What is it about Christianity that makes some people act not only stupid, but cruel? Why, in their zeal to do God's bidding, do they forget their Lord and Savior's greatest commandments, given in the book of Matthew, which are to love God, and to love your neighbor? Why do they hate those who don't think like they do?Rev. Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church is a prime example. They travel the country, attending funerals of gays and soldiers shouting and holding signs saying "God Hates Fags" and "Thank God for IED's" (improvised explosive devices).
Zealous whacked-out fundamentalist Christians hate the Catholic Church. A recent forum thread on a Catholic website shows that it's not just Masons that are the targets of fundie hatred. Protestant hate-mongers "prove" the Pope's Satanic ties by pointing out that the staff he carries has a crook in it, instead of being straight up and down, or that some of the crosses in the Vatican appear upside-down.
Today I found a website called Ex-Masons for Jesus. Affiliated with the anti-Mason website Ephesians 5:11 (they share a heavily-trafficked forum), this site is particularly disturbing, in that it purports to be run by ex-Masons turned Christian.
They've posted the usual claptrap about how Masons worship Satan, etc. They've even posted a full description of the Master Mason's raising ritual, calling it "baptism" into Freemasonry. How's that for being good Christians, breaking their word by publishing Masonic secrets?
But what I especially found disgusting and disturbing was their page "Where is Little Johnny now?" They tell a fictional story of a boy born with medical problems, who as he grew was unable to walk.
The parents were Christians, and were offered hope by their pastor.
But oh-no! The pastor was also a Mason, and preached only about "good works," but never spoke about being "saved."
The minister takes Little Johnny to a Shriners' hospital, and through surgery and therapy, the child is able to walk and function normally.
Young Johnny, the story goes, grows to manhood and, because he'd been helped by the Shriners, wants to become a Mason and a Shriner. He doesn't realize it was God, not Shriners, who healed him.
Flash forward to Johnny's death. Even though as a teenager Johnny had "professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" and attended church regularly, because he had become a Mason and a member of the Scottish Rite and Shrine, and had a Masonic funeral... Little Johnny goes to Hell.
What kind of sick minds come up with this crap?
Image: Page from a Jack Chick tract. Copyright 1991, Jack T. Chick.
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What kind of sick minds come up with this crap?
ReplyDeleteApparently minds like Jack Chick.
Well, dady alwayse said, "You can't do anything with ignorance but educate it, and an ignorant mule don't usually listen"
ReplyDeleteSomewhere in that, is the answer, I think. The first part is clear, I reckon the rest says that you can't educate the ignorant who're convinced they're already educated enough.
Bro Morgan.
Well, when they find out that "Heaven" has been tyled against those with ill hearts... they'll be in total shock. Especially when they see St. Peter with an Apron on.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of sick minds think masonry isn't occult? Looks like many.in this very lodge you speak of the lambskin apron symbolizes that "purity of life and rectitude of conduct, which is so essentially necessary for gaining admission to that celestial lodge above, . ." This is purely a works-based teaching for salvation, as opposed to faith in Jesus Christ. Hence, it is a matter of calling upon His name, but ignoring His authority. That which you seem to be seeing as our difficulty in understanding the innocence of dual involvement in both Freemasonry and the Christian faith, appears to be tantamount to seeing no harm in both partaking, and not partaking, of the fruit of "the tree that is in the midst of the garden".Freemasonry's plan of salvation is contrary to the teachings of Christ.
ReplyDeleteTherefore, we believe that those who use the name of Jesus Christ in prayers, full well knowing that the venue in which they do so is a den of heresy, are frivolously using His name, at best.
Not a good thing.
As far as your claim as to what the Hiramic Legend teaches, you show yourself to be uninformed on this matter, as to its purpose:
"Here is the SUBLIME climax of the symbolic Degrees, and if a Brother misses its meaning, and sees the living dying and "raising" of the Master only as a literal drama - designed to teach the virtues of fortitude and inflexible fidelity, he has found Light but partially. To him the Sublime Degree is no more than a theatrical play with a moral." ('The Lodge System Of Masonic Education - Nevada')
"The tragedy of Hiram Abif is the climax of the Master Mason degree, the essence of Freemasonry, the foundation of its philosophy. To understand its symbolism is to understand Masonry; to miss its significance is to remain forever in outer darkness." ('Officers Manual of Lodge Organization and Operation' - Grand Lodge of Nevada, page 95)
I deem it providential that you have written to us, expressing your misconception of the rites of the organization you are a part of. We find this to be the case in most instances; that men who are in the lodge are misled as to what it's purpose is, and as to what it actually teaches. After the worshipful master resurrects the candidate from the grave, he gives him the substitute for the master's word, which is Mah-Ha-Bone. He then proceeds to explain to him the real grip of a master mason, or lion's paw, which is received on the 5 points of fellowship. One of those 5 points is "cheek to cheek, or mouth to ear". The wm explains to the newly resurrected mason, it's meaning: "..that we should be every ready to whisper wise counsel in the ear of an erring brother, and warn him of approaching danger."
So, please tell me, Tom or Widow, how is anybody supposed to know if a brother is erring, without judging him to be erring?Not at all uncommon to find that men in Masonry who have not yet been convicted by the Holy Spirit would still have eyes that do not see. Used to be that way myself.
If you will give everything serious consideration, you will come to a much different conclusion. I find it of interest that every former Mason I know came to the same realization that I came to - Freemasonry is a religion that is incompatible with the Christian faith; Freemasonry's "god" is a false, composite god, made up of the various demon spirits prayed to in the false religions of the world; Freemasonry teaches a plan of salvation; and yes, Freemasonry engages in a baptism ceremony that its initiates must undergo before they are truly members of the lodge.Masonry teaches it is the purity of life and rectitude of conduct that is "essentially necessary" for gaining admission into heaven.
According to Freemasonry, it is the purity of life and rectitude of conduct that is the very essence of what is necessary for entering heaven. I often think of the words of our Savior, in Matthew 24:23-24:
23 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him.
24 "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
I see Masonry playing the roll of misleading people, leading them away from Christ. Let's look again at what at least one of the Grand Lodges says about Masonry's "Great Architect Of The Universe":
"Great Architect or Grand or Great Artificer of the Universe (G.A.O.T.U.) are titles under which Freemasonry refers to Deity. A fundamental of Freemasonry is its nonsectarian character. Any man of any religion may offer his devotions to the deity he reveres, under the Masonic title, no matter what name he uses in his mind. Great Architect of the Universe (or any of its variations) is a symbol of Deity as named and worshiped in all religions." ('Officers Manual of Lodge Organization and Operation' - Grand Lodge of Nevada, page 72)
Zero in on, "Great Architect of the Universe (or any of its variations) is a symbol of Deity as named and worshiped in all religions."
What are they saying about Jesus Christ, Tom or Widow? "Here He is, over here, in our "Great Architect Of The Universe". Or,"There He is, over there in that letter G hanging on the wall." But they are also saying their GAOTU is the deity "as named and worshiped in all religions."
They make it sound good to a lot of men on the surface when they say, "we are tolerant", "we are not sectarian bigots". But what they are really saying is, "We hold no god in any higher esteem that any others, because the "god" our members pray to as individuals is not important. What is important is that they accept our GAOTU."
Call it syncretism, call it universalism, or whatever. It still amounts to a blending of religions, all rolled up into Freemasonry.
And regarding the symbolism of the lambskin apron, let me show you something about this matter of "purity", as stated by the Grand Lodge of Nevada:
"The Apron is at once the emblem of purity and the badge of a Mason. By purity is meant blamelessness, a loyal obedience to the laws of the Craft and sincere good will to the Brethren; ." ('A Lodge System Of Masonic Instruction' - Nevada, p. 28)
Now, I have had numerous Masons tell me this is nonsense; that isn't what it means, etc. But, guess what, John? This is the only Grand Lodge document I have that addresses the issue. And the other "guess what?" is the statements of at least three Grand Lodges that Masonry's tenets and teachings are what bind them all together, regardless of the outward appearance of their autonomy. They are autonomous and independent as far as jurisdictions go, but not regarding the tenets and teachings.
So, what this Grand Lodge is telling us, is that "purity" means be blameless, obey the laws of Masonry, and have good will toward other Masons. And that is part of what they say is "essentially necessary" for gaining admission into heaven.
For most of those who might say "That isn't the way it is in my jurisdiction.", I can only say, let me see a totally accurate listing of all Grand Lodge booklets of instructions, mentor's manuals, etc., and a dollar to a doughnut says I'll find it in there somewhere, given access, and given time.
John, it isn't a matter of my keeping you straight. It is a matter of Freemasonry misleading you. That's what they do, Tom and Widow. They did it to me, they do it to you, and they do it to anybody else they can. Satan can be exceedingly subtle. He doesn't care if we rivet our eyes on him. All he cares about is that we take our eyes off Jesus. And as far as St. Peter with an Apron. I'am rolling on the floor laughing with tears. Thanks I need that.
Anonymous, whom I assume is from the Ex-Masons-for-Jesus website:
ReplyDeleteI didn't write to you. I wrote ABOUT you. You obviously pasted in your tired tirade as some of your comments here.
What I wrote here was: you have a sick mind, writing crap about Little Johnny.
I don't intend to argue with you about Jesus or GAOTU or Freemasonry. You believe what you want, and so will I.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson, someone smarter than either of us, wrote: "I remember an answer which when quite young I was prompted to make to a valued adviser who was wont to importune me with the dear old doctrines of the church. On my saying, What have I to do with the sacredness of traditions, if I live wholly from within? my friend suggested, — 'But these impulses may be from below, not from above.' I replied, 'They do not seem to me to be such; but if I am the devil’s child, I will live then from the devil.' No law can be sacred to me but that of my nature. Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this; the only right is what is after my constitution; the only wrong what is against it. A man is to carry himself in the presence of all opposition as if every thing were titular and ephemeral but he. I am ashamed to think how easily we capitulate to badges and names, to large societies and dead institutions. Every decent and well-spoken individual affects and sways me more than is right. I ought to go upright and vital, and speak the rude truth in all ways."
Here's the rude truth: You have nothing of value to say that I have not already heard a thousand times. I don't agree with you. I don't believe you. I don't believe in the same things you do. I don't care what your opinion is about me, or Freemasonry, or Satan or Jesus. I no longer live within your belief system.
All we can do is agree to co-exist.
— W.S.
Anonymous...
ReplyDeleteI would choose the same screen name as well, so that I didn't embarass my G-d, if I had typed such a similar post.
1. Since your religion is the right one...then what will happen to those who aren't of the "Christian" faith...mmmm, like those who practice Judaism? Because their faith accounts for more than half of your current Bible.
2. Speaking of that, why would you teach from a book that isn't completely Christian?
3. How is it that Elijah and Enoch were caught up to Heaven and neither of the two were Christian?
Could that mean that more than one particular faith contains spiritual Truth? Or, that G-d judges the heart irregardless?
4. In consistency with the Christian doctrine, you've managed a mistranslation. My name is Isaiah and not John. So I guess you are a faithful servant. Give yourself a pat on the back for that one.
5. Normally, a person doesn't choose their particular faith, their faith chooses them based up the region and territory that they are born and raised. For example, 9 times out of 10 you would be Muslim if you were born in Iraq or Iran, Buddhist if in Asia, and some form of Christianity would be practiced within your household if born within the Western World.
6. Council of Nicea ~ Constatine
Let's not even touch that topic
7. If you really were a Freemason, then you should know a little about this phrase, it comes from the Prophet Carl Claudy 1:1 and I quote, "Presumably all plumbs, like all squares and all levels, are equally accurate. Yet a man may use a tool thinking it accurate which to another is not true. If the tool of building and the tool of judging be not alike either the judgement must be inaccurate or the judge must take into consideration the tool by which the work was done."
8. But our Grandmaster and your esteemed leader King Solomon said it best, "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes..."
They make it sound good to a lot of men on the surface when they say, "we are tolerant", "we are not sectarian bigots".
ReplyDeleteYes, imagine that - some people would have you believe that promoting tolerance among men is a good thing. The horror!
But what they are really saying is, "We hold no god in any higher esteem that any others, because the "god" our members pray to as individuals is not important. What is important is that they accept our GAOTU."
Unfortunately, you've missed the message. We, Freemasonry, does not say that any god isn't important; quite the opposite, in fact. We stress the importance of applying to whichever god you believe in for strength, wisdom, and support.
The main issue that some people seem to have with Freemasonry is that the fraternity does not promote one particular belief over any others. Unfortunately, when you couch your concerns in such terms as above, or try to make it appear that Freemasonry is itself a religion (which no Freemason could possible believe) then it confounds the entire debate - which may actually part of your strategy.
Most of us understand that one of the purposes of religion is to propagate. That is, if you believe that your faith is the one true path to the Divine, then you become duty bound to attract as many people as possible. It's too bad, though, that some people, instead of persuading others to their point of view, prefer to dissuade others from practicing their own views.
If you were actually a Mason, then you could not possibly believe most of what you just printed here. You must have been poorly educated in the craft, or your zeal for your new faith is causing you to misinterpret the reality. I feel sorry for you.
Tom Accuosti
The Sacred Chao of Masonry
I believe I have posted this elsewhere, but it bears repeating:
ReplyDeleteIf G-d does not approve of Freemasons, Catholics, Homosexuals, Liberals, or whatever you are preaching your intolerance of at the moment, then He certainly can be rid of them at his convenience. That he chooses not to be rid of them, to me, speaks volumes.
TM