Day: May 15, 2017

republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:

In
the early 1990s, a Texas layman and medical doctor named James L. Holly
brought the practice of Freemasonry to the forefront of Southern
Baptist discourse. For months, Holly had been preparing and
disseminating anti-Masonic tracts to Southern Baptist churches across
the country. Being firmly convinced that the principles and rituals of
Freemasonry made the Craft incompatible with the Christian faith, Holly proposed a resolution
recommending a study of Freemasonry at the 1992 Southern Baptist
Convention. Much controversy ensued. This was no surprise to Holly, who estimated that the Masonic membership of the Southern Baptist Convention was between 500,000 and 1,300,000. Southern Baptist polling indicated that 14
percent of pastors and 18 percent of church deacon chairmen interviewed
were or had been Masonic lodge members. Over and against the
proclamations of Holly, Masons sought to prove that the practice of
Freemasonry was not incompatible with a Christian life. In response to
the Southern Baptist investigation, Freemasons sought to provide
apologetics for their activities. A number of such apologetics were
printed in the February 1993 edition of The Northern Light, which heralds itself as “the premier magazine of Scottish Rite Masonry in America. This particular edition of The Northern Light is almost entirely dedicated to refuting the claims of Dr. Holly. Ironically, a Q&A article from this edition entitled “The Conscience and the Craft: Questions on religion and Freemasonry” provides discerning Christians with further evidence that the Masonic and Christian worldviews are incompatible.

Many
critics of Freemasonry, such as Holly, contend that Freemasonry is a
religion in and of itself and therefore is incompatible with
Christianity. By definition, practicing a religion other than
Christianity is idolatry and practicing Christianity in conjunction with an additional religion is syncretism.
Given that Freemasons build “temples”, pray in their lodges to “The
Grand Architect of the Universe”, and engage in spiritual ceremonies
such as funeral rites, there is a strong argument for concluding that
Freemasonry is a religion. If Freemasonry is a religion, then
participation in it is inherently sinful and Christians must not
practice it. If Freemasonry is a religion, then it’s just plain
idolatry.

But is Freemasonry truly a religion?

Some Freemasons have reached come to the conclusion that is is. However, the majority of Masons
deny that Freemasonry is a religion. Which Masons have the correct
answer to this crucial question? The previously referenced article from The Northern Light provides
a simple answer – “It doesn’t matter”. Freemasonry is incompatible with
Christianity either way. Either Freemasonry is idolatry or it
encourages idolatry. Either way, it’s sinful. Consider these words from
the article:

“Masons encourage their members to worship in their individual faiths, we most certainly do not oppose any faith.”

A
member of any religion may apply for membership in the Masonic lodge.
Thus worldwide Masonic membership can include men of Christian, Islamic,
Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Mormon, and Deist faith. Masonry, therefore,
not only “encourages” the worship of Christ but false gods such as
Allah. All worship that is not Christian worship is counterfeit worship.
Freemasonry encourages and does not oppose such worship. Jesus Christ said, “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters. (Matt. 12:30)”
A Christian can never countenance or encourage false worship. For
American Christians, it is one thing to respect the constitutional right
of Americans to religious liberty but quite another to encourage a
non-Christian to engage in religious activity that is offensive to God.
Christians are commissioned to call all men to repent of their sin and
submit to the Lordship of Christ. The Christian posture is one opposed
to all religions except that of Christ. This is not the posture of the
Masonic lodge, which not only peacefully tolerates false religion but encourages its practice.  Christian
Freemasons, rather than merely passively supporting religious liberty,
actively seek membership in an organization that encourages any form of
monotheistic religious expression.

The Apostle Paul condemned idolatry in his epistle to the Romans. Paul not only condemned idolaters but those who gave approval to idolatry.

“And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God
gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not
proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil;
full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of
evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy,
unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that
those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the
same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.”

Freemasonry
is either a religion and is, therefore, idolatrous, or it is not a
religion but encourages the practice of false religions and the worship
of false gods. Neither option is acceptable before the true and living
God. Christians should, like James Holly, endeavor to purge their
churches and denominations of Freemasons. Christian Freemasons should
repent of their participation in Freemasonry and remove themselves from
the Lodge.  James Holly was voted out of his own local church for his
biblical stand. Like Holly, Christians who follow his example may be
voted out of their own churches for calling Masons to repent.  Many
Freemasons are respected members of Southern Baptist Churches, even
Deacons. Bringing up the Masonic issue may cause division or even a
church split.  So be it.

Such may be the cost of revival.