Fast Facts on Freemasonry

Over the years, I've had several people ask me whether Freemasonry is compatible with Christianity.  The Freemasons take several forms (i.e., Shriners, Eastern Star, etc.) but all of them cause their adherents to take vows that are directly contradictory to Christian teachings (i.e., universalism, pluralism, denial of Christ's divinity, a form of deism, etc.).  Consider the following from The Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions by Ankerberg and Weldon. 

By taking the Masonic oaths, the Mason is swearing to uphold Masonry and its teachings. Swearing to uphold Masonic oaths is sinful, unscriptural and should not be part of the Christian's life for the following reasons.

1. They make a Christian man swear by God to doctrines which God has pronounced false and sinful. For example, Masonry teaches a universalist doctrine of "the Fatherhood of God" (John 8:42)
   
   
2. The Christian man is made to swear his acceptance of the lie that salvation, the reward of Heaven, can be gained by main's good works (Ephesians 2:8-9)
   
   
3. The Christian man swears to accept and promote the Masonic lie that Jesus is just one of many equally revered prohets in the world. He does this when agreeing that all religions can lead a man to God (Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9-11; Colossians 1:16-18)
   
   
4. The Christian man swears he will remain silent in the Lodge and not talk of Christ when God commands every Christian to be a witness (Matthew 28:19)
   
   
5. The Christian man swears that he is approaching the Lodge while he is in spiritual ignorance and moral darkness, when the Bible says that Christians are children of light and are indwelt by the Light of the world (John 8:12; Ephesians 5:8)
   
   
6. By taking the Masonic oath, the Christian is guilty of taking the name of the Lord is vain, because he has sworn unlawfully to things God has forbidden him to swear to. God says He will not leave such a person unpunished (Exodus 20:7)
   
   
7. The Christian falsely swears that the God of the Bible is equally present in all religions (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
   
   
8. The Christian falsely swears to the teaching that true worship can be offered in to Lodge to God without the mediatorship of Jesus (Hebrews 9:14)
   
   
9. By swearing the Masonic oath, Christians are perpetuating a false gospel to other Lodge members who look only to the gospel of Masonry to get them to Heaven (Galatians 1:6-8)
   
   
10. The Christian's spirit, mind and body are the temple of the Holy Spirit, "bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). By taking the Masonic obligations he could be agreeing to allow the polution of his mind and spirit by pagan religion or even occult practices.

See also the following links:

Freemasonry and Christianity by Alva J. McClain, Th.m., D.D., LL.D. Founder and First President,Grace Theological Seminary.

Freemasonry and the Christian Church by Russ Wise, of Probe Ministries

The Masonic Lodge and the Christian Conscience by John Weldon

Is Masonry a cult? by John Ankerberg and John Weldon

Masonry, My Savior, And Me: The Personal Testimony of Duane Washum

Should Christians Join the Masonic Lodge by Steven Tsoukalas

Should A Christian Become A Mason?  A brief comparison of Masonic Doctrine verses Christian Doctrine.

HT:  Apologetics Index