still beautiful allusion, its substance is
still there, and it continues to claim the honored title by which it
was first made known to him, on the night of his initiation, as the
badge of a Mason."
And from the Heirloom Masonic Bible, page 33:
"The lamb has always been regarded as an appropriate emblem of
innocence. Hence in the ritual of the First Degree the initiate is
presented with the pure white lambskin apron as a reminder of
"That purity of life and rectitude of conduct which is so
essentially necessary to his gaining admission into the Celestial
Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the universe forever
presides". This apron becomes his permanent property as "the
badge of a Mason". As he advances in Masonry he will receive
other aprons of varying types, but never one that equals this first
one in emblematic significance and Masonic value."
These statements, from Mr. Mackey and from the Heirloom Masonic
Bible, are affirmed in the Apron Lecture itself, which, in part, states
(Nevada Ritual, page 25):
"My Brother, I now present you this lambskin or white leather
apron. It is an emblem of innocence and the badge of a Mason — the
distinguished badge of a Mason."
"It may be that in coming years, upon your head may rest the
laurel wreaths of victory, pendent from your breast may hang jewels
fit to grace the diadem of an Eastern potentate; nay, more than these,
with light added to the coming light, your ambitious feet may tread
round after round of the ladder that leads to fame in our mystic
circle, and even the purple of the Fraternity may rest upon your
honored shoulders; but never again from mortal hands, never again
until your enfranchised spirit shall have passed upward and inward
through the pearly gates, shall any honor so distinguished, so
emblematical of purity and all perfections, be conferred upon you as
this which I now bestow."
Let there be no doubt in anyone's mind as to the importance
Freemasonry places upon this garment and the teachings it represents;
as to how important the Craft feels that the symbolism of this garment
is, in instilling into the candidate, the most important of all
Masonic teachings — "..that purity of life and rectitude of
conduct which is so essentially necessary to your gaining admission to
that Celestial Lodge above..."
It is interesting to note that in the above statement, the candidate
is not only told how highly revered this apron is; but he is also told
— "...never again until your enfranchised spirit shall have
passed upward and inward through the pearly gates..."
By what authority does Freemasonry state, as a "given",
that Masons shall pass "upward and inward through the pearly
gates..."? The Craft extends a promise of everlasting life to be
realized by all Masons (Christians & non-Christians) who adhere to
its teachings: From the Heirloom Masonic Bible, page 26:
"By the practice of Freemasonry its members may advance their
spirituality, and mount by the theological ladder from the Lodge on
earth to the Lodge in heaven."
They are saying here that if a member of the Order will but
faithfully adhere to the teachings of the Lodge, he will surely mount
that theological ladder that will take him from the Masonic lodge he
belongs to, here on earth, to "that Celestial Lodge above".
By what authority does Freemasonry make its claims? Answer: By its
teachings. And where do these heretical teachings come from? Answer: Its
rituals and its monitors, which are issued by its Grand Lodges — the
highest authority in the Masonic Order.
Freemasonry likes to tout its Bible Lecture, in an effort to show
that it adheres to the Written Word of God. In the Bible lecture, we
find this: (Nevada Ritual, pages 20-21):
"Freemasonry therefore opens this Book upon its Altars, with
the command to each of its votaries that he diligently study therein
to learn the way to everlasting life." ; and
"Freemasonry takes all good men by the hand, and, leading them
to its Altars, points to the open Bible thereon, and urges upon each
that he faithfully direct his steps through life by the Light he there
shall find, and as he there shall find it."
It is all well and good that Freemasonry would tell its members where
the Light can be found. But, as once was stated by the late Dr. Walter
Martin, "What good does it do to know where the Light is, if you
are not allowed to turn on the switch?"
Freemasonry tells its members to study the Bible that they may learn
the way to everlasting life. Yet, the Way, that plan of salvation shown
in God's Written Word, is totally ignored in the lodge room. In fact, it
is banned from being taught in the lodge room. Why? Because they have
their own plan of salvation they are promoting, and they don't want any
competition, especially if it is readily recognized that their plan is
in direct conflict with the Written Word of God.
It is quite clearly spelled out in the Bible, that Jesus Christ is
the Way. John
14:6 - "Jesus saith unto him, 'I am the
Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.'
"
But in the lodge room, no mention is made anywhere of acceptance of
Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Nowhere in all the teachings of blue
lodge Masonry, do you hear John
14:6. Nowhere in all the teachings of blue lodge Masonry do you
find: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world through him might be saved." John
3:16-17 (KJV)
There is salvation through no other but through Him! Not through you;
not through me; and certainly not through the ritualists of the lodge
— but through Him! Acts
4:12 - "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is
none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved."
Yes, the Light is found in the Written Word of God. And, yes, that
Light is Jesus Christ, as told to us in John
8:12 - "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, 'I am the
light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but
shall have the light of life.' " (KJV)
The Light that is found in John
8:12 is the way, the truth, and the life, of John
14:6, who is the Son of God of John
3:16-17. But Freemasonry ignores that Light; it ignores the way; it
ignores the truth; it ignores the life; it ignores Jesus Christ. It
tells its members — "You can do it yourself. All you need, if you
are a MASON, is your good works". All that is "essentially
necessary", according to the lodge, is that "purity of life
and rectitude of conduct". Simply be a good person, and do good
things. And if you will just be a good person, and do good things, you
will pass "upward and inward through the pearly gates..."
We will now take a look at the Apron Lecture of Nevada ritual, in its
entirety. Please try to imagine yourself in a lodge room, surrounded by
a group of men you want very badly to be a part of; imagine that to
carefully parse everything that is being said to you doesn't even enter
your mind; or imagine that you are only vaguely familiar with a lot of
what is in the Bible, if you are familiar with it at all — yet, you
have always professed to be a Christian. Maybe your pastor is a member
of the lodge, which, as far as you are concerned, immediately rules out
any doubts at all about Freemasonry, and whether or not it is compatible
with the Christian faith.
This is what you hear, when you are presented with your Masonic
apron: (Nevada Ritual, pages 25 & 26):
"My Brother, I now present you this lambskin or white leather
apron. It is an emblem of innocence and the badge of a Mason — the
distinguished badge of a Mason."
"It may be that, in the coming years, upon your head may rest
the laurel wreaths of victory; pendent from your breast may hang
jewels fit to grace the diadem of an Eastern potentate; nay, more than
these, with light added to the coming light, your ambitious feet may
tread round after round of the ladder that leads to fame in our mystic
circle, and even the purple of the Fraternity may rest upon your
honored shoulders; but never again from mortal hands, never again
until your enfranchised spirit shall have passed upward and inward
through the pearly gates, shall any honor so distinguished, so
emblematical of purity and all perfections, be conferred upon you as
this which I now bestow."
"It is yours; yours to wear throughout an honorable life and
at your death to be deposited upon the coffin which shall enclose your
lifeless remains, and with them laid beneath the clods of the valley.
Let its pure and spotless surface be to you an ever present reminder
of a purity of life and rectitude of conduct," a never ending
argument for nobler deeds, for higher thoughts, for greater
achievements. And when at last your weary feet shall have come to the
end of life's toilsome journey, and from your nerveless grasp shall
drop forever the working tools of life, may the record of your life
and actions be as pure and spotless as this fair emblem which I place
within your hands tonight; and when your trembling soul shall stand
naked and alone before the Great White Throne, there to receive
judgment for the deeds done while here in the body, may it be your
portion to hear from Him who sitteth as the Judge Supreme the welcome
words: 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant! Thou hast been
faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things!
Enter thou into the joy of Thy Lord'."
Those members of the Masonic Order who profess to be Christians would
like to believe — and have others believe — that such a "purity
of life and rectitude of conduct...", as taught by the lodge, is
meant by the lodge, to be in addition to acceptance of Jesus Christ as
Lord and Savior.
It would be nice to be able to believe that Freemasonry is teaching
works that are based on the fruit in a believer's life because of their
faith in Jesus Christ. As the Book of James makes abundantly clear,
faith without works is dead, because if it is not in your heart to abide
by the "Golden Rule", for example, yours is a dead heart and
your alleged faith is spurious.
If this was what Freemasonry was teaching, that would be nice. But,
this is not the case. It must be ever remembered that the teachings of
Freemasonry are applied to all Freemasons, be they Christians, Jews,
Moslems, Buddhists, Hindus, etc.
Now, of those systems of faith and/or religion that I have just
mentioned, the Christian faith is the only one that confesses that Jesus
Christ is Lord.
None of the others make such a declaration. Rather, they will, each
and every one of them, deny that Jesus Christ was anything other than a
prophet, at absolute best, which is a far cry from confessing the Deity
of the only begotten Son of God. Even the demons knew He was the Son of
God! But, those of these other religions would never make such an
admission. No such admission is allowed in the lodge room, either.
Keep all this in mind, as we once again visit the Apron Lecture of
the Entered Apprentice degree, for the purpose of analyzing what is
really being said here — more specifically, that portion of the Apron
Lecture which asserts the eschatology of the Lodge:
"...and when your trembling soul shall stand naked and alone
before the Great White Throne, there to receive judgment for the deeds
done while here in the body, may it be your portion to hear from Him who
sitteth as the Judge Supreme the welcome words: 'Well done, thou good
and faithful servant! Thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will
make thee ruler over many things! Enter thou into the joy of Thy
Lord'."
This is Freemasonry's definitive statement as to what will transpire
at the Great White Throne Judgment. According to the eschatology of the
Lodge, all Masons will stand before the Judge Supreme, and when the
deeds done while here in the body are laid out on the table, the Lodge
says the Judge Supreme is going to be so impressed with all the
wonderful things the Masons have done, that He will immediately admit
them all into heaven.
Excuse me? First of all, so there will be no mistaking whatever as to
what the Great White Throne Judgment is, we will visit Revelation
20:4-6:
"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was
given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for
the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not
worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark
upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned
with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not
again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first
resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first
resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall
be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand
years." (KJV)
What is being said here? Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe, who was for many
years the pastor of Chicago's Moody Memorial Church, has written a book
titled, 'Be Victorious'. It's a commentary of the Book of Revelation.
Here's what he tells us ('Be Victorious', pages 140-141):
"The Tribulation martyrs will be raised from the dead and
given glorious thrones and rewards. The church will share in this
reign, as symbolized by the twenty-four elders... Some Bible students
believe that the Old Testament saints will also be a part of this
'first resurrection'."
"The phrase 'general resurrection' is not found in the Bible.
On the contrary, the Bible teaches two resurrections: the first is of
the saved and leads to blessing; the second is of all the lost and
leads to judgment (note especially John
5:28-29; Daniel
12:2). These two resurrections will be separated by 1,000
years."
"Revelation
20:6 describes the special blessings of those who share in the
first resurrection. They did not earn these blessings; they are part
of the believer's inheritance in Jesus Christ. These resurrected
believers will share Christ's glorious life, reigning as kings and
priests with Him, and never experience the 'second death', the lake of
fire."
We now go to Revelation
20:11-15 for an explanation of this second death that is referred
to, and where we also find the only mention of that which is called the
Great White Throne Judgment; that judgment for those who are to be
judged by their works; that judgment which is alluded to in the
eschatology of the Lodge:
"And
I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face
the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for
them.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the
books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of
life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written
in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead who were in it; and death and hell
delivered up the dead who were in them: and they were judged every man
according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the
second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast
into the lake of fire." (KJV)
Dr. Charles C. Ryrie, in his well-known study bible, tells us, on
page 1920:
"Here is pictured the judgment of the unbelieving dead. It
occurs at the close of the millennium; it is based on works, in order
to show that the punishment is deserved, though of course these
unsaved people are first of all in this judgment because they rejected
Christ as Savior during their lifetimes; and it results in everyone in
this judgment being cast into the lake of fire. This is the
resurrection of judgment."
This is all confirmed, and expanded upon, in Dr. Wiersbe's writings
('Be Victorious', pages 142-143):
"There shall be a second resurrection, and the unsaved will be
raised and will stand before God's judgment. Do not confuse this
judgment at the white throne with the Judgment Seat of Christ, where
believers will have their works judged and rewarded. At this judgment,
there will be only unbelievers; and there will be no rewards. John
described here an awesome scene. Heaven and earth will flee away and
no place will be left for sinners to hide! All must face the
Judge!"
"The Judge is Jesus Christ, for the Father has committed all
judgment to Him. These lost sinners rejected Christ in life; now they
must be judged by Him and face eternal death."
"From where do these 'dead' come? Death will give up the
bodies, and Hades (the realm of the spirits of the dead) will give up
the spirits. There will even be a resurrection of bodies from the sea.
No sinner will escape." Jesus Christ will judge these unsaved
people on the basis of what is written "in the books". What
books? For one thing, God's Word will be there. "The Word that I
have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John
12:48). Every sinner will be held accountable for the truth he or
she has heard in this life."
"There will also be a book containing the works of the sinners
being judged, though this does not suggest that a person can do good
works sufficient to enter heaven (Ephesians
2:8-9; Titus
3:5). Why then, will Jesus Christ consider the works, good and
bad, of the people before the white throne? To determine the degree of
punishment they will endure in hell. All of these people will be cast
into hell. Their personal rejection of Jesus Christ has already
determined their destiny. But Jesus Christ is a righteous Judge, and
He will assign each sinner the place that he deserves. There are
degrees of punishment in hell (Matthew
11:20-24). Each lost sinner will receive just what is due him, and
none will be able to argue with the Lord or question His
decision."
The major problem area for the Lodge, in its attempts to misinterpret
God's Written Word, in an effort to make its members believe that its
teachings are based on that Word, is precisely what Dr. Wiersbe
additionally speaks of. Once again, from 'Be Victorious', page 143:
"When the judgment is finished, all of the lost will be cast
into hell, the lake of fire, the second death. Many people reject the
biblical doctrine of hell as being "unchristian", and yet
Jesus clearly taught its reality (Matthew
18:8; Matthew
23:15,33; Matthew
25:46; Mark
9:46). A sentimental kind of humanistic religion will not face the
reality of judgment, but teaches a God who loves everyone into heaven
and sends no one to hell."
Nothing is more descriptive of the eschatology of Freemasonry than
that. What does the Lodge say?
"It doesn't matter if you believed in Jesus Christ or not. It
doesn't matter if your god was Buddha; it doesn't matter if your god
was Allah; it doesn't matter if your god was Freemasonry's 'Great
Architect Of The Universe'! All that really matters is if you were one
of the good guys."
I would like to address a statement made so often by those professing
Christians who are in the Lodge:
"I am a Mason, and I am a Christian, and Jesus Christ is my
Lord and Savior. I have not rejected Jesus Christ, and I resent your
implications that I have done so."
I would very much like to believe this, but I have a problem with
such a statement coming from any person claiming to be a Christian, who
is also a Mason. And my problem begins with Exodus
20:1-3:
"And God spake all these words, saying,
'I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of
Egypt, out of the house of bondage.'
'Thou shalt have no other gods before me.' " (KJV)
Just exactly how many "gods", do those Masons who profess
to be Christians, think their Masonic membership entitles them to? In
the Mystic Shrine, a blood oath is sworn to Allah. Allah had no son;
therefore he is NOT the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
In blue lodge, be you Christian, Jew, Hindu, Moslem, Buddhist,
Gentile, Confucian, or whatever, you are told that you may all join
together and pray to the one common "god" of the
"Universal Religion" — "that religion in which all men
agree". These are phrases that come from Indiana's 'Mentor's
Manual', and Arizona's 'Monitor and Ancient Charges'.
One matter we must clarify at this time is Freemasonry's concept of
"God". To help define Freemasonry's concept, The 'Mentor's
Manual' of Indiana, page 17, tells us: "It is religious in that it
teaches monotheism..." Monotheism is quite clearly defined as being
"the doctrine or belief that there is only one God." I must
interject this at this time to eliminate the nonsensical rhetoric that
comes from so many defenders of the Masonic faith — that being, that
when you are in prayer in a lodge room, each individual member there is
praying to his own particular God. According to the Mentor's Manual this
is an inaccurate statement. Yet, they tell you the lodge room is the
place where Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Moslems, Hindus, etc., can all
gather together and pray to the one God who is above all the
"Baalism", or neighborhood gods.
Who is this monotheistic "god" of theirs who they tell you
Buddhists, Hindus, Moslems, and the likes, have no problem at all in
joining you in prayer to? It is not the God of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob. It is not the True and Living God who is the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit. No way. Because the Way — the only Way — is Jesus
Christ:
John
14:6 - "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes
unto the Father, but by Me."
A pastor I know has often stated in his sermons, "There are two
religions in this world we live in: First, there's the one that believes
that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior; and then you have all the
others." This means there are only two "gods" in this
world: The True and Living God; and mammon — all the others.
So, for those Masons who profess to be Christians: What exactly is it
you are trying to do? Trying to "cover all bases"?
"looking' for all the help you can get"?; trying to
"improve your odds"?; You lose!
"Thou shalt have no other gods before Me."
Some argue that it all depends on how you interpret the scripture.
This is true. You can either interpret it correctly, or you can
interpret it incorrectly.
In his Study Bible, dealing with Exodus
20:3, Dr. Ryrie says this: "before Me". Literally, in My
sight (i.e., either in addition to Me, or in opposition to Me). God will
not share His worship with another."
Additionally:
Isaiah
43:10-11 - " 'You are My witnesses,' declares the LORD, 'And
My servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and believe
Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed,
and there will be none after Me. I, even I, am the LORD; and
there is no savior besides Me.' "
Deuteronomy
32:16-17 - "They made Him jealous with strange gods; with
abominations they provoked Him to anger. They sacrificed to demons who
were not God, to gods whom they have not known, new gods who came
lately, whom your fathers did not dread."
1
Corinthians 10:20-21 - "No, but I say that the things which
the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and
I do not want you to become sharers in demons. You cannot drink
the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the
table of the Lord and the table of demons."
"So, what's the problem?" some may ask.
The problem with Christians who are in the Masonic Order is that they
are more concerned about offending members of the lodge who reject the
Deity of Jesus Christ, than they are about offending Jesus Himself. And
on this basis, they are willing to deliberately make no mention of Him
in lodge room prayers.
Luke
16:13 tells us "No servant can serve two masters: for either he
will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one,
and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (KJV)
You can serve the True and Living God, or you can serve mammon —
all the others.
Espouse your claim to faith in Jesus Christ all you want, but as long
as you cling to the god of the Lodge, you are rejecting the True and
Living God — "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of
demons."; and, as long as you defend the lodge's false plan of
salvation, you are rejecting His Written Word — "You cannot
partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons."
Who says? "Thus saith the Lord."
The false plan of salvation espoused by the lodge tells you that the
essential ingredient for attaining to heaven is works. That isn't what
His Written Word says:
Ephesians
2:8-9 - "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."
"Ye are saved through faith." Through faith in mammon?
No, through faith in Jesus Christ.
I am not trying to tell you that it is wrong to belong to some sort
of charitable organization, which is doing good things for humanity,
although I do suggest that your church is as much in need of your
charitable services as any other organization.
I am not trying to tell you that it is wrong to be a part of some
fraternal type organization that offers a fellowship of sorts, although
I do suggest that your church is as much in need of your fellowship as
any other organization.
What I am trying to tell you, is this: When an organization
represents itself as being no more than a charitable and/or fraternal
group, but at the same time presents to its membership some sort of a
generic god to pray to, coupled with a false plan of salvation-a
salvation based on works, as opposed to acceptance of Jesus Christ as
Lord and Savior-you, my friend, are in the wrong building. And it is
time to leave.
"How do I leave? Which way out?"
Well, first of all, any door with an exit sign over it will get you
out of the building; But to get out of the darkness of the lodge
requires a very special door named "Jesus".
John
10:9 - "I am the door; by Me if any man enter in, he shall be
saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."
There's only one Way out, and His name is Jesus. He is the Door. And
I'm going to show you now, how easy it is to open that door. Just pray
this simple prayer:
"Heavenly Father, I am a sinner. I confess all my sins to You.
I have spent far too much time trying to share subservience to You,
with the false god of the lodge. I know that I cannot serve God and
mammon. I know that I can serve only You. Please forgive me for
wronging You. I renounce the false god of the lodge, I renounce its
false teachings, and I renounce its sinful blood oaths. And I now ask
you to please come into my life as my Lord and Savior. I wish to
follow only you. In Jesus' precious name, and for His sake I pray.
Amen"
If you have prayed that prayer, and if you really meant it, glory my
friend, because you have been set free. Just one more item to take care
of, sit down and write a letter to the secretary of each and every
Masonic organization you were a member of, and tell them you are no
longer a Mason — and that you have chosen to follow Jesus Christ. My
guess is that you will soon get your first opportunity to share your
testimony with someone from lodge, and you will surely be blessed in
doing so.
There are probably going to be plenty of peaks and valleys in your
life. Satan doesn't like losing, and he just lost you. But you'll make
it through those valleys, because from this day forward, whether you are
standing at the top of the highest mountain, or at the lowest part of
the deepest valley you have ever traveled through, Jesus is right by
your side. He is the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free.