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Charles G. Finney, cults, deception, discerning the spirits, exhortation, following Jesus, Freemasonry, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Lions Clubs International, oaths, Rotary International, Satan, Sects, sin, the devil, true faith, warning
This time you might wonder at the topic I chose to write about. Like the charismatic issue that has bothered me for some time and eventually led to my last article, today I felt I should start to illustrate the possible dangers that might approach us in our every day life through people who are not necessarily Christians although they sometimes claim to believe in God. I am referring to ‘noble’, well-deemed people (mostly men) who might work as university professors, physicians, judges, notaries or bank directors. This list is anything but exhaustive. It might only serve to point you to the credibility their profession normally lends to them. What they all have in common is that they are (very) successful. Most of the times they are rich at that. Sometimes they become famous, too, sooner or later. However, they had to do something in order to get there. As German author and poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in his work “Faust” described, “The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a pact with the devil, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures.” (1)
How can someone make a pact with the devil? 🙄 There seem to be many possibilities today, even more than in the past, I believe. Goethe, for instance, joined Freemasonry. Similar (seemingly) innocent ‘old men’s clubs’ are Rotary International or Lions Clubs International. Although these two do not belong to Masonry, some of their founders were said to have been Masons. (2) Whatever the name of the club, there are gatherings of people who join such groups in order to extract advantages from their membership. These members usually aid one another in almost every life situation. From the outside they make it look as if they were simply social clubs as they are hanging a lantern on their ‘good works’. But what might seem to this world like ‘old men’s games’, if their ceremonies consist of rites of initiation, their oaths invite the devil to lord over them, even if they call him ‘god’ as the Masons do. Without believing in Jesus Christ as our personal savior, no human being will ever be able to have a real relationship with God. I decided to simply focus on Freemasonry here with which I am more familiar than with these other two clubs mentioned before. I have known Freemasons as long as I live and I once worked in a Freemasonry lodge building. It was not long until I saw some spooky things there. Thank God, I had come to know Jesus at the same time and He told me to leave this sphere as soon as possible.
Below I offer you now the testimony of a famous Christian: Charles Grandison Finney characterizes Freemasonry and its dangers in detail since “as a young man Finney was a third-degree Master Mason” (3).
Why I Left Freemasonry
By Charles G. Finney, D.D.
When I was converted to Christ I had belonged to the Masonic Lodge in Adams, New York, about four years. During the struggle of conviction of sin through which I passed, I do not recollect that the question of Freemasonry ever occurred to my mind.
New Views of Lodgism
But soon after my conversion, the evening came for attendance upon the Lodge, and I went. They, of course, were aware that I had become a Christian and the Master called upon me to open the Lodge with prayer. I did so, and poured out my heart to the Lord for blessings upon the Lodge. I observed that it created considerable excitement. The evening passed away, and at the close of the Lodge I was asked to pray again. I did so, and retired much depressed in spirit. I soon found that I was completely converted from Freemasonry to Christ, and that I could have no fellowship with any of the proceedings of the Lodge. Its oaths appeared to me to be monstrously profane and barbarous.
At that time I did not know how much I had been imposed upon by many of the pretensions of Masonry. But, upon reflection and examination, a severe struggle and earnest prayer, I found I could not consistently remain with them. My new life instinctively and irresistibly recoiled from any fellowship with what I now regarded as “the unfruitful works of darkness.”
Quietly Withdrawing Membership
Without consulting anyone, I finally went to the Lodge and requested my discharge. My mind was made up. Withdraw from them I must — with their consent if I might; without this consent if I must. Of this I said nothing; but somehow it came to be known that I had withdrawn.
They therefore planned a Masonic festival and sent a committee to me, requesting me to deliver an oration on that occasion. I quietly declined to do so, informing the committee that I could not conscientiously, in any wise, do what would show my approval of the institution, or sympathy with it. However, for the time, and for years afterward I remained silent, and said nothing against Masonry; though I had then so well considered the matter as to regard my Masonic oaths as utterly null and void. But from that time I never allowed myself to be recognized as a Freemason anywhere.
Beginning a Public Testimony
This was a few years before the revelations of Freemasonry by Captain William Morgan were published. When that book was published, I was asked if it was a true revelation of Freemasonry. I replied that it was so far as I knew anything about it, and that as nearly as I could recollect, it was a verbatim revelation of the first three degrees as I had myself taken them. I frankly acknowledged that that which had been published was a true account of the institution, and a true expose’ of their oaths, principles and proceedings. After I had considered it more thoroughly, I was more perfectly convinced that I had no right to adhere to the institution, or appear to do so; and that I was bound, whenever the occasion came, to speak my mind freely in regard to it, and to renounce the horrid oaths that I had taken.
Masonic Oaths Procured by Fraud
I found that in taking these oaths I had been grossly deceived and imposed upon. I had been led to suppose that there were some very important secrets to be communicated to me; but in this I found myself entirely disappointed. Indeed I came to the deliberate conclusion that my oaths had been procured by fraud and misrepresentations; that the institution was in no respect what I had been informed it was; and as I have had the means of examining it more thoroughly, it has become more and more irresistibly plain to me that Masonry is highly dangerous to the State, and in every way injurious to the Church of Christ.
Features of an Anti-Christ
Judging from unquestionable evidences, how can we fail to pronounce Freemasonry an unchristian institution? We can see that its morality is unchristian. Its oath-bound secrecy is unchristian. The administration and taking of its oaths are unchristian and a violation of the positive command of Christ. And Masonic oaths pledge its members to some of the most unlawful and unchristian things:
- To conceal each other’s crimes.
- To deliver each other from difficulty, whether right or wrong.
- To unduly favor Masonry in political action and in business matters.
- Its members are sworn to retaliate and persecute unto death the violators of Masonic obligations.
- Freemasonry knows no mercy, and swears its candidates to avenge violations of Masonic obligations unto death.
- Its oaths are profane, taking the Name of God in vain.
- The penalties of these oaths are barbarous, even savage.
- Its teachings are false and profane.
- Its designs are partial and selfish.
- Its ceremonies are a mixture of puerility and profanity.
- Its religion is false.
- It professes to save men on other conditions than those revealed in the Gospel of Christ.
- It is wholly an enormous falsehood.
- It is a swindle, obtaining money from its members under false pretenses.
- It refuses all examinations, and veils itself under a mantle of oath-bound secrecy.
- It is virtual conspiracy against both Church and State.
Some Fair Conclusions
No one, therefore, has ever undertaken to defend Freemasonry as judged by the above. Freemasons themselves do not pretend that their institution as revealed in reliable books, and by some of their own testimony, is compatible with Christianity. So it must follow that,
First, the Christian Church should have no fellowship with Freemasonry; and those who adhere intelligently and determinately to such an institution have no right to be in the Christian Church. We pronounce this judgment sorrowfully, but solemnly.
Second, should the question be asked, “What shall be done with the great number of professed Christians who are Freemasons?” I answer, let them have nothing more to do with it. Let it be distinctly pressed upon their consciences that all Masons, above the first two Degrees, have solemnly sworn to conceal each other’s crimes, murder and treason alone excepted; and that all above the sixth Degree have sworn to espouse each other’s cause, and to deliver them from any difficulty, whether right or wrong.
Third, if they have taken those Degrees where they have sworn to persecute unto death those who violate their Masonic obligations, let them be asked whether they really intend to do any such thing. Let them be distinctly asked whether they intend to aid and abet the administration and taking of these oaths. Or if they still intend to countenance the false and hypocritical teachings of Masonry. Or if they mean to countenance the profanity of their ceremonies, and the partiality of their sworn practice. If so, surely they should not be allowed their place in the Christian Church.
Fourth, can a man who has taken, and still adheres to the Master’s oath to conceal any secret crime of a brother of that Degree, murder and treason excepted, be a safe man with whom to entrust any public office? Can he be trusted as a witness, as a juror, or with any office connected with the administration of justice?
Fifth, can a man who has taken, and still adheres to, the oath of the Royal Arch Mason be trusted to public office? He swears to espouse the cause of a companion of this Degree when involved in any difficulty, so far as to extricate him, whether he be right or wrong. He swears to conceal his crimes, MURDER AND TREASON NOT EXCEPTED [emphasis in bold added]. Is such a man bound by such an oath to be trusted with office? Ought he to be accepted as a witness or juror when another Freemason is a party in the case? Ought he to be trusted with the office of Judge, or Justice of the Peace, or as a Sheriff, Constable, Marshal or any other office?
What Is Your Answer?
I appeal to your conscience in the sight of God, for an honest answer to these three questions:
- Is any man who is under a most solemn oath to kill all who violate any part of Masonic oaths, a fit person to be at large among men?
- Ought Freemasons of this stamp to be fellowshipped in the Christian Church?
- Do you believe that the sins of Masonic oaths are forgiven only to those who repent? And that we do not repent of those sins to which we still adhere? And that adherence makes us also partaker of other men’s sins?
“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from ALL sin.” “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure” (I John 1:17; 3:3).
https://www.isaiah54.org/finney.htm
(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faust
(2) https://www.quora.com/Are-the-Rotary-Club-and-Lions-Club-part-of-the-Freemasonry
(3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Grandison_Finney
All images © 2019 Susanne Schuberth
I understand what you are saying and I thank God that I am under His protection—-I came to experience Christ on a beach in Florida reading a Jehova witness book and at the time had no idea how false they were—Of course later on God disclosed to me the falseness of that group.
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Yes, Ken, I know myself that God can speak through anyone and anything if He wills. What I have seen when people have joined such clubs, cults or sects for decades, they have become completely blind toward the real God in Christ. Only a divine miracle will wake them up and make them see the truth. This, i.e. God’s intervention in their lives, has been my prayer for all those concerned.
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Yes we humans have damaged minds and need to let Christ do the thinkin
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Your comment really got me thinking, Ken! 🙂
I was just wondering about the full range of what the apostle Paul meant as he said that it was not longer him(self) who lived but Christ who lived in him (Gal 2:20). What did he mean? Was it Christ who thought instead of him, did Christ automatically act through him, or was it simply a moment by moment decision to listen to God’s leading that sprang from a much higher thought life we will never understand (Is 55:8-9)? 🙄 The following verses came to mind.
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Phil 4:7-8 ESV).
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My father’s side of the family were mostly Free Masons. I remember my cousins belonging to DeMolay and my aunts and grandmother were in Eastern Star. They were at one time all Southern Baptists as well (many in this denomination are Free Masons). My father was the only one that did not join the Masons that I know of, thank God. But for the most part there seemed to be a curse on that side of the family. There were many divorces and much alcoholism among them. I thank the Lord that He saw fit to raise me up out of a miry clay and set my feet upon the Rock. Apart from Christ being born anew within me I would surely be lost today.
Thank you Susanne for bringing this to our attention and I agree that many police, lawyers, judges, and rich business people belong to this group and encourage, advertise for and cover for each other. The ones that I have known that were of any higher level hated Christ and anyone who had His Spirit in them.
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You are very welcome, Michael.
I fully agree with your observations as to the consequences of belonging to Freemasonry and appendant bodies. I did not want to mention who belonged or still belongs to the Masons from people I have known/am/was related to, but I can say there were several divorces in one family, adultery and even suicide in another. When Masons die a normal death, it is impossible to tell them about God or Christ as Master Masons above a certain degree usually serve as ‘instead-of-Christ-priests’ when they celebrate their formalized black masses. If someone is interested in more details about another ex-mason (Jim Shaw) whose story can be found in the book ‘Deadly Deception’, here is an excerpt:
Click to access Shaw_-_A_Freemason_33Rd_Degree_Initiation.pdf
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Susanne, I read the article by Shaw. Praise the Lord that His Spirit is greater than he who is in the world, the prince of this world. Just reading about their “rights” was enough to make me feel sick. I have no desire to read anything more about them.
Like you shared above:
“…Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Amen!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
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Yes, no need to read more of this. It is painful for us who believe. 😥
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Susanne, after I commented above I prayed asking the Lord why that story written by Shaw concerning his time in the Free Masons effected me in a negative way. Surely a testamentary about Christ delivering a brother should be uplifting! Then He reminded me of the difference between a testimony and a testi-phony and how Paul only briefly spoke of his life before Jesus miraculously changed him into a heavenly man who was no longer focused on the kingdom of the Jews and their harsh religion. He only spoke of it then to set the stage so he could show the contrast of what it means to be born of the Spirit and of the Kingdom of God. I would say that the ratio was about 5% about his past life and 95% about Christ and His kingdom life within. THIS is what is wrong with most Christian testimonies these days, most of the time is spent focusing on their past lives, even glorifying the power of the devil for 95% of them and only giving Jesus an “honorable mention.”
“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
With this in mind they might have delivered of their former cult-ish bondage, but I often wonder how deep their spirit connection with Jesus really is. In effect they end up trading one religion for another.
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Michael, in fact, I read several testimonies of ex-masons lately and as I saw that they, whom I did not know, would find Jesus Christ I was very thankful at first. However, you are right and we both might know from our own experience: If someone is freed from one bondage, Satan won’t give up easily and will try to mislead us with another more or less similar deception. As Jesus once told us about the return of an unclean spirit,
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.” (Luke 11:23-26 ESV)
In Jim Shaw’s case it might have been the church into which his ophtalmologist (who had prayed for Jim and would show him Scriptures that revealed the truth) had invited Shaw.
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So true! Any time I hear a Christian boasting about their church and their pastor instead of glorifying Jesus and His positive effect in their lives, I get a check in my heart. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” A life changing relationship with Jesus will show in the speech of that person. Jesus is still The WORD of God and He still speaks through the Holy Spirit in the hearts of those who are His. In the testimony of all too many Christians today it is the world or they boast in “their pastor” and his words or “their church” as you and I have observed. Such immaturity! It reminds me of two kids arguing on the playground when one of them finally says, “My daddy can beat-up your daddy!” This is far from the heart of Christ who prayed, “Father, that they may all be one, even as we are one, I in you and you in me…” It is so wonderful to be one in them with you, dear sister. ❤
Michael
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Michael, I was just reminded of these verses,
“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Cor 3:1-9 ESV)
It is, indeed, a wonderful oneness in His Spirit we have experienced over the last five years, even in our comment threads on our blogs. ❤
Susanne
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One more sect of the Masons that needs light shown on what seems to be just a bunch or old men having fun in our parades, wearing funny hats and supporting a children’s hospital, “The Shriners.” This from Wikipedia:
“”In some traditions, the Shriner initiation requires an oath using the name of the Arabic word for God, Allah. This oath goes as follows:
“I do hereby, upon this Bible, and on the mysterious legend of the Koran, and its dedication to the Mohammedan faith, promise and swear and vow … that I will never reveal any secret part or portion whatsoever of the ceremonies … and now upon this sacred book, by the sincerity of a Moslem’s oath I here register this irrevocable vow … 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 the sterile shores of the Red Sea until the flaming sun shall strike me with 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. Amen. Amen. Amen.”[8]
Unlike all other Masonic Oaths and Obligations, the Shiner’s vow is simply an act of initiation and is no longer treated or thought of as sacred or secret.
Until 2000, before being eligible for membership in the Shrine, a Mason had to complete either the Scottish Rite or York Rite systems, but now any Master Mason can join.””
An oath is an oath and evil is still evil! Jesus had this to say about swearing oaths:
“Again, you have heard that it has been said by them of old time, You shall not perjure yourself, but shall perform unto the Lord your oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, because you can not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these comes from evil.” (Matt 5:33-37, KJ2000)
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Very good contribution, Michael! ⭐
Here is another excerpt from the website “Ex-Masons for Jesus”. Further below you can find these masonic oaths in all their blatant ugliness.
But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no, no; so that you may not fall under judgment. (James 5:12)
According to these New Testament passages, we are to swear no oaths at all. But let me point out in particular, one statement from the book of Matthew:
Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. (Matthew 5:36)
Consider the penalties of the obligations (Nevada ritual, circa 1984):
To all of which I do solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, without any hesitation, mental reservation, or secret evasion of mind in me whatsoever; binding myself under no less a penalty than that of having….
Entered Apprentice Degree: “..my throat cut across, my tongue torn out, and with my body buried in the sands of the sea at low-water mark, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four hours, should I ever knowingly or willfully violate this, my solemn Obligation of an Entered Apprentice.”
Fellow Craft Degree: “..my left breast torn open, my heart and vitals taken thence, and with my body given as a prey to the vultures of the air, should I ever knowingly, or willfully, violate this, my solemn Obligation of a Fellow Craft.”;
Master Mason Degree: “..my body severed in twain, my bowels taken thence, and with my body burned to ashes, and the ashes thereof scattered to the four winds of Heaven, that there might remain neither track, trace nor remembrance among man or Masons of so vile and perjured a wretch as I should be, should I ever knowingly or willfully violate this, my solemn Obligation of a Master Mason.”
And the ending for each of these obligations is:
“So help me, God, and make me steadfast to keep and perform the same.”
http://www.emfj.org/oaths.htm
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Wow, I had never read Finney’s writing before, although I have been aware for a long time of the nature of Freemasonry. Good points, good questions. Thank you!
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Thank you so much, Louise! ❤ That was a very encouraging comment. 🙂
I recall that I was wondering about the true nature of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit for many, many years until I found a description from Charles G. Finney’s experience that really hit home with me. If you are interested, I pasted it in this article here.
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Susanne, see my comment to you here: https://enteringthepromisedland.wordpress.com/2014/10/15/what-is-the-baptism-in-the-holy-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-19036
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Replied there, too. 😇
https://enteringthepromisedland.wordpress.com/2014/10/15/what-is-the-baptism-in-the-holy-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-19040
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Thank God for His mighty arms that protect us, and for His Holy Spirit that teaches us to discern what is right and wrong! Thank u for sharing, God Bless! 🙂
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You are very welcome, Sarah. Yes, it is the biggest blessing to be taught and led by His Spirit, even for free but never for nothing.
May God bless you, too. 🙂
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This was eye-opening, Susanne. Thank you. ❤
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You are most welcome, Anna. ❤
Thanks a lot for your feedback. Am encouraged! 👍🏻🤗
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Wow, gracias Susan por este tremendo artículo. Esto me da náuseas, la masonería está en toda la política en el mundo y muchos que dicen ser cristianos la apoyan. Abominable todo esto. Ven pronto Señor Jesús!!!
Adriana Patricia wrote,
“Wow, thank you Susan for this tremendous article. This nauseates me, Freemasonry is in all politics in the world and many who claim to be Christians support it. Abominable all this. Come soon Lord Jesus!!!”
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De nada, querida Patricia! 🙂 ¡Esa es una buena señal cuando los espíritus falsos despiertan una sensación de mareo en nuestro estómago, hermana mía, ya que sabemos que estamos siendo guiados por el Espíritu! Tienes razón, la masonería está en TODAS PARTES y, por desgracia, hay creyentes que, ignorante o no, apoyan al diablo como lo son los masones y los cristianos profesantes al mismo tiempo.
I answered her,
“You are very welcome, dear Patricia! 🙂 That is a good sign when false spirits arouse a queasy feeling in our stomach, my sister, since thus we know we are being Spirit-led! You are right, Freemasonry is EVERYWHERE and, alas, there are believers who, ignorant or not, support the devil as they are Masons and professing Christians at the same time.”
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Thanks for the link to my blog, Fred.
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