What is Freemasonry, and what do Freemasons believe?
Freemasonry and Christianity: A Biblical Analysis
Freemasonry, along with associated organizations like the Eastern Star, presents itself as a harmless fellowship focused on moral development, personal betterment, and belief in a "Supreme Being." At first glance, these organizations may appear compatible with the Christian faith. However, a deeper examination reveals that Freemasonry contradicts essential biblical doctrines and undermines the exclusivity of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This lesson compares the teachings of Freemasonry with the Word of God, demonstrating why Christians should avoid participation in organizations that conflict with biblical truth.
1. The Doctrine of Salvation
The Bible’s View
Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. Scripture clearly teaches that humanity is sinful and separated from God, and only through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ can sinners be reconciled to God:
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8–9, NKJV).
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8, NKJV).
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16, NKJV).
Freemasonry’s View
Freemasonry denies the exclusivity of Jesus Christ as Savior and promotes a works-based salvation. Initiates are taught to focus on self-improvement and good works as the path to becoming a "better man." For example:
"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" (www.freemason.com/master-mason, accessed 11/15/22).
This teaching contradicts the biblical truth that no one can earn salvation through their own efforts:
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5, NKJV).
2. The View of the Bible
The Bible’s View
The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. It is the sole revelation of God’s will and the foundation of Christian faith and practice:
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16, NKJV).
"For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe" (1 Thessalonians 2:13, NKJV).
Freemasonry’s View
Freemasonry views the Bible as one of many “Volumes of Sacred Law” (VSLs). Any holy book that teaches belief in a "Supreme Being" may serve as the lodge’s sacred text. This relativistic approach denies the Bible’s unique authority:
"The Holy Book of any religion may be used as a VSL, provided that it teaches and its adherents believe in a Supreme Being" (Grand Lodge of Iowa).
This contradicts the Bible’s own claim to exclusivity and sufficiency:
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105, NKJV).
3. The Doctrine of God
The Bible’s View
The Bible reveals one true and living God, who is holy, just, and sovereign. Worship of other gods is idolatry, a sin condemned throughout Scripture:
"You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3, NKJV).
"Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:14, NKJV).
"But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8, NKJV).
Freemasonry’s View
Freemasonry promotes a universalist concept of God, teaching that all religions ultimately worship the same "Supreme Being," regardless of the deity’s name or attributes. This syncretistic approach directly opposes the biblical command to worship God alone:
"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" (Manly Hall, The Lost Keys of Freemasonry, p. 65).
4. The Doctrine of Jesus Christ and the Trinity
The Bible’s View
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity. He is fully God and fully man, the only Mediator between God and humanity:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:1, 14, NKJV).
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12, NKJV).
Freemasonry’s View
Freemasonry denies the exclusivity of Christ, equating Him with figures from pagan religions. For example, in some Masonic writings, Jesus is listed alongside mythological and religious figures such as Krishna, Horus, and Mohammed. This blasphemy denies the unique person and work of Christ:
"The Hindus called him Krishna; the Egyptians, Horus; the Christians, Jesus" (The Kentucky Monitor, 1946, pp. XIV–XV).
5. Human Nature and Sin
The Bible’s View
Humanity is inherently sinful and in need of salvation. Apart from Christ, no one is righteous or capable of attaining moral perfection:
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23, NKJV).
"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me" (Psalm 51:5, NKJV).
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8, NKJV).
Freemasonry’s View
Freemasonry denies the doctrine of original sin, teaching instead that humanity is on a journey of self-improvement toward moral perfection. This view is symbolized by the “Rough Ashler” and the “Perfect Ashler,” stones representing man’s supposed progression from imperfection to perfection:
"The lesson we teach is that the Rough Ashler represents ourselves rude and imperfect by nature, but that the Perfect Ashler is that state of perfection at which we hope to obtain" (R. W. Donald Gardner Hicks, Jr.).
This teaching contradicts Scripture’s declaration that moral perfection is impossible apart from God’s grace.
Conclusion: Why Christians Should Reject Freemasonry
Freemasonry undermines essential biblical doctrines and promotes a false gospel based on human effort and universalism. By participating in its rituals, Christians compromise their witness and perpetuate unbiblical teachings.
As Baptists, we affirm the exclusivity of Christ and the authority of Scripture. Christians are called to avoid any association with organizations that contradict God’s Word:
"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14, NKJV).
For more information and testimonies of those who have left Freemasonry, we recommend the resources available through Ex-Masons for Jesus.
