Friday, September 08, 2006

Cults-The Masonic Lodge (Freemasonry)

I have taught about cults and heresies for many years. Cults and heresies have their own tendencies and characteristics apart from doctrinal problems. Some are smart and calculating and others are deceptive and totally dishonest.

The Masonic Lodge (Freemasonry) is a totally dishonest and deceptive cult. It is also the most in-depth cult I have ever come across. There are layers and layers and layers of teaching, deception, and falsehoods that riddle this belief system.

Please understand that I know that this will upset some, especially wives and daughters who have had husbands and fathers that were/are part of this demonic organization.

Lastly, I remember years ago while teaching this in a church I was forewarned not to teach this if I knew what was good for me. It did not stop me then and it will not stop me now.


About Jesus

Freemasonry says…
-"In his private petitions a man may petition God or Jehovah, Allah or Buddha,
Mohammed or Jesus; he may call upon the God of Israel or the First Great Cause.
In the Masonic Lodge he hears petition to the Great Architect of the Universe,
finding his own deity under that name. A hundred paths may wind upward
around a mountain; at the top they meet." (Carl H. Claudy, "Introduction to Freemasonry." p. 38)

The Word of God says…
-Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the Life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me. (John.14:6)
-Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)


About God

Freemasonry says…
-"...Since every man's conception of God must be proportioned to his mental
cultivation, and intellectual powers, and moral excellence. God is, as man
conceives Him, the reflected image of man himself. (Albert Pike, "Morals and Dogma," 14th Degree, p. 234)
-"The only personal God Freemasonry accepts is humanity in toto...Humanity therefore is the only personal God that there is." (J.D. Buck, "Mystic Masonry," p. 216)
-"The Absolute is Reason. Reason IS, by means of itself. It IS because IT IS...If God IS, HE IS by Reason." (Albert Pike, "Morals and Dogma," 28th Degree. p. 737)


But the Word of God says…
-In the Beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Gen. 1:1)
-For there are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (1John. 5:7)
-God said undo Moses, I AM THAT I AM... (Ex. 3:14)


About the Bible

Freemasonry says…
"...the literal meaning (of the Bible) is for the vulgar only." (Albert Pike, "Digest of Morals and Dogma," p. 166) "Masonry makes no profession of Christianity...but looks forward to the time when the labor of our ancient brethren shall be symbolized by the erection of a spiritual temple...in which there shall be but one alter and one worship; one common altar of Masonry on which the Veda, Shastra, Sade, Zend-Avesta, Koran and Holy Bible shall lie...and at whose shrine the Hindoo, the Persian, the Assyrian, the Chaldean, the Egyptian, the Chinese, the
Mohammedan, the Jew and the Christian may kneel..." ("The Kentucky Monitor." Fellowcraft Degree, p. 95)
-The removal of the name of Jesus and references to Him in Bible verses used in the ritual are "slight but necessary modifications." (Albert Mackey, "Masonic Ritualist." p. 272)


But the Word of God says…
-The Words of the Lord are pure words, as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (Psa. 12:6)
-All Scripture is given by inspiration of God... (2Tim. 3:16)
-...if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isa. 8:20)


About Salvation

Freemasonry says…
-"These three degrees (1st, 2nd, 3rd) thus form a perfect an harmonious whole,
nor can it be conceived that anything can be suggested more, which the soul of
man requires." (Daniel Sickles, "Ahimon Rezon or Freemason's Guide." p. 196) --"If we with suitable true devotion maintain our Masonic profession, our faith will become a beam of light an bring us to those blessed mansions where we shall be eternally happy with God, the Great Architect of the Universe." (Daniel Sickles, "Ahimon Rezon or Freemason's Guide." p. 79)
-"...salvation by faith and the vicarious atonement were not taught as now interpreted, by Jesus, nor are these doctrines taught in the esoteric scriptures. They are later and ignorant perversions of the original doctrines." (J.D. Buck, "Mystic Masonry." p. 57)


But the Word of God says…
-As it is written. There is none righteous no not one: (Rom. 3:10)
-For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23)
-For He hath made Him {Jesus} to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might
be made the righteousness of God in Him. (2Cor. 5:21)
-For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)


About Satan

Freemasonry says…
-"The conviction of all men that God is good led to a belief in a devil..." (Albert Pike, "Morals and Dogma." 19th Degree, p. 324)
-"...there is no rebellious demon of Evil, or Principle of Darkness coexistent and in eternal controversy with God, or the Principle of Light..." (Albert Pike, "Morals and Dogma," 32nd Degree, p.859)


But the Word of God says…
-Ye are of your father, the devil...he is a liar, and the father of it. (John.8:44)
-Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (Jas. 4:7)
-Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of
the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
(Eph. 6:11-12)
-...your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (1Pet. 5:8)


About Honesty

The Mason Doctrine teaches that it's right to lie, if necessary to protect the secrets
of the Lodge, or to protect brother Masons by concealing his wrongdoing. It can
even be right to deliberately deceive sincere Masons seeking to learn the lessons
and secrets of Masonry.

Freemasonry says…
-"The Blue Degrees are but the portico (porch) of the Temple. Part of the symbols
are displayed there to the initiate, but he is intentionally misled by false
interpretations. It is not intended that he shall understand them; but it is intended
that he shall imagine that he understands them...their true explication
(explanation / understanding) is reserved for the Adepts, the Princes of
Masonry." (Albert Pike, "Morals and Dogma," 30th Degree, p. 189)
-"You must conceal all crimes of your brother Masons...and should you be summoned as a witness against a brother Mason be always sure to shield him...It may be perjury to do this, it is true, but you're keeping your obligations." (Ronayne, "Handbook of Masonry." p. 183)
-"Furthermore do I promise and swear that a Master Mason's secrets, given to me in charge as such, and I knowing them to be such, shall remain as secure and inviolable in my breast as in his own, when communicated to me, murder and treason excepted; and they left to my own election." (Master Mason's / 3rd Degree Oath of Obligation)


But the Word of God says…
-Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. (Ex. 20:16)
-Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. (Lev.
19:11)
-...lie not to one another. (Col. 3:9)
-...all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death. (Rev 21:8)


About Secrecy and Blood Oaths

Freemasonry says…
Secrecy is indispensable in a Mason of whatever degree." (Albert Pike, "Morals and Dogma," 4th Degree, p. 109)
-I...do hereon most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear that I will always hail, ever conceal and never reveal any of the arts, parts or points of the secret arts any mysteries of ancient Freemasonry which I have received, am about to receive, or may hereafter be instructed in..." (Oath of Obligation, Entered Apprentice/1st Degree, and include in all subsequent degrees, always on penalty of mayhem and violent death) "
-...binding myself under no less a penalty that that of having my body severed in twain, my bowels taken out and burned to ashes, the ashes scattered to the four winds of heaven..." (from the Oath of Obligation, Master Mason/Third Degree) "
-...In willful violation whereof may I incur the fearful penalty of having my eyeballs pierced to the center with a three-edged blade, my feet flayed and I be forced to walk the hot sands upon sterile shores of the Red Sea until the flaming Sun shall strike me with a livid plague, and may Allah, the god of Arab, Moslem and Mohammedan, the god of our fathers, support me to the entire fulfillment of the same." (from the Oath of Obligation, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine ["Shriners"])


But the Word of God says…
-I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple...and in secret have I said nothing. (John. 18:20)
-Provide things honest in the sight of all men. (Rom. 12:17)
-Thou shalt not kill (murder). (Ex. 20:13)
-But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. (Jas. 5:12)
-Seek the Truth through the Word of God!
"...ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John. 8:32)

Friday, September 01, 2006

Cults-Roman Catholic Church

I apologize for the length of time it has taken to get back to my blog. I appreciate all who have read and currently read it. I do welcome comments. If you want to comment, especially about the cult posts, all I ask is that you read my post first, and then comment.

The cult that I would like to cover is the Roman Catholic Church. Yes, the Church of Rome. Let's get right to it.

"For it is through Christ's Catholic Church alone, which is the universal help towards salvation that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained. It was to the apostolic college alone, of which Peter is the head, that we believe that Our Lord entrusted all the blessings of the New Covenant, in order to establish on earth the one Body of Christ into which all those should be fully incorporated who belong in any way to the people of God" (Vatican Council II, p. 456).
"Therefore, the Church announces the good tidings of salvation to those who do not believe, so that all men may know the one true God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent and may be converted from their ways, doing penance (Vatican Council II, p. 6).

"The doctrine of purgatory clearly demonstrates that even when the guilt of sin has been taken away, punishment for it or the consequences of it may remain to be expiated or cleansed. They often are. In fact, in purgatory the souls of those 'who died in the charity of God and truly repentant, but who had not made satisfaction with adequate penance for their sins and omissions' are cleansed after death with punishment designed to purge away their debt" (Vatican Council II, p. 64).

Roman Catholicism believes that redemption is not accomplished in Christ alone:

"For it is the liturgy through which, especially in the divine sacrifice of the Eucharist, 'the work of our redemption is accomplished'" (Vatican Council II, p. 1).

The Roman Catholic Church says that Christ's sacrifice was not sufficient in itself to take away the penalty for our sins:

"Hence the Mass, the Lord's Supper, is at the same time and inseparably: a sacrifice in which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated (Vatican Council II, p. 102).

This is in direct violation of Isa. 53.4-6.

There are seven sacraments in the Catholic Church: baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, holy orders, and matrimony. "The seven sacraments are the signs and instruments by which the Holy Spirit spreads the grace of Christ the head throughout the Church which is his Body" (CCC, no. 774). Catholics believe that the sacraments actually "confer the grace that they signify" (CCC, no. 1127) and that their ordained priesthood "guarantees that it really is Christ who acts in the sacraments" (CCC, no. 1120). For believers, the sacraments of the Catholic Church "are necessary for salvation" (CCC, no. 1129).

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and that is the basis for establishing truth, doctrine, and practice. But it also has other criteria that it says are equal to Scripture: tradition, and Magesterium (the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church).

"Sacred Tradition and sacred Scripture, then, are bound closely together, and communicate one with the other. For both of them , flowing out from the same divine wellspring, move towards the same goal. Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit. And Tradition transmits in its entirety the Word of God which has been entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit. It transmits it to the successors of the apostles [the pope and bishops of the Roman Catholic Church] so that, enlightened by the Spirit of truth, they may faithfully preserve, expound and spread it abroad by their preaching. Thus it comes about that the Church does not draw her certainty about all revealed truths from the Holy Scriptures alone. Hence, both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal feelings of devotion and reverence...

"But the task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone...

"It is clear, therefore, that, in the supremely wise arrangement of God, sacred Tradition, sacred Scripture and the Magesterium of the Church are so connected and associated that one of them cannot stand without the others. Working together, each in its own way under the action of the one Holy Spirit, they all contribute effectively to the salvation of souls" (Vatican Council II , pp. 755-756).

This is Hellish. To compare something man-made and man-centered to the Word of God is Hellish.

To those of us that are not part of the Roman Catholic Church we are called "separated brethren."

According to the Roman Catholic Church, unless we toward accepting the Roman Catholic doctrine we remain outside the graces of the Church, regardless of how much in God's grace we live.

"Bishops should show affectionate consideration in their relations with the separated brethren and should urge the faithful also to exercise all kindness and charity in their regard, encouraging ecumenism as it is understood by the Church" (Vatican Council II, p. 573).

Notice the phrase "understood by the church." The Roman Catholic Church has set itself up as the final authority.

Here are a few more things to think on.

Catholics believe that Mary "was totally preserved from the stain of original sin and she remained pure from all personal sin throughout her life" (Catechism of the Catholic Church) (CCC, no. 508). Catholics teach that Mary remained a virgin throughout her life. They also believe that at the end of her life she "was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things" (CCC, no. 966). Catholics refer to Mary as "the Holy Mother of God" (CCC, no. 975). They view her as a co-mediator of God's grace and as a collaborator with the salvation of Jesus her Son (CCC, nos. 510, 973). According to Pope Paul VI, "The Church's devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship" (CCC, no. 971).

The CCC defines sin as "an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law" (CCC, no. 1871). Catholics distinguish between two types of sin. The two types of sin are mortal and venial (CCC, no. 1854). Mortal sin destroys the sanctifying grace of God within the individual and necessitates forgiveness through a sacrament of reconciliation (CCC, no. 1856). It causes exclusion from heaven and results in "the eternal death of hell" (CCC, no. 1861). Catholics classify a sin as mortal when it meets the following conditions: the sin is serious or "grave" (murder, adultery, stealing, bearing false witness, etc.), is committed with "full knowledge and complete consent" (CCC, nos. 1857-59). A venial sin is a sin that either is not serious or grave, or does not involve full knowledge or complete consent (CCC, no. 1862). Unlike mortal sin, venial sin does not destroy the saving grace of God in the individual. "Venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness" (CCC, no. 1863).

Where is this in Scripture?

"The faithful are born anew by Baptism" (CCC, no. 1212). "Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ" (CCC, no. 1213). Catholics baptize their children shortly after birth. "The Church and the parents would deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer Baptism shortly after birth" (CCC, no. 1250). Catholics teach that "Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament" (CCC, no. 1257). "By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin" (CCC, no. 1263).

Here a few things that the Roman Catholic Church has proclaimed:

1. Prayers for the dead . ………………300 A.D.
2. Making the sign of the cross ………………………… …300 A.D.
3. Veneration of angels & dead saints ……………….375 A.D.
4. Use of images in worship………………………………… . 375 A.D.
5. The Mass as a daily celebration……………………………… 394 A.D.
6. Beginning of the exaltation of Mary; the term, "Mother of God" applied a Council of Ephesus…431 A.D.
7. Extreme Unction (Last Rites)……………………………… ..526 A.D.
8. Doctrine of Purgatory-Gregory 1…………………………… .593 A.D..
9. Prayers to Mary & dead saints ……………………………… .600 A.D.
10. Worship of cross, images & relics ……………………… … 786 A.D.
11. Canonization of dead saints ………………………………… ..995 A.D.
12. Celibacy of priesthood …………………………………… …1079 A.D.
13. The Rosary ……………………………………………… … 1090 A.D.
14. Indulgences ……………………………………………… …..1190 A.D.
15. Transubstantiation-Innocent III …………………………… 1215 A.D.
16. Auricular Confession of sins to a priest …………………… 1215 A.D.
17. Adoration of the wafer (Host)…………………………… .. 1220 A.D.
18. Cup forbidden to the people at communion …………………..1414 A.D.
19. Purgatory proclaimed as a dogma……………………………..1439 A.D.
20. The doctrine of the Seven Sacraments confirmed …………….1439 A.D.
21. Tradition declared of equal authority with Bible by Council of Trent..1545 A.D.
22. Apocryphal books added to Bible ……………….1546 A.D.
23. Immaculate Conception of Mary……………………………….1854 A.D.
24. Infallibility of the pope in matters of faith and morals, proclaimed by the Vatican Council …1870 A.D.
25. Assumption of the Virgin Mary (bodily ascension into heaven shortly after her death) .1950 A.D. 26. Mary proclaimed Mother of the Church……………………… 1965 A.D.

When you get tired of reading this, study the Inquisition. It is very eye-opening.

I will be glad to provide more info if anyone feels it is needed.

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