The Lambskin Apron reminds the Unitarian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist of “that purity of life and conduct which is essential to gaining admission into the Celestial Lodge above.” The Masonic Apron

Freemasonry and Christianity

Recent controversy over the issue of Freemasonry in the Southern Baptist Convention drew the attention of many a concerned Christian as well as numerous anti-cult ministries. In what was to take about two years of going through the motions and researching the subject, the denomination has officially stated that membership in the Lodge “be a matter of personal conscience.”

I cannot see how the denomination could have arrived at this conclusion, especially after reading the Southern Baptist Convention Home Mission Board’s 72 page study. Furthermore, in the last 15 months I have been writing a book on Freemasonry, in which I criticize the Mission Board’s research methodology and conclusions. The following should give you reasons why Freemasonry is not Christian, and furnish you with some arguments to present to Masons.

An essential foundation that the Christian must first lay with the Mason is one of the Lodge’s requirements for membership: Anyone seeking candidacy in the Masonic Lodge is to possess a belief in a Supreme Being. Thus it is the case that not all Masons are Christians. Some are Muslims, some Unitarians, some Hindus, and so on.

From the biblical perspective the Muslim, Unitarian, and Hindu cannot be reconciled to God and finally go to heaven unless he renounces his religion and believes in Christ as Savior and Lord.

In the ritual of the first degree, that of Entered Apprentice, the candidate is presented with a Lambskin Apron. Masons are told the following about the Apron’s symbolism: “My Brothers, the Lamb has in all ages been deemed an emblem of innocence: he, therefore, who wears the lambskin as the badge of a Mason is thereby continually reminded of that purity of life and conduct so essentially necessary to his gaining admission into the Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides.” (Official Cipher, Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts, 1978, p. 17)

In the funeral service of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts the Apron is laid on the corpse or coffin of a Master Mason (third degree). During the service the Master of the particular Lodge to which the deceased belonged draws attention to the Apron, stating that “It reminds us of that purity of life and conduct so essentially necessary to gaining admission into the Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides.” (Masonic Trestle-Board, Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, 1979, p. 125) From a Christian theological

standpoint there is a tremendous problem with this, namely John 14:6, where Jesus states, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” Biblically, and sadly, that Unitarian is not with the Lord Jesus Christ, if indeed he held to Unitarian beliefs. Thus the Lodge in its ritual holds to be true for that Unitarian what is in reality a false reminder “of that purity of life and conduct so essentially necessary to his gaining admission into the Celestial Lodge Above.”

One other issue the Christian may focus on has to do with the Hoodwink, or Blindfold, in the Entered Apprentice degree. Here the candidate is blindfolded, symbolizing he is in “Darkness.” But what kind of darkness is he in? Moral? Spiritual? Ignorance concerning the teachings of Masonry?

The answer is all three! The reason for this comes from what follows in the ritual. Before the Hoodwink is removed the candidate is led to the Masonic Altar, upon which rests the Volume of the Sacred Law (VSL), the Square and the Compass (the three Great Lights in Masonry). The symbolism of the Square and Compass deals with living a moral and upright life, while the VSL (this could be any Holy Book the candidate uses in his religion) provides spiritual light. The candidate kneels before the altar and the blindfold is removed — symbolically alluding to him coming from “Darkness” to “Light.” What kind of darkness is it? It must be moral (Square and Compass) and spiritual (VSL). It must also represent ignorance of Masonic teaching (since the first two take place in a Masonic context).

For the Mason who claims to be a Christian, this poses a problem. What is a Christian doing going into a Lodge room with a blindfold on symbolizing that he is in moral and spiritual darkness, when Christ calls him the light of the world (Matt. 5:14)? And how can he be in moral or spiritual darkness (having been redeemed by God)?

Freemasonry and Christianity are not compatible.