Which pastors are masons

I am still in the midst of this investigation, but so far, what has become apparent is that while there were and likely are a number of Baptists among the freemasons Southern Baptist estimates as of were between , and , members of both SBC churches and masonic lodges , since the end of the 18th century, Baptists began to question the relationship between freemasonry and Christianity.

Was it possible for a Christian or a Baptist to simultaneously be active as a Christian and at the same time be a freemason? To date I have been unable to find any serious scholarship on Baptists and freemasonry. So, I decided to write an essay on this topic. It has been eye-opening to be sure. At this point, I have not fully answered the question of the title to this essay either in my own mind or in writing—Can a Christian be a faithful believer and be a freemason?

In the process of studying the Baptist relationship with freemasonry, I discovered a useful essay on this very question from the Gospel Coalition early last year. Both offer very helpful critiques of freemasonry. I will leave to a sovereign God the determination of who is in the faith and who is not. The more I study of freemasonry, the less compatible with Christianity it seems. More to follow. Jeff is an experienced professor of Christian history and theology.

In , the Lord gave Jeff and his wife a wonderful son who has special needs. Due to issues related to the pandemic, Jeff has had to curtail his travel plans to concentrate his energies on loving his wife and son.

When things change, Jeff hopes to again travel internationally to train Christian leaders. He continues to publish in the field of American religion. Research interests include Baptists and slavery, racism, and freemasonry as well as Pentecostalism, and global Christianity.

Jeff has taught around the world including Canada where he resided with his family for his first nineteen years of ministry; Romania, Russia and the Ukraine in Europe; India and a limited access country in Asia; as well as Zambia and Kenya in Africa.

He also speaks in US churches as the opportunities arise. Sword of the Lord, Of 21 grandsons of the Baptist grandfather, only one followed in his footsteps into the masons. As for RC opposition to the masons—that stems mostly from the fact that masons historically would not let RCs join—so the RCC started its own fraternal lodge—the knights of Columbus.

But I suspect you already know all this. I recommend both works Doug included in 2 and 3. I am not familiar with the others. The one by John R. Kuiper, Oscar Holkeboer, Arthur O. Olson, Robert A. This pamphlet appears to have been out of print for some time. Alva J. McClain was the founding president of Grace Theological Seminary and Grace College and served in that capacity from until his retirement in , when he was named president emeritus.

In addition, he served as professor of Christian theology at Grace Theological Seminary. And what does a believer have to do with an unbeliever? I have studied this topic since I have many books on the topic by reputable sources. I would like to help you explore this topic. Please call, John Dudley. I am wondering where can we get a list of southern Batiste members. Do you know if Al Mahler is a Freemason? Thanks for taking the time to reply in advance.

I have been studying this topic recently.. I have read part 1 and 2 of this essay. I found it interesting. I am a Freemason of about 10 years and a Christian. Upon being made a Mason I was given a King James Masonic Bible which I assure you is no different from the King James Bible my godfather gave me when I was baptized many years ago in the Episcopal Church—it just has a square and compass on the front and a short introduction.

The books within are all the same word for word. What the gift of the Bible taught me was that the Bible is what is most important, not what any man , woman , or church or denomination tells you it says or does not say. The Bible matters! Perhaps I am more of a Baptist now than anything else because of the respect Baptists show for the Bible. With that, the reason the subjects of politics and religion are not discussed in lodge is because people of different denominations and faiths belong to the lodge.

We admit men of high character and strong morals. All individuals who visit are deserving of kindness and respect. Masonry may not be for everyone, but know that it is a worthwhile organization for its members and does a lot of good in society with our hospitals and charities.

Andy, when you mentioned that other denominations and faiths belong to the Lodge, I assume this would include Mormons, Muslims or anyone who professes faith in God or a god. If this be true, then the God or Great Architect of the Universe, that is taught in Masonic Rites would have to be a universal god so that all faiths could adopt it as their god when performing the said rites.

This seems to be in disagreement with what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians and 17 about being yoked with unbelievers and separating from those who are not following the living God and professing Jesus Christ as Lord.

As you well know, there is only one God. All others are false gods. If you are not free to discuss religion in the lodge then how can you fulfill the Great Commission and tell those lodge brothers that Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Respectfully, Matt Chaffin. Your email address will not be published. Sign up for JeffStraub. Submit Comment. Baptists and Freemasonry?

Doug Kutilek on February 5, at pm. Jeff on February 5, at pm. Jacob said the initial response to Freemasonry in continental Europe, particularly in Catholic Europe, was suspicion from seeing "all these men [from] different neighborhoods, different professions meeting in the cafe, breaking bread together, doing rituals, what could this be? Political conspiracy or religion. In the Catholic Church condemned Freemasonry, and has since issued about 20 decrees -- directly or indirectly -- against the fraternity.

Freemasonry is not a religion per se, but agnostics or atheists cannot belong, said Brent Morris, a Masonic historian, editor of the Scottish Rite Journal , and a 33rd degree Freemason. The Catholics would get in power and beat up on the Protestants; the Protestants would get in power and beat up on the Catholics; and everyone was beating up on the Jews. So could an atheist join? No, said James Sullivan, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York: "The reason we, I think in the past, wanted somebody that had a belief in a supreme being is because we take certain obligation to be a good man, to support the fraternity.

And if you didn't have a belief in a supreme being, the obligation would mean nothing. Of the 56 figures who signed the Declaration of Independence, only nine were confirmed Masons, according to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania ; and of the 39 delegates of the Continental Congress who signed the draft of the new nation's Constitution in , only 13 one-third were Freemasons.

The back of the dollar bill features an incomplete pyramid with an eye on top of it. Many people -- including some Freemasons -- say it's a Masonic symbol, but that's not the case. UCLA's Margaret Jacob says these symbols have been used by many different groups, including Masons, throughout history.

Brent Morris said there are two types of people who want to promote the idea that the symbols are Masonic: "The pro-Masons and the anti-Masons -- and that pretty well covers the universe. The uncompleted pyramid [which also appeared on a pound Colonial note] represented that our country was not yet completed, that we were continuing to grow. The Shriners known formally as the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine , the charity organization best known in the popular mind for driving tiny cars in parades, are an off-shoot of the Masons.