What causes all the new interest in Freemasonry and secret societies at this time?  The membership of secret societies in America is stagnant, yet the topic is off the charts in certain circles.  It may be the adult side of interest generated by the Harry Potter phenomena.  It may be culture looking back and realizing how deeply secret societies have influenced America. A quest for spiritual and mystical experience is emerging in society as people seek truth.  Whatever the reason, the topic of secret societies is again front and center.

Freemasonry is a secret society steeped in mystical traditions that may be surprising to Christians.  It is worth bringing the topic back to the front burner and taking a good look its core teachings.

Past Sovereign Commander Henry Claussen of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry writes:

"There then is the great modern relevance of the Scottish Rite.  For the Scottish Rite reveals to you today, as in the past, that there are available for humanity invisible, vast spiritual powers and vital spiritual forces." (The Emergence of the Mystical, Claussen, p. 57)

It is the plural that is disturbing for the Christian as it opens the door wide open to counterfeit sources of supernatural experience.

Claussen tells the reader more about these vast spiritual powers and forces:

"The Scottish Rite rituals and esoterism, therefore, are treasure houses in which there are stored the ageless essence of immutable laws and the accumulation of thousands of years of mystic experience."

(The Emergence of the Mystical, Claussen, p. 54)

Mystical experience without biblical filters is a treasure Claussen presents as being housed in the Scottish Rite.  These statements by a past Grand Commander suggest that the Scottish Rite is not merely a charitable organization.  It goes beyond the endeavor to make good men better in ethical conduct.  It is involved in these pursuits, but at its core is the apparent knowledge and influence of spiritual powers and forces. 

But not all mystical experience originates in God.  Scripture tells us there are angelic forces under the Lord's domain and dark forces under Satan's.  The Word tells us Satan masquerades as an angel of light.  In other words, he attempts to polish his dark side to entice humans.  Just because a force is supernatural, it does not give certainty of a beneficial origin.

To guard us from supernatural deception, God reveals Himself and His plan for humanity in His Word, the Bible.  God's Word contains all the supernatural experience a person can live in a lifetime. 

But Claussen and the Scottish Rite seem to direct people away from God's Word and toward open- ended, multi-sourced mysticism.

"The fundamental theme of the Scottish Rite is a revelation of ultimate truth for man's moral, intellectual, and spiritual development.  For this purpose we draw upon the mystic wisdom of the ages..."  (Emergence of the Mystical, Claussen, p. 73)

A glance through publications, and monitors, of the Scottish Rite affirm the inclusion of many different sources of mystic experience.  Do they go beyond the parameters God has helped us understand in His Word?  What does God say about the origins of various supernatural forces and powers?  This will be examined in this section of the ministry site.  Obviously, Freemasonry is free to explore anything it desires.  But for the Christian in the craft, handling these supernatural forces may violate the call of God upon his life.

God warns humanity about absorbing spiritual forces outside Himself.

"If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, 'Let us go and worship other gods' (gods neither you nor your fathers have known, gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), do not yield to him or listen to him."  (Deut. 13:6-8)

"When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.  Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire,

who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or a spiritist or who consults the dead." (Deut. 18:9-11)

A penetrating statement on this topic is found in the book of Job. 

"If I have regarded the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in its splendor, so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand offered them a kiss of homage, then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high."  (Job 31:26-28) 

In the illustration to the right a Hebrew looking altar contains a pentagram covered by the masonic book of constitutions.  The inscription underneath the picture reads "Soli Sanctissimo Sacrum-Sacred to the Most Holy Sun." (McCleanachan's Book

of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite,p.401, 1885)

Generally, that which is placed upon an altar is considered a sacrifice.  This being the case, one must wonder why masonry feels obliged to replace the Hebrew sacrifices of the Old Testament and the life of Christ in the New.  Instead of these God given sacrifices, masonry feels free to replace them with their own.  The entire picture is dedicated to the Sun.

In the 25th degree of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry the regalia of the order includes sashes to be worn across the shoulders and chest.  On one sash is the name Isis, a name of the moon goddess.  On the other shoulder is Osiris, a name of the sun god.

Is this not enough for Christians in the Lodge to ask questions? 

Many Christians are involved in the craft and have not taken the time to throughly examine its core beliefs.

Freemasonry states that it is not a religion, and yet it meets all philosophical and theological criteria for one.  They advocate a deity, explain his nature, develop ritual in homage to him, and systematize a world-view according to the beliefs.  As a candidate enters the first degree of the Blue Lodge, Entered Apprentice, he learns that even the term lodge mimics a church:

"The word Lodge is analogous to that of church, referring not so much to the place of meeting as to the persons assembled."  (Entered Apprentice Degree, State of Nevada,circa 1986, p.15)

Christians in the Lodge who never take the time to look past the surface statements of the Lodge may be lulled into thinking all is spiritually well.  But it may not be well.  While borrowing heavily on Hebrew and Christian symbolism and content, the lodge diverts from scripture at almost all core points.

Having looked at the teachings of historic Christianity and the Lodge, I am convinced that it is impossible to hold the viewpoints of both and believe them simultaneously.  The claims of Christ and the teachings of the Lodge are mutually exclusive as each advocates a path to God that is in direct opposition to the other.  They cannot both be right.  Jesus taught that that there is only one way to the Father and eternal life, through Himself.  Freemasonry suggests there are multiple paths to their deity and anything that claims exclusivity of revelation is wrong.

I wonder how a Christian can observe the teachings and symbolism of the Lodge and not wonder if it contradicts his faith in Christ.  I wonder how a member of the Lodge can sit in a church and hear the words of Jesus stating He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  In Lodge terminology, it must be translated a way, a truth, and a life. 

God's Word makes a simple statement on this issue:

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all men..." (1 Timothy 2:5)