Those who teach God's will have always had the unpopular responsibility of speaking out against the wishes and prevailing thoughts of the day:

Isa 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and declare unto my people their transgression, and to the house of Jacob their sins.

Jer 1:10 see, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.

2 Cor 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds), casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.

This is made especially hard when we speak out in opposition to either individuals or systems which do good and are popular with the majority of people. However, we can't "accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative" when the negative consists of conflicts with Divine Truth. Jeremiah rebuked those who cried "peace, peace" when there was no peace, Jer. 6:14, and "when Ahab saw Elijah...Ahab said to him, 'Is this you, you troubler of Israel?' And he said, 'I have not troubled Isarael, but you and your father's house have, beause you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and yo have followed theBaals." Kings 18:17-18. The true troublers are those who, like Masons, have departed from what God has revealed in the Bible and embarked on a course that leads men away from, rather than to, God. Such philosophies must be exposed and rebuked.

The religion of Christ is an all-sufficient and exclusive system because it provides that which other systems are incapable of providing for man:

An exclusive, all-sufficient TEACHER: Jesus Christ---in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden. Col. 2:3

An exclusive, all-sufficient RELATIONSHIP: The Church---but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Tim. 3:15; and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Eph. 1:22-23

An exclusive, all-sufficient REVELATION: The Bible---Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17

Do you agree that these principles are true and that any system is false which contradicts and rivals them? With these principles agreed to, we want to examine the system of Masonry.

1. Not due to a lack of appreciation for and recognition of the benevolent good that Masonry does. Being critical of one aspect of an organization doesn't mean we are opposed to all that it does. But justification for an organization is not determined by saying, "Look what they (we) are doing. What, on the other hand are you doing?"

2. Because of the nature of the truths discussed above. Masonry is not just a benevolent and fraternal organization, but is a system that in many places is in conflict with the Biblical principles outlined above and is thus a false religious system.

3. Because of its benevolent and fraternal nature. Many good people are attracted to it without realizing that (a) it is a religion and (b) it is in direct conflict with the principles discussed above.

Next: Masonry Is A Religion

David Smitherman