Eric Barger: Freemasonry – Echo Zoe Ministries

Eric Barger

This month I spoke with Eric Barger of “Take a Sand Ministries” on the subject of Freemasonry. Eric has been a Christian apologist for nearly three decades, and addresses the Cults, World Religions, the Occult, Spiritual Warfare, and troubling unbiblical trends and doctrinal issues facing the church today. He's authored several books, travels the country speaking to churches and Christian groups, and hosts his own radio show called “Take a Stand! with Eric Barger.”

Many of us know Christians who are involved in Freemasonry, and wonder what the organization is all about. Eric sheds light on this secretive organization and explains the occultic and anti-Christian practices that go on, as well as the dangers that Freemasonry poses to Christians.

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Discussion Outline

Freemasonry is viewed by many (if not most people) as a benevolent fraternal organization that seeks to do charitable work within their community, but there is much more to the organization, and it has a lot of religious aspects to it, which are not in line with orthodox Christianity.
Many Freemasons consider their lodge to be their church.
The only religious requirement to become a Freemason is that a candidate for membership hold to a belief in a god.
Freemasonry contends that it got its start in ancient Egypt, but the earliest records that can be found trace it back to 18th century France.
Freemasonry has two tracks that members follow: the York Rite and (more popularly) the Scottish Rite. Each has several degrees that members progress through.
The first three degrees, regardless of Rite, are called the “Blue Lodge”.
Many Bible-believing organizations and church denominations have forbidden their members and clergy from participating in secret societies, including Freemasonry. Some examples include: The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), The Assemblies of God, The Reformed Presbyterian Church of America, The Church of God – Cleveland Tennessee, the Four Square Church, and others.
Eric read some of the covenants that initiates must swear to enter into the first three degrees of Masonry. The rituals they go through are often downplayed as mere formality for initiation into the organization, but don't look so good when held up to the light of Scripture.
Among the reasons Eric argues that Freemasonry is incompatible with Christianity, he explains that the first thing new members must do is swear a secret oath. The Bible speaks against the swearing of oaths; Jesus said to let your “yes” be “yes” and let your “no” be “no”, that anything that goes beyond this comes from the Evil One. These oaths involve death curses, and are quite grotesque in nature.
The Shriners (the guys with the red fez hats) are the top level of Freemasonry.
In Christian countries, members that complete the third degree are given a Masonic King James Bible.
The maroon fez that Shriners wear can be traced back to a battle waged by Muslims on a Christian town in medieval Turkey in which a Muslim soldier dipped his hat in the blood of Christians that he had killed. That hat also has a crescent moon and a sword on it, both symbols of Islam.
The god of Freemasonry is a composite of Jehovah, Baal, and Osiris, and is referred to as Jahbulon.
Eric listed several of the names of various Masonic temples in the US to illustrate that they often have names that are tied to Islam.
Influential authors within Freemasonry freely admit their connection to the Occult, and occultic leaders leaders such as Anton Lavey (author of the Satanic bible) recognize the Occultic practices within Freemasonry.
Membership is drawn by invitation, and members tend to be those who are civic and business-minded.
Eric defends American Founding Fathers accused of being involved in Freemasonry, including Washington, John & Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and others. Washington was involved in his youth, but never attended a Masonic Lodge in the last 30 years of his life, and spoke out many times against the Masons.
Several reasons Eric views Freemasonry as a religious institution:
- The leaders is called a “worshipful master”.
- The meeting place is called the Temple.
- Initiates must believe there is a god.
- Masonry instructs about its god as members progress to higher degrees.
- Masons sing worship songs.
- Each meeting begins with prayer.
- The use religious books.
- Mansonry is Universalistic.
Eric advises to approach each Freemason differently, based on where they are, to share the dangers of their organization and compare it to Christianity. He offers some points though: share Jesus' words in Matthew 5:37, and encourage them to investigate the claims he (Eric) and others make about Freemasonry.
Freemasonry and Mormonism have many similarities. Joseph Smith was a Freemason, and many of the temple rituals for Mormonism were lifted directly out of Freemasonry.