Christianity and the Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge – Program 3

By: Dr. John Ankerberg, Jack Harris, Jim Flannagan, Bill Mankin, Dr. Walter Martin; ©1985

Masonic sources define their God as a “universal spirit.” But is the God described by Masons the same as the God described in the Bible?

Is the God of Masonry the God of the Bible?

Introduction

On this edition of John Ankerberg, we will compare the secret teachings of the Masonic Lodge with Christian belief. You will hear what the Lodge teaches in the first three degrees of Masonry, as well as the higher degrees of the York Rite and the Scottish Rite. Masons are promised in their authoritative Masonic ritual that nothing in the Lodge’s teachings will ever conflict with one’s own religious beliefs. Has Masonry lied to Christians in stating this? Is it really possible for a Christian to embrace the teachings of Freemasonry? Tonight, you will find out.

Invitations for tonight’s program were extended to current leaders, scholars, and Worshipful Masters of the Lodge. But Lodge members declined our invitation to come and be a part of this program – though our invitation remains open. However, you will meet and hear two former Worshipful Masters, Mr. Jim Flannigan and Mr. Jack Harris, explain what they used to believe and teach as leaders of the Lodge.

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Ankerberg: Good evening. In this program we will address the question, “Is there any evidence that proves the God of Masonry is not the God of the Bible but a different God altogether? We all know that the Masonic Lodge makes each candidate swear his belief in God, but which God?

Tonight, you will see that (1) Masonry permits the gods of many religions to be worshipped around its altar, and it teaches Masons that men of different faiths are really praying to the same God – the God of Masonry. Second, we’re going to see that Masonry defines their God to be a “universal Spirit” who is absolutely unknowable, who cannot be named or approached by man. No human attributes such as love, justice, mercy, anger can ever be assigned to Masonry’s God. Third, we’re going to see that in spite of this claim, Masonry does teach in its secret Royal Arch degree that the true name of their God is “Jabulon,” a joining together of two evil heathen deities with the God of the Bible.

Now, I believe these three points will conclusively show that Masonry has deliberately rejected the God of the Bible and in His place offers worship to a false god. Now, if this is true, then Masons are actually practicing idolatry and they’re committing blasphemy against the one true God.

Now, last week we learned that every Mason in the first degree must swear his belief in God in order to become a Mason, and second, a dedication prayer was said over him in which his life was dedicated to God’s service. Tonight, we’re going to see that during the ceremonies of the second degree – the degree of Fellowcraft – the Mason is given more instruction concerning Masonry’s God. He is introduced to the letter “G.” Listen as former Worshipful Master Jim Flannigan explains just a part of that instruction.

Flannigan: As Worshipful Master of the Lodge, I was required in the Fellowcraft degree to explain the meaning of the letter “G.” We were told in secret ritual that it stands for God or Geometry. This is the same God of the Jew, the Muslim, the Hindu, the Buddhist, the Sikh, and the Zoroastrian. But is it the God of the Bible?

Ankerberg: Then, in the third degree Masons are given still more instruction about the God of the Lodge. Again, Jim Flannigan will explain.

Flannigan: As Worshipful Master of my Lodge I presided over the conferral of the Master Mason degree. In that lecture it was clearly taught that the All-Seeing Eye was the symbol of the Grand Architect of the Universe who watches every man and rewards him according to his works. The Bible very clearly teaches that we do not gain heaven through our works but rather through the free grace of Jesus Christ which is a gift.

Ankerberg: So, in the first three degrees of Masonry men in the Lodge are required to pray to the Almighty Father of the Universe, swear their belief in God and are promised if they live a pure life, Masonry’s God will grant them eternal life in the Celestial Lodge Above. Along with this instruction, listen as 32^nd degree Mason Mr. Bill Mankin adamantly insists that Masons who pray in the Lodge, whether they be Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Jew, Christian, Mormon or Shinto, they are all praying to the same God – the God of Masonry. Please listen.

[Excerpt from “Christianity and the Masonic Lodge: Are They Compatible?”]

Ankerberg: Why are you praying?

Mankin: We are praying to the same God, the one God, the all-creating God, the same God that is on the dollar bill – “In God we trust”…

Ankerberg: Are we?

Martin: And the Hindus, too, and the Buddhists, they’re all doing that?

Mankin: …And the same All-Seeing…. Well, let’s…you’re nitpicking and that’s not really what this is all about.

Martin: No. No. No. That’s very factual. Just a minute! That’s the crux of the whole thing. The God of the Bible is not the god of the Hindus. The God of the Bible is not the god of the Buddhist. The God of the Bible is not Allah. The God of the Bible is the Lord – Eternal God who became man in Jesus Christ. You cannot call Him by all these different names and say you’re talking about the one God. That’s biblical nonsense!

Ankerberg: But let me ask you now, do you think that Masons are correct in teaching that no matter what god a man believes in, ultimately all men are praying to the same God? If you’re a Christian, do you think the God of the Bible would allow men to pray to Him under such names as Baal, or Shiva, or Allah? No. That would be idolatry.

Jesus Himself rejected Masonic doctrine when He taught that, “God is Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). For Jesus, it was crucial whether or not men worship the one true God who had revealed Himself to man – so crucial, in fact, that Jesus stated a man’s eternal destiny depended on it. Jesus said, “This is eternal life: that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent” [John 17:3]. In Isaiah 45:22 Jehovah God says, “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God and there is no other.”

But Masonry rejects Jesus’ teaching. Respected Masonic authority Carl H. Claudy states, “Freemasonry asks no questions as to what God, nor even what kind of God men believe in. Freemasonry cares not. That she does not care is one of her dearest symbols. Men may believe in God, Jehovah, or the Great First Cause or a Cosmic Urge and still be children of one Father, and therefore brethren in the true meaning of the word.”

While this may be true for Masons, it is certainly not true for Christians. No Christian believes men who pray to Shiva, Buddha or Allah are also praying to the God of the Bible. Why? Because Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but by Me” [John 14:6]. The apostles said the same thing in Acts 4:12 where we read, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

This is exactly where the Masonic Lodge disagrees with Jesus’ teachings about God. Esteemed Masonic scholar Albert Mackey argues in his Encyclopedia, “God is equally present with the pious Hindu in the temple, the Jew in the synagogue, the Mohammedan in the mosque, and the Christian in the church.”

But think for a moment. Can the gods of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Animism and all the other religions of the world be the same? The answer must be, “No.” The reason is, the God of the Bible is infinite, personal, triune, loving and holy. The deity of the Muslims, Allah, is unitarian – not triune. He is merciful, but he is not necessarily loving or holy. A major deity of the Hindus, Brahman, is impersonal, and neither unitarian nor triune. And on and on we could go.

In brief, Masonry is completely wrong in teaching that all religions ultimately pray to the same God. Actually, Masonry is trying to impose its own unique beliefs about God on everyone else. Henry Wilson Coil in his massive Masonic Encyclopedia states, “Men have to decide whether they want a god like the ancient Hebrew Yahweh, a partisan tribal God with whom they can talk and argue, and from whom they can hide if necessary, or a boundless, eternal, universal, undenominational and international Divine Spirit so vastly removed from the speck called man that he cannot be known, named or approached.” From this it’s obvious: Masonry clearly rejects the God of the Bible as an inferior “tribal deity” and puts in His place the unknowable, unapproachable, universal god of Masonry.

But Christianity says Masonry is wrong. The God of the Bible has given men direct information about Himself through the prophets which was written down in Scripture. What’s more, Christians believe that when Jesus Christ came to earth, He not only claimed to be God, but proved He was God in human flesh by His resurrection from the dead. Because Jesus is Himself God, when He speaks, He speaks truthfully about the attributes and character of God. And here is where Christians who are Masons must decide: Are they going to accept the teachings of the Masonic Lodge, and in doing so deny their own Lord and His Word? Or are they going to stay true to the revelation that Jesus Christ has given to us of who God is and deny the Lodge?

There’s a third body of evidence that proves Masonry’s god is a completely different god than the God of the Bible. This evidence can be found in the secret ceremony of the Royal Arch degree where Masonry discloses the secret name of their god. Please listen.

Flannigan: We have already looked at the Blue Lodge degrees – the Entered Apprentice, the Fellowcraft, and the Master Mason. After that, a Mason has his choice in going in either one or both of two additional directions: the York Rite or the Scottish Rite. Tonight we’re going to look at the York Rite. The next body above the Blue Lodge is the Chapter of the Holy Royal Arch, sometimes called the Red Lodge. That consists of four degrees: the Mark Master, the Past Master, the Most Excellent Master, and the Holy Royal Arch. We will go to the highest of those degrees – the Holy Royal Arch – and we will see that the symbolism in this body as well as the Blue Lodge is indeed quite religious, even more so than the Blue Lodge. I will now demonstrate to you an actual part of the Ritual. This is part of the opening and closing of every chapter meeting. I want you to look at it closely and judge for yourselves as to whether you feel there is any religious symbolism or religious practice contained in it. I also want you to pay very close attention to the name of God and see if it agrees with the Bible.

High priest: Companion Captain of the Host.

Captain: Most Excellent High Priest.

High priest: Are you a Royal Arch Mason?

Captain: I am that I am….

Flannigan: What you have just seen is an actual part of the Ritual of the Royal Arch degree. The High Priest sitting in the East has called over to the Captain of the Host and he asks him a question: “Are you a Royal Arch Mason?” The answer is, “I am that I am.” If you look back in your Bibles you will see that this refers to the time when Moses was approached by God, and God identified Himself as, “I Am that I Am” and Moses asked Him a question, “Whom shall I tell the people hath sent me?” And God said, “Tell them ‘I Am’ hath sent thee.” Jesus also referred to Himself as “I Am.” For any man, Mason or otherwise, to call himself “I Am” is in fact a proclamation of deity, and sin.

Ankerberg: Alright, next we’re going to watch that part of the Royal Arch degree where the Masonic Lodge reveals God’s secret name. Please listen.

High priest: Companion Captain of the Host.

Captain: Most Excellent High Priest.

High priest: You will cause the Companions to form in groups of three for the purpose of raising the Royal Arch.

Captain: Companions, it is the order of the Most Excellent High Priest that you form in groups of three for the purpose of raising a Royal Arch. [Companions raise Royal Arch]

High priest: As we three did agree,

In peace, love and unity,

The Sacred Word to search,

As we three did agree,

In peace, love and unity,

The Sacred Word to keep

So we three do agree,

In peace, love and unity,

To raise the Royal Arch.

[Each participant then speaks in turn as follows]:

First: “Jah”

Second: “Bul”

Third:“On”

Second: “Jah”

Third:“Bul”

First: “On”

Third:“Jah”

First: “Bul”

Second: “On”

(Pause)

First: “Ja”

Second: “Ho”

Third: “Vah”

Second: “Ja”

Third: “Ho”

First: “Vah”

Third: “Ja”

First: “Ho”

Second: “Vah”

Flannigan: We have just seen a portion of the Ritual of the Royal Arch degree that deals with the raising of the Royal Arch. We will further explain to you that Freemasonry is a religion, that it has its own religious content, and that its teachings are contrary to Christianity. We will look again at the raising of the Royal Arch and I will explain it to you. Gentlemen, will you please raise the Royal Arch so that I can explain its meaning?

As you can see, they have raised their arms up over their heads. This permits them to share the three portions of the first part of the word to each other. Would you please give the first syllable?

“Ja.”

Flannigan: The first syllable is “Ja” which refers to Jahweh or Jehovah. It is the name of the God of the Bible. Would you please give the second syllable?

“Bul.”

Flannigan: The second one is “Bul” or “Baal.” That is the god of the pagan tribes around Israel. Would you please give the third word?

“On.”

Flannigan: “On” as known among the Egyptians was the name of their sacred deity. It has become “Om” and is known among the Hindus today. Gentlemen, would you continue to the completion of the word?

[Demonstration continues]

Flannigan: They are now on their knees for the final recitation of the Grand Omnific Word. Would you please give the first syllable?

“Ja.”

Flannigan: The first syllable is “Ja.” Would you please give the second?

“Ho.”

Flannigan: The second one is “Ho.” And would you please give the third?

“Vah.”

Flannigan: “Je-Ho-Vah,” the name of the God of the Bible. Yet, Royal Arch Masons swear never to share this word unless there are three of them together and they are under a “Holy Royal Arch.” But nowhere in the Bible do we find any command not to freely use this name. The Masonic Lodge teaches that the Grand Omnific Word was lost with the death of Hiram Abiff. Yet there is nothing in Scripture to indicate that the word Jehovah was lost to its people.

Not only that, but do you realize what has occurred here? The Masonic Lodge has taken the sacred name of God and mingled it with the names of pagan deities: Baal, the god of the Canaanitish people, which the Bible strictly forbids to be worshipped; and also “On” or “Osiris” of the Egyptians, who is known today as “Om” among the Hindus. To mingle the name of our God with the names of pagan deities is completely forbidden by the Bible. It is a blasphemy and it must be understood as such.

Let me read to you from the Bible in the book of 1 Kings 18:21: “And Elijah came unto all the people and said, ‘How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ And the people answered him not a word.” If you want to read on, you can finish that story for yourself, for God proved Himself to be the only Omnipotent God.

In summary, how can a Christian be part of a ceremony where a man, not even a Christian man, takes upon himself the reference to God, “I am that I am”? And how can we be part of a system whereby the sacred name of God is mingled with the names of false gods?

Ankerberg: In conclusion, there can be absolutely no doubt that Masonry’s god is not the God of the Bible. Why? Because Masonry, (1) has deliberately rejected Jehovah God by name in its writings; (2) Masonry allows the gods of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Mormonism, Shintoism, etc., to be worshipped around its altar, believing these gods are only a dim reflection of the one true Masonic god; (3) Masonry defines its god – the Great Architect of the Universe – as a vague, absolutely unknowable and inoffensive unitarian deity whom it teaches men in the Lodge to worship; (4) Masonry calls its god by the secret name of “Jabulon” – a joining together of two evil heathen deities with the God of the Bible. In doing these four things, Masonry has clearly rejected the God revealed in the Bible, and exchanged Him for a false god. That’s why Masonry is practicing idolatry and blaspheming God in the Lodge.

Now, if you’re a Christian Mason, how can you justify remaining in the Lodge? Do you truly love God, or is your profession of faith shallow or mere hypocrisy? If you truly love God, you should immediately renounce Masonry, for it has led you into idolatry and sin. If you are a Christian Mason or a Christian pastor who presently supports Masonry, you must choose to whom you will give your allegiance – either to the God of the Bible or to the god of Masonry. It’s impossible for you to do both. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” [Matt. 6:24].

Read Part 4