What is Freemasonry, and what do Freemasons believe?

Answer  
  

Freemasonry, [Eastern Star](Eastern-Star.html), and other similar “secret” organizations seem to be harmless fellowship gatherings. Many of them appear to promote belief in God. However, Freemasonry, also sometimes called the Craft, does not have belief in the one true God in view; rather, each man must “act with courage, fidelity, and devotion to *his* God” (www.freemason.com/master\-mason, accessed 11/15/22, emphasis added). Freemasonry teaches the existence of a “Supreme Being,” whoever that may be: the god of Islam, Hinduism, or any other religion will do. The unbiblical beliefs of Masonry are partially hidden by a supposed compatibility with the Christian faith. The following is a comparison of what the Bible says with what Freemasonry teaches:  
  

  

**Salvation from Sin:**  
  

The Bible’s View: Jesus became the sinner’s sacrifice before God when He shed His blood and died as the payment for the sins of all those who believe (Ephesians 2:8–9; Romans 5:8; John 3:16\).  
  

Freemasonry: The very process of joining a lodge requires apprentices to ignore the exclusivity of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Freemasonry focuses on good works in the pursuit of personal self\-improvement: “By returning to lodge, witnessing the degrees, and becoming an active part of the Masonic community, a man can build himself into a better man” (ibid., accessed 11/15/22\).  
  

**The View of the Bible:**  
  

The Bible’s View: The Bible is the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13\). It is God\-breathed and authoritative in all areas of life.  
  

Freemasonry: The Bible is only one of seven commonly used Volumes of Sacred Law (VSLs), all of which are deemed equally important: “The Holy Book of any religion may be used as a VSL, provided that it teaches and its adherents believe in a Supreme Being” (https://grandlodgeofiowa.org/docs/Freemasonry\_Religion/VolumeofSacredLaworiginal.pdf, accessed 11/15/22\). The Bible is an important book, but only as far as those members who claim to be Christians are concerned. The Bible is not considered to be the exclusive Word of God or God’s sole revelation of Himself.  
  

**The Doctrine of God:**  
  

The Bible’s View: There is only one God. To worship other gods or to call upon other deities is idolatry (Exodus 20:3\). Paul spoke of idolatry as a heinous sin (1 Corinthians 10:14\), and John said that idolaters will perish in hell (Revelation 21:8\).  
  

Freemasonry: All members must believe in a deity. Different religions acknowledge the same God, but they call Him different names. Freemasonry invites people of all faiths. Even if they use different names for the “Nameless One of a hundred names,” they are praying to the one God and Father of all. Manly Hall, a 33rd degree Mason, wrote, “The true Mason is not creed\-bound. He realizes with the divine illumination of his lodge that as a Mason his religion must be universal: Christ, Buddha, or Mohammed, the name means little, for he recognizes only the light and not the bearer” (*The Lost Keys of Freemasonry*, p. 65, cited by Wise, R., https://probe.org/freemasonry\-and\-the\-christian\-church/, accessed 11/15/22\).  
  

**The Doctrine of Jesus and the Trinity:**  
  

The Bible’s View: Jesus is God in human form (Matthew 1:18–24; John 1:1\). Jesus is the Second Person of the Trinity (Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9–11\). He is fully human (Mark 4:38; Matthew 4:2\) and fully divine (John 1:1–2, 14; 20:28; Acts 4:10–12\). Christians should pray in Jesus’ name and proclaim Him before others (John 14:13–14; 1 John 2:23; Acts 4:18–20\).  
  

Freemasonry: There is no exclusivity in Jesus Christ or the Triune God who is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus is equated to persons in pagan religions: “The Hindus called him Krishna; the Chinese, Kioun\-tse; the Persians, Sosiosch; the Chaldeans, Dhouvanai; the Egyptians, Horus; Plato, Love; the Scandinavians, Balder; the Christians, Jesus; Masons, Hiram” (*The Kentucky Monitor*, 1946, pp. XIV–XV, cited by www.emfj.org/salvat.htm, accessed 11/15/22\).  
  

**Human Nature and Sin:**  
  

The Bible’s View: All humans are born with a sinful nature and need a Savior from sin (Romans 3:23; 5:12, Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:1\). Because of the fall, humanity has within itself no capacity for moral perfection (1 John 1:8–10; Romans 1:18–25\).  
  

Freemasonry: Through symbols and emblems, Masons teach that man is not sinful but in a process of self\-improvement. As Deputy Grand Master R. W. Donald Gardner Hicks, Jr., said, “The lesson we teach is that the Rough Ashler \[a rough\-cut stone] represents ourselves rude and imperfect by nature, but that the Perfect Ashler \[a stone with smooth sides and square edges] is that state of perfection at which we hope to obtain, by a virtuous education, our own endeavors and the blessing of God” (“Masonry: Faith, Hope and Charity,” *Proceedings*, pp. 2004–94\). Human beings possess the ability of moving from imperfection toward total perfection.  
  

When a Christian takes the oath of Freemasonry, he is swearing to the following doctrines that God has pronounced false:  
  

1\. Salvation can be gained by man’s good works.  
  

2\. Jesus is just one of many equally wise prophets.  
  

3\. He approaches the lodge in spiritual darkness and ignorance (the Bible says Christians are children of the light).  
  

4\. The Great (or Grand) Architect of the Universe ([GAOTU](GAOTU.html)) is representative of all gods in all religions.  
  

By swearing the Masonic oath and participating in the rituals of the lodge, Christians are perpetuating a false gospel. Even if the Christian Mason knows the truth and believes in Christ, other lodge members are trusting in Freemasonry’s plan of salvation to get to heaven. By his membership in a syncretistic organization, the Christian has severely compromised his witness.  
  

Masonry contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture on numerous issues. As a result, a Christian should not be a member of any organization that has any connection with Freemasonry.  
  

For more information, we recommend the resources available from [Ex\-Masons for Jesus](http://www.emfj.org/).  
  

