Ex-Masons For Jesus

NY Mason · 04-23-2008, 06:56 PM

I don't know how many of the Brothers in here are aware of this anti-masonic website. I came across it through a blog of which i don't remember, but if you go to it and read it you'l find that these former Masons are very much against freemasonry and for what it stands for. Some of you may have stumbled upon this site, but for those of you who might not have, you should look at it see how these ex-Masons view the craft from there vantage point.

They are very passionate about their beliefs and in some cases are very quick to condemn those who do not follow their beliefs no matter how rational the pro-Masonic posters try to be.

Either way it makes for good reading and to learn what as Masons we are up against in some of today's religious world.

Here is the website address: http://www.emfj.org/

D. W. Brown · 04-23-2008, 10:16 PM

There are zealots in every group and unfortuantly Freemasonry has not been exempt from this either.

grandsecretary · 04-24-2008, 05:05 AM

Their sincerely held belief is that Jesus Christ is the only true God, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. An acceptance of Jesus as Lord, the Way to eternal salvation with God in Heaven.

Now these are very powerful beliefs, and we must acknowledge that they are entitled to have them.

These ex-Masons (and most probably they are); why do they become so anti?

Firstly guilt. I suspect that they cannot accept that they went into Freemasonry with their eyes open, and are looking to blame Freemasonry for "duping" them or "trapping" them in some way.

Blaming others for one's own "bad" decisions reflects guilt away from those who will not take personal responsibility for those decisions. "I was tricked!".

Once they reach this point, they want to ameliorate their guilt by "saving" others from being "tricked" by those evil tricksters, the Freemasons.

The problem, and it is a problem that we must face, is that "mainstream" Freemasonry was, and is essentially religious. I know that this may not be popular in some circles, but it is a fact.

Prior to the Moderns era, the Church actively supported, indeed were the leaders of what was, Catholic Freemasonry. So what changed?

It is often said that Anderson de-Christianised Freemasonry. His intention however was to retain the essential religious tenets of Christianity, but allowing others to participate by utlilising the catch-all phrase "... a supreme being".

At that time there were no Buddhist or Muslim Freemasons. There were Catholics, Protestants and few Jewish Freemasons in England, and definitely no Athiests or "Religious Libertines".

The problem comes, not with what he did, but how he did it. Even at the time there was a massive anti reaction, even within his own Grand Lodge jurisdiction.

His concept of "... a supreme being" opened the doors to "mental reservation". Other faiths came along later, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs.

Today, it seems, anything goes. "Conscience" is the new supreme being.

This is their problem. They see Freemasons, of many, all and any beliefs, meeting in an essentially religious context, in a Masonic temple, praying to God, swearing Oaths, invoking the word of God.

They see that as accepting, or at the very least acknowledging the claim of the validity of other religions, all religions, or even no religion at all "concience".

This is not only a failure, but an encouragement to others not to proselytise Christianity, the duty as they see it, of every true Christian.

The Christian God - yes: "... a supreme being" - no.

This is a part (a large part) of the great Masonic debate that has gone on since the early 1700's.

Remember, they have only experienced post Anderson Freemasonry and take their stand accordingly.

That IMHO is the why. What we do, how we deal with it, whether we should do or say anything, these are other questions.

Jayman · 04-24-2008, 09:01 AM

I think the ultimate problem they have is that other religions can be Masons and interpret the GAOTU as their own version.

ie Jews see Yahweh, Muslims see Allah (even though they are one in the same as the Christian God) as the GAOTU

My issue with these people is that their position basically elevates The Christ above Him. Every Bible I have read says no such thing. Christ is the Son and manifestation of Him on Earth, but is not above Him.

My $0.02.

skicat1898 · 04-25-2008, 11:45 AM

Where is it said that our fraternity is a religion? No literature within any lodge I have sat in provides such teaching. Where in any of our degrees is religion taught? Nowhere that I have witnessed. Are there and religious sermons preached at our stated or called meetings? None that I have seen.

Freemasonry is not and never has been intended to be or replace any religion.

We are a fraternity of religious men believing in our own Supreme Being which allows us to be made a Mason.

I am a Christian, I believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost... I believe that the way to the Father is thru the Son.... I beleive all three are one in the same.

I believe that most all "Ex-Masons" usually become so for some other reason other than their personal beliefs and some hide behind Christian beliefs as the reason....

Any Christian that is giving off the perception that they place Jesus Christ above God, are simply not following Christian teachings.

Any Freemason that believes Freemasonry is a religion has abandoned his religion that allowed him to become a Freemason.

We pray at the opening of our cerimonies and meetings, that does not make us a religion,,, simply a fraternity of religious men envoking the aid and blessing of deity...

Correct me if I am wrong, I am simply stating it as I see it.

grandsecretary · 04-25-2008, 04:07 PM

Well, Moderns Freemasonry requires a belief in ".. a supreme being". This is the looser wording introduced by Desaguliers and Anderson in thie first book of constitutions in 1723.

There are quite a number of Freemasons who consider Freemasonry to be their religion. Some have even stated so on forums such as this.

However, Freemasonry being "religious" rather than "a religion", this causes a problem with some fundamentalist Christians.

They cannot understand that we can meet with Hindus and Muslims and Jews without trying to convert them to what they consider to be the ONLY way to Eternal Life in Heaven with Jesus. Because of this they seem to have this driving need to interfere in our private business.

You can't win an argument with them because as I said in my earlier post, we might not agree with them, but their beliefs are sincere and they are trying to "save" us.

It is IMHO a mistake to rise to the bait.

Jayman · 04-26-2008, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skicat1898

Any Christian that is giving off the perception that they place Jesus Christ above God, are simply not following Christian teachings.

there are abusers in every religion

Stealth · 04-26-2008, 09:20 AM

from the GL of Georgia...........
"Freemasonry is a charitable, benevolent, educational and religious society. Its principles are proclaimed as widely as men will hear. Its only secrets are in its methods of recognition and of symbolic instruction."
http://www.glofga.org/principles.html

Every Masonic Lodge is a temple of religion and its teachings are instruction in religion. For here are inculcated disinterestedness, affection, toleration, devolvedness, patriotism, truth, a generous sympathy with those who suffer and mourn, pity for the fallen, mercy for the erring, relief for those in want, Faith, Hope, Charity. Here we meet as brethren to learn to know and love each other. Here we greet each other gladly, are lenient to each other’s faults, regardful of each other’s feelings, ready to relieve each other’s wants," Albert Pike, Morals & Dogma, pp. 213-214.

Stealth · 04-26-2008, 09:24 AM

Not all Masons are Christian. In MANY Lodges prayers are ended "in Jesus name" what if you are Jewish? Muslium? Hindu?

I have been present when a Muslium was FORCED to take his oath on the HB not his scared volume. Tolerance of ones religious beilefs in Masonry? yes. Neglecting the right of other faiths? mostly yes.

cemab4y · 04-27-2008, 05:43 AM

I think that EMFJ is the worst anti-masonic website on the net. Some, but not all of their leadership, are ex-masons.

I am sorry to hear about the incident where the Muslim was forced to obligate on the Bible. Most grand Lodges, have a requirement, that each new candidate will take the oath/obligation on the book of his individual faith.

I once assisted a Muslim (in Washington DC) to take the oath, on the Holy Qu'Ran. I consider this one of the high points of my entire Masonic life.

Here in Iraq, we will display the Holy Bible and the Holy Qu'Ran side by side on the altar.