Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 22
October 8, 1970
NUMBER 22, PAGE 8a,9a

Questions And Answers

Send All Questions To: Eugene Britnell, P.O. Box 3012, Little Rock, Ark. 72203

From Umtilla, Florida:

"Should Masons be appointed as elders in the church of the Lord? Should members of the body of Christ join the Lion's Club to buy eye glasses for children of parents who are unable to buy them? Should Christians join with the Police force to help keep down 'riots' at ball games? Please answer in the Gospel Guardian."

I oppose Masonry on the same basis that I oppose any other false religion. I do not believe that anyone can be a faithful Christian and a loyal Mason. Masonry was born in heathenism and superstition, and is contrary to the principles of Christianity.

From the book, "Can A Christian Be A Mason?" I quote the following:

"Now, since we have found Masonry to be a religion, it necessarily follows that it is a false religion, since it obviously is not the religion of Christ, who said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by me' (John 14:6). But, in order that I may leave no doubt in anyone's mind as to the certainty of this incompatibility, I'd like to point out five more facts about Masonry:

1. It is opposed to the doctrine of Christ.

2. It leads Christians to compromise the faith and practice of New Testament Christianity.

3. It is built around a lie.

4. It wrests and misapplies the Scriptures.

5. It denies the inspiration of the Bible as 'God's complete revelation to man.

We shall consider the first two facts together.

"Suppose you are an elder of the church by the name of Bill Jones. You have obeyed the gospel; been buried with Christ in baptism, and raised with him to walk in newness of life (Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:4). Thus you have been born again (John 3:5); your sins have been washed away (Acts 22:16); you were made clean — free from sin (Rom. 6:17, 18). Now as a Christian, you have become a child of light (I Thess. 5:5), and as you walk in the light, the blood of Christ cleanses you from all sin (I John 1:7). You are complete in him (Col. 2:10); in him you are blessed with all spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3), and through the knowledge of him and his doctrine you are supplied with all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). You are led by the Spirit of God (Rom. 8:14), and by the Scriptures you are completely furnished unto every good work (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). Remember these things. That's the shape you're in, as a Christian. Now, for some unaccountable reason, you desire to become a Mason. You make application to the lodge, and since nobody "blackballs" you, you are accepted as a candidate. You are taken to the ante-room of the lodge, and there you are "duly and truly prepared" for initiation. Now, hear what Masonry has to say about Bill Jones, Christian — blood washed, regenerated, born again, Spirit-led, spotless child of God: 'There he stands without our portals, on the threshold of this new Masonic life, in darkness, helplessness and ignorance. Having been wandering amid the errors and covered over with the pollutions of the outer and profane world, he comes inquiringly to our doors seeking the new birth and asking a withdrawal of the veil which conceals the divine truth from his uninitiated sight. . . There is to be not simply a change for the future, but also an extinction of the past; for initiation is as it were a death to the world and a resurrection to a new life.' (Mackey's Ritualist, pp. 22, 23).

" "Can't you see, brethren, that everything the Bible affirms about the non-Masonic Christian is denied by the teaching of Masonry? Can there be any justification for a child of God to put himself in a position where he is called upon to acknowledge this repudiation of Bible teaching? Yet that's exactly what he does when he enters the Masonic lodge." (Pages 133, 134 by J. Curtis Manor.)

I could fill this paper showing why a Christian (elder or otherwise) should not be a Mason, but the above quotation should be sufficient.

In answer to the second question, I see nothing wrong in a Christian working in and with the Lion's Club in their program of eye care for the poor and needy. Remember, a Christian has social and civic duties in the community, as well as spiritual relationships and responsibilities.

On the third question, one would find different positions and opinions; some would serve and some would not. The exact duties which such work might entail are not defined clearly. Perhaps a Christian could serve the school and community in helping to keep order among students. I don't know how big the "riot" might become. Personally, I would not place myself in a position where I might be forced to kill.