The Bottom Line

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The facts concerning the Gospel are documented in the Scriptures. The most concise description of the Gospel is found in Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth:

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures,

(1 Cor 15:1-4)

The key factors here are that Jesus Christ:

1. Was killed.

2. Was buried.

3. Was raised from the grave.

The scriptures document that Jesus is the only way to salvation and reconciliation with God: Jesus said:

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

(John 14:6)

There is no other name whereby men might be saved. That fact was clearly stated in an early Gospel message, delivered by Peter:

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

(Acts 4:10-12)

All Christians are aware of these facts. The man who does not know and believe these facts is not a Christian. Many who are not Christians also know the basic teachings of Christianity, yet they do not believe them. So many know the truth about the teachings of Christianity because the Gospel is shared openly.

The teachings of Freemasonry, on the other hand, are not so well known. This is due to the secrecy which surrounds Freemasonry. Freemasons take an oath to ever conceal and never reveal the teachings of Masonry under the penalty of a hideous death. The fact that the penalty is virtually never carried out, does not lessen the reluctance of a Mason to reveal the truth about the teachings contained in Masonic ritual.

Yet, the teachings of Freemasonry are knowable and verifiable. Men who have left the Lodge to follow Jesus Christ, are willing and able to testify as to the nature of those teachings. Their testimony is supported by documents which are printed by the various Grand Lodges for the use of Masons. They were issued such documents shortly after they became Masons. The most significant teachings of Freemasonry are contained in the Legend of the Third Degree, the latter part of the Master Mason ritual. During the Legend of the Third Degree, the man being initiated portrays Hiram Abiff - who is unjustly murdered, buried and raised from the grave.

The key factors here are that Hiram Abiff:

1. Was killed.

2. Was buried.

3. Was raised from the grave.

At the conclusion of the Legend of the Third Degree, the new Master Mason is admonished to imitate Hiram Abiff so that he may get into the Celestial Lodge above where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides. Masonic ritual teaches that imitation of Hiram Abiff is the way to reconciliation with God, whom they refer to as the Supreme, or Great, Architect of the Universe.

All Masons have been introduced to Hiram Abiff in Masonic ritual.

Many men claim to be both a Christian and a Mason. However, once these divergent teachings about how man may be reconciled to God and how he may get into heaven are placed in front of such a man, he has a choice to make. He can be a Christian, or he can be a Mason. Unless a man can have two saviors, he cannot be both a Christian and a Mason. Any profession of Christianity a Mason makes is not credible without repentance. In order to be perceived as credible by those who know the facts, he must renounce his involvement in Freemasonry. Jesus said:

except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

(Luke 13:3 and again in 13:5)

For generations, Freemasons have taken membership in churches throughout the world. This continues to the present. They claim to be Christians, yet they use the church as a cover while they meet in secret to teach salvation on the basis of imitating another savior, Hiram Abiff.

As Christians who know the facts and are concerned for the souls of men, we know that the church is responsible for speaking God's will on this matter. To remain faithful, the church must require repentance as a condition of continuing fellowship (1 Cor 5) for those Masons who hold membership in our congregations. Such action is required if a spiritual atmosphere is to be maintained, in which new converts may mature. Heresies, especially false Gospels, must be firmly and unconditionally opposed. The penalties for teaching a false Gospel are eternal in nature. Paul wrote:

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

(Gal 1:8-9)

Paul was under such conviction that he issued the warning twice, just as Jesus issued the requirement for repentance twice.

It is time for the church to speak directly and forthrightly to Masons. She should call the Christianity of those men who claim to be Christian Masons into question -- for their own good. It is better for Masons to hear the penalties for teaching a false gospel and the requirement for repentance from the church now, rather than to hear about the penalties for the first time from Jesus, on judgment day. At that time, there will be no possibility of repentance.

We know from experience that simply preaching the Gospel is not enough. Many of us repented from Freemasonry only after some caring soul directly took issue with the heresies we had embraced. The apostles understood that more than simply sharing the Gospel is required to keep men on the straight and narrow. Scripture speaks clearly:

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

(2 Tim 4:2-5)

As Masons, we were taught that Freemasonry had the broader knowledge of God. The fact that the Gospel has been preached and yet, there are church members in the lodge, underscores the necessity of taking direct issue with the heresies of Freemasonry.

It is also time to begin to hold church leadership accountable. We say this in love, because we do not want them to stand before God with blood on their hands. They are the watchmen on the wall. Scripture reveals:

But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.

(Ez 33:6)

We are concerned for young Christians who should be maturing under the care of a Godly pastor. We know that Masonic influence in a congregation often extends to the selection of church leadership. If church leadership is influenced to any significant degree by Masons in the congregation, it will limit the spiritual growth of those in the congregation. Once a Godly pastor or elder has been made aware of the facts, he will not remain silent, particularly if there are Freemasons in the congregation. If a pastor or elder chooses to remain silent, saying nothing as men go to hell as a result of their participation in the teaching of a false gospel in which another savior is killed, buried and raised from the grave, we must question the integrity of such "leadership." Possibly the elder simply has a title and the pastor simply has a job, rather than a calling. Genuine spiritual leaders will not compromise. We are commanded to obey our spiritual leaders. Scripture states:

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (Heb 13:17)

Notice that scripture also tells us how to recognize those who have rule over us: they watch for our souls, as they must give account. Men who remain silent as other men in the congregation secure a place in hell by continuing to be involved with a false gospel, are not acting as men who must give account. The are not genuine spiritual leaders. We are not required to obey such men. To do so, is foolish and dangerous. If you are in a Masonically influenced congregation and your pastor is not the kind of leader who will take issue with the heresies of Freemasonry, you can be certain he has compromised his ministry in other areas, as well.

We are convinced that Jesus wants total separation between the Church and the Lodge. It is impossible for a man to maintain a "proper balance" between Christianity and Freemasonry, just as it is impossible to maintain a proper balance between Christ and Anti-Christ. Jesus said that a man cannot have two masters. Can we believe that He will allow a "Christian" Mason to have two saviors? No, Jesus has revealed what He intends to tell them:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

(Mat 7:21-23)

In those churches where members are ensnared in Freemasonry, taking direct issue with Freemasonry will never result in division, or a church split. This is true, because the church is split already. Some follow Jesus and have Him as a first priority in their lives. Others imitate Hiram and have Freemasonry as the higher priority. There is no benefit to pretending otherwise. The church must drive a stake in the ground before additional men become ensnared, or additional Masons go to judgment. A pretense of unity, where unity does not exist serves Satan, not God.

We would much prefer to work with Godly pastors who are leading the call to repentance. However, our loyalty is to Jesus Christ, rather than any man, or group of men. In situations where Jesus is leading a layman to issue the call for repentance, because the pastor demonstrates a lack of concern for the souls of men by silence, (or heaven forbid, a defense of Freemasonry) we are willing to stand with that layman and provide testimony and materials to support him. Jesus will allow us to do no less.

If you are a Christian who has been ensnared in Masonry, you know that what we have written here is true. We urge you to come out of the lodge and walk with us, as we follow Jesus. You may claim the promise found in John 1:8-9. If you are having difficulty with the bondage which results from the Masonic oaths, write us. We can tell you how you can be set free. If you are a Mason who is not a Christian, we encourage you to consider the words of Jesus found in John, 14:6; they are the bottom Line.

Jesus said:

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Ex-Masons for Jesus