Fast Facts on the Masonic Lodge

by John Ankerberg, John Weldon

Overview

Are Masonry and Christianity truly compatible? Using their concise question-and-answer style, noted researchers John Ankerberg and John Weldon look at the basics of the issue, examining Masons' claims and terminology and asking such critical questions as- Is Freemasonry a religion? What do Masons teach about Jesus Christ? What do Masonic symbols represent? Is the God of the Bible also the God of the Masonic Lodge? Easy to follow and practical, this thought-provoking resource will help readers understand one of North America's most widespread organizations-and the beliefs of people belonging to it-in light of the clear teaching of the Bible.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780736913430
Publisher:	Harvest House Publishers
Publication date:	05/01/2004
Series:	Fast Facts (Harvest House Publishers)
Pages:	153
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

John Ankerberg, host of the award-winning John Ankerberg Show, has three earned degrees: an MA in church history and the philosophy of Christian thought, an MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a DMin from Luther Rice Seminary. He has coauthored the 2-million-selling Facts On series of apologetic books, as well as Taking a Stand for the Bible and Israel Under Fire.

John Weldon has authored or coauthored more than 80 books. He has a Ph.D. in comparative religion and a D.Min. with emphasis in contemporary religious movements, as well as master's degrees in divinity and Christian apologetics. With Dr. John Ankerberg, he has coauthored What Do Mormons Really Believe?, Fast Facts® on Islam, the "Facts On" Series of apologetic booklets, and others.

Table of Contents

	The Importance of Understanding What Masonry Really Teaches	9
	A Word to Masons	11
Section I	Introduction to Masonry
1.	What Is Masonry and How Influential Is It?	13
2.	What Is the Final Authority for the Teachings Presented in Each Masonic Lodge?	16
3.	Which Books and Authors Have Been Recommended by the Grand Lodges as Being Authoritative Interpreters for Masonry?	17
4.	What Are the Blue Lodge, the Scottish Rite, and the York Rite, and What Other Organizations Are Associated with Masonry?	18
5.	What Are the Different Levels of Spiritual Enlightenment in Masonry?	22
Section II	Masonry and the Plan of Salvation
6.	Does the Masonic Lodge Teach Its Members a Nonbiblical Plan of Salvation?	25
7.	Do the Beginning Degrees of the Masonic Lodge Teach Salvation by Works?	26
8.	What Is the Biblical Response to Masonic Teaching?	30
9.	What Do Authoritative Masonic Literature and Former Masons Acknowledge About the Lodge and Salvation?	32
10.	Do Many Masons Deny that Masonry Teaches Salvation by Works?	38
Section III	The Religion of Masonry
11.	Do Masons Insist that Masonry Is Not a Religion?	41
12.	By Requiring Its Members to Believe in a Supreme Being, Does Masonry Fit Webster's Definition of a Religion?	44
13.	By Requiring Its Members to Obey God, Does Masonry Fit Webster's Definition of a Religion?	45
14.	By Requiring Its Members to Worship God as the Creator and Ruler of the Universe, Does Masonry Fit Webster's Definition of a Religion?	46
15.	By Requiring Its Members to Express Belief in God in Conduct and Ritual, Does Masonry Fit Webster's Definition of a Religion?	48
16.	Do Many Leading Masons Admit that Masonry Is a Religion?	50
17.	Does Masonry Teach that It Is the One True Religion on Earth?	52
Section IV	The Bible of Masonry
18.	Is the Holy Bible Really the "Great Light in Masonry" and the Rule and Guide for Masonic Faith and Practice?	59
19.	What Does the Bible Actually Symbolize in Masonry?	60
20.	What Are Six Distinct Teachings of Masonry About the Bible?	63
21.	What Did Jesus and the Writers of the Scriptures Teach About the Bible?	67
22.	Can Christian Masons Believe Both the Bible and Masonic Teachings About the Bible?	68
Section V	The God of Masonry
23.	Does Masonry Teach that Masons of Contrary Religious Persuasions Actually Worship the Same Deity?	71
24.	Do Masons Teach that the One True God Is the God of Masonry?	74
25.	Does Masonry Specifically Reject the Christian God?	79
26.	Is the God of Masonry Unapproachable and Unknowable?	81
27.	Does Masonry Reject the Christian Concept of God's Triune Nature?	83
28.	Do Masons Refer to Their God Using Names of Heathen Gods that Are Condemned in the Bible?	84
29.	Can Christian Masons Follow the Biblical God and Also Believe Masonic Teachings About Deity?	88
Section VI	Masonry and Jesus Christ
30.	Does Masonry Delete the Name of Christ from Its Prayers and Scripture Quotations?	91
31.	Are Prayers in the Name of Christ Forbidden in the Lodge?	93
32.	Does Masonry Require that Christians Disobey Jesus Christ by Prohibiting Any Discussion of Him During Lodge Activity?	94
33.	Does Masonry Bestow Christ's Divine Titles and Offices upon Unsaved Men in the Lodge?	95
34.	Does Masonry Deny the Deity of Jesus Christ?	99
35.	Does Masonry Deny the Role of Christ as Savior and Teach that the Christian Message of Divine Redemption Is a Corruption of Pagan Stories?	101
36.	What Does the Bible Teach About Jesus Christ, and What Does This Mean for Christian Masons?	103
Section VII	Masonry and Christians
37.	Is There Any Harmony Between Masonry and Christianity?	107
38.	If a Christian Has Sworn Oaths Promising to Uphold the Truths of Masonry, What Should He Do?	109
	What Does Masonry Truly Offer?	119
Appendix A	What Is the Problem of Masonic Brotherhood?	123
Appendix B	What Is the Continuing Predicament of the Southern Baptists?	127
Appendix C	How Can a Mason Receive a Demit from the Masonic Lodge?	131
Appendix D	How Will Masons Respond to This Book?	133
	Additional Resources	135
	Bibliography	137