When a person is invited and initiated into the Entered Apprentice degree of the Freemason Blue Lodge, he is required to acknowledge that up to that moment, he was in darkness, and that he seeks the light.
That means even for the Christian who pledges to this deceptive fraternity, he has to confess that he is in darkness, even if he claimed to have the light of Jesus Christ. And agree that Freemasonry is the path to knowledge and light.
Many join Freemasonry for different reasons. It is a good business move. Masons take care of their own. And many business dealings under Freemasonry is done as a brotherhood to give another a “square deal.” Also allows one to connect to a network. May even get you judicial leverage. But many admire the secrecy and prestige of having been initiated into the fraternity.
However, Masons advancing to come out of darkness and obtain light are still in darkness. They do not know what is ahead in the further degrees, and the secrets yet held from them that the Adept degrees alone are privy.
Those who choose to remain a Blue Lodge Mason do not know the purpose, intent, nor goal of their Craft. They are fed a deception and considered unworthy of receiving further information (Albert Pike, Morals and Dogma).
The average Mason is ignorant of the real meaning of Masonic symbols, the esoteric teachings, and the goal of their organization/fraternity/Secret Society. Many just join for a good business strategy.
Albert Pike, one of Freemason’s prolific writers, revealed that lower-level Masons are intentionally deceived. And that the initiation Blue Lodge degrees are merely an outer court, as he is misled by false interpretation to understand.
The Blue Degrees are but the outer court or portico of the Temple. Part of the symbols are displayed there to the Initiate, but he is intentionally misled by false interpretations. It is not intended that he shall understand them; but it is intended that he shall imagine he understands them.
This deception puts a Mason in a peculiar predicament. As one saying he is in Masonry to receive light, he is intentionally deceived. Therefore the intention of deception that is evil puts a Mason into conflict with truth, and causes him to walk in darkness.
[Luk 11:34-35] 34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when [thine eye] is evil, thy body also [is] full of darkness. 35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
Nonetheless, a Freemason is not totally ignorant of the ritual. The Christian Mason is told it is just formality and allegory. Therefore sees nothing wrong with admitting he is ignorant, in darkness, and needs the light of Freemasonry for salvation. Yet he should realize. The blindfold ritual is an indication something is wrongly concealed. The reciting of threat of death for exposing its secrets is another. Standing before someone they call “Worshipful Master” should send warning to one’s conscience that he has divided his worship with another. And initiations into further secrets should be reason enough to question the mystery of this group. Yet many Pastors and clergy join Masonic Lodges, and see nothing wrong with it.
The light of Christ should be sufficient.
[1Jo 1:4-7] 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
The mass of the Masonic fellowship is ignorant to their true purpose and the esoteric meaning (Roland Blackmore). The only answer they know to give when questioned about their rituals is to say it is about the brotherhood of man and “making good men better.” Other than that few know the meaning of the rituals and symbols.
The goal of Freemasonry is this. To bring about a universal league of mankind and to form a mankind into a great redemptive brotherhood.” (Joseph Ford Newton). As Masonry expands, all religious dogmas will cease, all individual creeds and doctrines will be done away with, and what remains will be the “One Eternal Religion” that Masons intend on bringing to the world. It teaches that all non-Masons are living in darkness, and that only enlightenment of the light of Masonry can save man. And that only true Masons are enlightened to live in truth.
This means that Christianity is a facade to work within and use it to be accepted, and that it waters down Christian beliefs by presenting esoteric allegorical deistic ideas in order to weaken the person’s faith and bring him to bow before Freemasonry for salvation. It actually is an opposition of Christianity.
And eventually one is to realize the true name of God has been hidden, and the Great Architect is revealed. Adept level Masons know who the Light-Bearer of Freemasonry really is. It is the Masonic god. And that is not God /Adonai of the Bible, nor salvation through Jesus Christ.