Posted on 01/28/2018 6:33:06 PM PST by MNDude
YMMV...
No, the LCMS has not changed its position. We are opposed to the Masons:
QUESTION: Could someone please explain briefly why Masons are not allowed in the Lutheran Church?
ANSWER: Bylaw 3.9.5.4.1 of the Synod’s Handbook summarizes the rationale for the Synod’s longstanding position on the lodges: “Pastors and congregations must avoid membership or participation in any organization that in its objectives, ceremonies, or practices is inimical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ or the faith and life of the Christian church.”
It is because tenets and practices of Freemasonry conflict with the biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ that our church from its very beginning has held that membership in this organization conflicts with a faithful confession of this Gospel.
Many examples from the official rites and ceremonies of Freemasonry could be cited to illustrate the reasons for the Synod’s position, but the following is one example.
The second section of the Entered Apprentice degree reviews what has taken place in the initiation rite and closes with this definition of the Lambskin of White Leathern Apron given to the candidate: “The Lamb has, in all ages, been deemed an emblem of innocence. He, therefore, who wears the Lambskin as the badge of a Freemason, is constantly reminded of that purity of life and conduct which is so essentially necessary to his gaining admission into the Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides.”
This statement holds out the promise that “purity of life and conduct” is “essentially necessary” for entry into life hereafter with the divine being called the “Supreme Architect.”
Such an assertion stands in direct conflict with the apostolic Gospel, and therefore endangers faith. St. Paul affirms in his epistle to the Galatians that “by works of the law shall no one be justified ... for if justification were through the law, then Christ died to no purpose” (Gal. 2:16, 21).
http://www.lcms.org/about/beliefs/faqs/lcms-views#masons
• Nature of God
One of the Landmarks of Freemasonry is the belief in the existence of a Supreme Being. However, the Supreme Being of Freemasonry is officially a generic god designed by intent to be universally acceptable to all who would seek admittance to the Masonic lodge. This god is a unitarian, not trinitarian, Supreme Being. Presumably, required acknowledgement of the existence of such a deity will not be offensive to Masons who are not Christian. Albert Pike, one of several “authorities” accepted by most Masons, writes in his Morals and Dogma: “To every Mason there is a God; One, Supreme, Infinite in Goodness, Wisdom, Foresight, Justice, and Benevolence; Creator, Disposer, and Preserver of all things. How, or by what intermediates He creates and acts, and in what way He unfolds and manifests Himself, Masonry leaves to creeds and Religions to inquire” ( 525). “Great (Grand) Architect of the Universe,” sometimes abbreviated as G.A.O.T.U., is a name Freemasonry uses to identify its Supreme Being. Other secretive names for God in various rituals are Ma-Ha-Bone and Jah-Bul-On.
• Person of Jesus Christ
While Freemasonary generally does not directly or explicitly deny Jesus Christ—for to do so would be regarded as sectarian—Jesus Christ, whom Christians regard as the only way in which one may have access to the Father, is conspicuous by His absence. All official prayers in Masonic lodge meetings are directed to the Grand Architect of the Universe apart from any reference to Jesus Christ. Whenever Scripture passages are quoted, references to Jesus Christ are purposely omitted. One example of this would be the use of 2 Thessalonians 3:6 in the Masonic ritual. The opening words of the verse “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” are omitted. Furthermore, in restricting a Mason from interfering with the religious beliefs of another, the lodge thereby discourages, and perhaps even in some cases prohibits, any bearing of public witness to Christ in the lodge. Other lodges have similar restrictions.
• Nature of Man
According to Freemasonry man is not totally sinful, just imperfect. In the first degree of Masonry the perfectibility of man is taught with reference to rough and smooth ashlars, stones that have been hewn by hand and made square. The rituals state: “By the Rough Ashlar we are reminded of our rude and imperfect state by nature; by the Perfect Ashlar, of that state of perfection at which we hope to arrive by a virtuous education, by our own endeavors, and by the blessing of God.” Freemasonry’s view of human nature parallels closely the modern New Age view that man is in some sense divine and has the capacity to become his own god. Recognized Masonic “authority” Joseph Fort Newton writes that “the great secret of Masonry is that it makes a man aware of the divinity within him.” He further states that “God becomes man that man may become God.”
• Salvation
Official rites of Freemasonry suggest the acceptance and promotion of a “salvation” by works. The initiated Mason is given a lambskin to wear “as a badge of Masonry” in order to remind him of “that purity of life and conduct which is so essentially necessary to his gaining admission into the Celestial Lodge above.” In the second degree ritual the Mason is reminded that he should wear his apron (lambskin) “as an emblem of that purity of heart and conscience that is necessary to obtain for you the approval of the Grand Architect of the Universe.” In the Masonic funeral service the family of the deceased is told that the lodge member’s soul went to heaven. The ritual includes the words: “Masonry … seeks to constantly build the temple of the soul and thus to fit us for that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Other lodge organizations in their funeral ceremonies offer the hope of an eternal reward to their members apart from any reference to God’s grace in Christ.
• Bible
Masonic rituals make frequent references to the Bible. In countries where Christianity is the predominant religion, the Bible is considered one of the three great lights of Masonry along with the Square and Compass. However, in countries where other major religions are dominant, the holy books of those religious are placed on Masonic altars. In his extensive preface to the Masonic Bible, Newton writes: “Thus, by the very honor which Masonry pays to the Bible, it teaches us to revere every book of faith in which men find help for today and hope for the morrow, joining hands with the man of Islam as he takes oath on the Koran,….” For Freemasonry the Bible is merely a “symbol of that eternal Book of the Will of God” (Newton) and “an indispensable part of the furniture of a Christian Lodge” (Pike).
A Lutheran Response
A response to the religious teachings of lodge organizations has been implied as the above concerns have been described. Lutheran Christians believe in the Triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—as He has revealed Himself in the Holy Scriptures and as the Christian church universally has confessed Him in the ecumenical creeds from the early years of the Christian era (Apostles’ Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds). God has clearly revealed Himself in the Bible as the one and only true God (Is. 44:6). The Scriptures consistently and repeatedly teach that Jesus is God together with the Father (John 1:1,14) and that the Holy Spirit is also God (Acts 5:4). Thus, the true God is the Triune God—three Persons (Matthew 28:19) but one God (Deut. 6:4).
Furthermore, since the Father can neither be known nor confessed apart from the Son (John 5:23; 14:6), prayer to God is always to be offered through faith in the name of Christ (John 14:13; 15:16). Man is more than an “imperfect Ashlar.” He is by nature dead in his trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). He is powerless (Rom 8:8) and an enemy of God (Romans 5:6, 10), incapable of hewing the rough edges off his life to make himself acceptable to God (Romans 3:20-24). A person can be reconciled to God only because salvation is completely of God (2 Cor. 5:18) through the saving work, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6). The benefits of this salvation are not received because of human effort to obtain them but are God’s gift received through faith in Christ (Gal. 2:16). St. Paul summarizes the primary conflict between the “religion” of the lodge and the central teaching of the Christian faith: “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law [“purity of life and conduct’], Christ died for nothing” (Gal. 2:21). St. Paul rejects and condemns any teaching that people may be saved by the addition of human works as “another Gospel” (Galatians 1).
The Scriptures teach that Christians with integrity are to confess Christ and His Gospel boldly and without compromise, mindful that God’s Name—which they are commanded to keep holy—is God has He has revealed Himself to us in His Word (John 17; Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Tim. 6:12;1 John 2:23, etc.). In the view of this evaluation, it is a compromise of the Christian confession to take part in ritual, religious acts, in the name of a generic deity, that intentionally delete the Name of the true God and Jesus Christ whom God has sent to be the only Savior of the world (Luke 12:8).
NOT TRUE! What gets people upset about Mason's is they have to believe in A GOD. That is not always Christ for some people. They, however would never attack you for believing Christ's divinity. It is a works organization and not a religion. You are free to believe as you wish as long as you are NOT atheistic. It is closer to the Lion's club or Elk's lodge than a religion. Most members are Christians and many are pastors and deacons in local churches. If you go to another country, you will most likely have another religion as the prominent one. They stress good works for their fellow man and not religion.
It always fascinated me how a so called "patriot" would love his country but think badly about Masons. The Founders of the country were almost all patriots and the oaths a politician takes even today to hold office are Masonic oaths. Is Geo. Washington a bad guy? How about Texas? is Sam Houston, Jim Bowie, Davey Crockett all evil men? Mason's built this country and set it's morals from the beginning. And yes, they were almost all Christians, and many were pastors.
No, they don’t, unless there is a Muslim member. You are the typical anti-Mason.
I have been a Mason for over 40-years. I have also been York and Scottish Rite, Shrine and Eastern Star. None of the amazingly “evil” accusations listed by the anti-Masons on this forum and in general are true.
And the bullshit about “Well, at the higher, super secret levels they are....” is equally bullshit.
One of the principles to remember is that “Masonry makes good men better”. To Be One, Ask One...we don’t recruit. And if you are so nuanced that you do not believe in God, don’t bother, we don’t want you.
They advertise on the radio around here (Massachusetts). I think they’re hurting for members like other social/ business groups. People don’t feel the need to join social groups anymore, from Masons to Knights of Columbus to the VFW, etc. the groups are graying and losing influence. I’m retired after 24 years in the army. I have no interest in joining the VFW or any other veterans group. I have a couple friends that are Masons. They’re good guys. They asked me about joining up, but I’m just not interested. I have my family, friends and hobbies. I’m content. But more power to anyone else who wants to join these groups. It’s no skin off my back.
Masons have to believe in a Supreme Being, correct? If there are many Supreme Beings what does that actually mean? How many Supreme Beings can there actually be? Please be specific and tell us all what would happen to somebody if they came into a Mason meeting and preached about what Jesus Christ taught that there was only one God and Jesus was the path to that God.
... and red leg Duke, your language and absurd conclusion that I don’t believe in God says all I need to know about a certain Mason.
Nicely done.
Thank you for posting some facts about Masons. It’s sad to see so many comments here that disparage the Masons. (I still have my dad’s apron)
My dad became a Mason at age 21, attended lodge meetings weekly, was awarded at the TX state HQ for over 50 years of service and honored at his burial by four lodge brothers who asked my permission to do so.
I knew those gentlemen from pre-school age through my teens. Several two-family vacations, dove hunting, fishing, etc. A postman, a co-worker at the railroad, a VP at the Fed Res Bank, Dallas (who was my dad’s 1st cousin).
I despise the comments implying that Masons are not believers in Christ.
Most of the Mason I know are no longer active. I can’t imagine it is that nefarious.
My dad was in a Masonic Lodge when he was stationed in Japan in the 1950s.
One of the most difficult things to explain to the Japanese was why perfectly normal Americans would dress up like Arabs and parade through a park in Tokyo...
We do not “preach” in the Lodge. We do not discuss politics or religion.
Masons are encouraged to actively participate in their religion outside of the Lodge.
As to your last, disjointed paragraph. If it made any sense, I would respond. As to your disapproval of my language, tough!
It sounds like you may not be certain of the true nature and history of the entire international organization. From what you have seen locally it appears to be harmless and even charitable, of course there wouldn’t be the slightest hint of anti-christian taint but you probably didn’t throughly read the information at the link I provided.
If you want to know the Truth, I suggest you study your faith, put down your bias and research the issue until you are convinced of what you now may only suspect.
. We do not discuss politics or religion.
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Yet one has to believe in a Supreme Being to be a Mason correct? Does Satan qualify? And if not how do you arrive at that conclusion?
They don’t ask who, they just ask if.
Its a private “club”. What they choose to do is fine with me. My Dad as a big time mason. I know that his group did a ton of work for the Shriner’s hospital in our area and the Masons did a ton of scholarship work where he lived the last 20 years of his life.
It really wasn’t my cup of tea, but it is full respectable and compassionate people. In larger cities it is a great way to network, as you will find people of every walk of life.
The BIG conspiracy theories about the Masons is crap.
So a Satanist who believes Satan is the Supreme Being would be welcome to the Mason’s?
Many Masons don't. Masons as an organization, however, accept all monotheists. (The Lodge I was invited to join was heavily Jewish, but most U.S. lodges are predominantly Christian.)
My father once said, "I don't know much about the Masons, but both Hitler and Stalin banned them, so they can't be all bad." (Hitler banned them because they accepted Jews, Stalin because they rejected atheists.)
Please read this and tell me if it is true or false and how? https://www.crosswalk.com/home-page/todays-features/can-a-mason-be-a-christian.html
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