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When the lodge has a grip on a churchWhen a congregation has been spiritually compromised in a substantial way and the congregation as a whole, as well as those who stand as spiritual leaders, have demonstrated a stubborn willingness not only to tolerate, but to defend grievous error, it is necessary to confront both the congregation and its leaders in order to avoid judgment. Potential new members, as well as those members who were not present when the nature of compromise was previously shared with the congregation, have a right to information which will allow them to evaluate the spiritual climate in the congregation and the spiritual integrity of leadership.
An Open Letter to Northside Baptist Church (Sept, 1999)(3021 East 71st St. - Indianapolis, Indiana 46220) God's people have made a move from one location to another at various times. Perhaps the most remembered move was the time when the people of Israel moved into the promised land. The move took a number of years to come to fruition. First, God led the children of Israel out of Egypt into the wilderness. In the wilderness they became ensnared in the worship of false gods. It happened at the very time at which God was giving Moses the Ten Commandments on the mountain. God told Moses:
God was greatly angered at the people because He is a jealous God. As a
result of their idolatry, many of the people were killed. God struck the remainder of them
with a plague. (Exodus 32:35) Moses, too, was guilty of disobedience. He struck the rock
twice with his rod to cause water to flow from it, rather than simply speak to it as God
had told him to do. As a result of Moses' disobedience, he was not allowed to enter the
promised land. (Numbers 20:11-12) Even though the people of Israel were not right with
God, Moses was faithful in revealing God's will to them. Godly leadership, provided by
imperfect men, played a part in leading the people to repentance. Modern Day IdolatryThe people of Northside Baptist Church are considering a move from one
location to another. Is the new location the promised land for Northside? Like the people
of Israel, the people of Northside are sending a group to scout the new land. The man
named as chairman of the land acquisition team is a member of the Ancient Arabic Order,
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. (A.A.O.N.M.S.) He is a Shriner. The Shrine and its ritual are
centered around an Islamic motif. The Murat Shrine, where the rituals are enacted,
displays the crescent moon of Islam boldly on the building. The jewelry which Shriners
often wear, as well as other Shrine emblems, also display the crescent moon, a star and
the scimitar. The scimitar is the large knife which Muhammad used to kill those who
worshipped other gods in his drive to rid the Kaaba of idolatry.
Muhammad and Islam decreed death to all those who do not worship Allah. Allah is one of
the many gods which were worshipped by the pagans surrounding the Kaaba. Allah was
chosen for unique worship simply because he was the Supreme Deity of the pagan
Bedouin people. The people of Islam were no better off after Muhammad "purged
idolatry" from the Kaaba than they were before, because they simply exchanged
the worship of one demon for another. Shrine Ritual and the Rites of LuciferA portion of the Shrine ritual is similar to L'Air Epais, one of the Rites of Lucifer. LAir Epais is documented in The Satanic Rituals, a book authored by Anton LaVEY - the founder of the Church of Satan. LaVEY examined the Shrine ritual and recognized elements of LAir Epais within it. He wrote:
Some at Northside, like LaVEY, would not admit that the Shrine ritual
contains heresy. Yet, both Allah and the Devil are demons. Naming Allah as God is no less
serious than naming the Devil as God. It does not avoid, or diminish heresy. Islam is a
demonic religion which denies the Deity of Jesus Christ.
The Structure of FreemasonryMembership in the Shrine is available to those who hold membership in a Masonic Blue Lodge as well as membership in either the York Rite, or Scottish Rite. Heresy is not confined to the Shrine. Many Masons claim that the York Rite contains the Christian degrees. Yet the first York Rite degree is opened in the name of God and Hiram Abif, the Masonic savior. Ties to Lucifer, the Serpent, the Devil, etc., are not unique to the Shrine. They are found in Scottish Rite publication as well as those recommended by Grand Lodges, the authorities of Freemasonry. The Holy Spirit of the Scottish RiteA Bridge to Light is an official publication of the Supreme Council, 33rd Degree Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, published in 1988. In the description for the 28th Degree, Knight of the Sun, the furnishings of the room in which the degree is conveyed are explained:
The drawing of the dualistic Masonic god, with the serpent devouring his own tail is shown on page 252.
Tying Lucifer to the Grand LodgesThe idea that the serpent is the Holy Spirit is not unique to Scottish Rite Freemasonry. The authorities of Freemasonry, the Grand Lodges, point the way to the deeper teachings of the craft, while attempting at the same time to maintain plausible deniability. Yet, when the evidence is on the table, the character of Freemasonry is obvious to those with an ounce of discernment. One of the introductory books used by Grand Lodges is The Builders, a book written by Joseph Fort Newton at the request of the Grand Lodge of Iowa. Many Grand Lodges recommend the book and some issue a copy to all new Master Masons. In Indiana, the Grand Lodge points to The Builders in the Indiana Monitor and Freemason's Guide. The Indiana Monitor is issued to all new Master Masons in Indiana. It recommends The Builders, with the words:
The Builders contains a glowing three page tribute to Arthur Edward Waite, in a chapter titled The Secret Doctrine. Newton writes the following:
The Mysteries of Magic contains the following teaching concerning the nature of Lucifer:
The next paragraph goes on to explain that the Devil does not exist:
Freemasonry denies worshiping Satan. The mindset is easy to understand: The devil simply does not exist; Lucifer is not the devil, but rather the Holy Spirit. Grand Lodges point to Lucifer
Grand Lodge members at NorthsideAll Masons are members of the Grand Lodge. Most likely, some of the Masons
who are members of Northside Baptist Church have not read The Satanic Rituals, A Bridge to
Light, The Builders, or The Mysteries of Magic. Yet, were they led by the Holy Spirit they
would know that Freemasonry is incompatible with Christianity based on the ritual
teachings in the Blue Lodge.
The meaning of the ritual is clearly explained: Masons are to imitate Hiram Abiff that they may welcome death and be translated into heaven. Masonic Savior - Tolerated at NorthsideWhen a man is raised to Master Mason, he is given a small book called a monitor. Monitors are produced and are distributed at the direction of the authorities of Freemasonry, the Grand Lodges. The 8th through 13th editions of the monitor used by The Grand Lodge of Kentucky, The Kentucky Monitor, reveal the identity of Hiram Abiff in a discussion of various religions:
The meaning is perfectly clear. Masonry teaches that Jesus is not unique. Jesus is a savior for Christians and Krishna is a savior for Hindus, while Hiram Abiff is a savior for Masons. The Meaning of Masonry, by Lynn Perkins, clarifies the teaching:
The evidence concerning the existence of a Masonic savior has been shared
with many within the Northside Baptist congregation. As a congregation, the position
toward Freemasonry has been to condone and even defend it. Leadership at Northside Baptist
Church has maintained a working relationship with Freemasons for many years after the
facts were proven using Masonic Grand Lodge documents. It seems not to matter to the
spiritual leaders of the congregation, or to the members that Freemasonry has
another savior and worships a false god. Those who have participated in the rituals and
have portrayed Hiram Abif as he is killed, buried and raised from the grave continue to be
considered for membership, as well as for prominent positions with the congregation,
including deacon. Some of the leaders have gone so far as to imply that those who oppose
the idolatry and false gospel of Freemasonry are demon possessed! Those who speak for
Northside Baptist cannot defend the ground they hold against truth, so they attempt to
shoot the messenger. It is a common tactic of those who do not want to repent. Northside
is, in every sense, a Masonic church. To the Church at Pergamum He said:
To the church at Thyatira He said:
Although we have men present who have met in secret to engage in ritual which teaches salvation on the basis of imitating Hiram Abif, we hear messages from our pulpit about Northside being a cutting edge church and a church that can change the world. The truth of the matter is that the congregation at Northside is a congregation which has embraced the world and has formed an alliance with those who are ensnared in paganism and promote a false gospel which is based on another savior. Northside Baptist Church has become corrupted and compromised. The congregation at Northside has offered sanctuary to those who worship false gods and lift up another savior. Obviously, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and worship of the one true God simply are not that important to many at Northside. Although all genuine Christians are convicted that the Gospel is worth defending, Northside Baptists have not contended for the faith as the Holy Spirit urged in Jude 3. Many at Northside do not consider the Masonic issue worth pursuing. Some would have the Masons in our midst go to hell without hearing God's will concerning Freemasonry voiced from our pulpit. Others would claim that participating in idolatry within the Masonic Lodge and taking part in a ritual in which another savior is portrayed as killed, buried and raised from the grave will not have an impact on a Southern Baptist's salvation. Yet Ephesians 5:5 tells a different story. No idolator will enter the kingdom of heaven. Galatians 1:8-9 explains clearly that the consequence of teaching a false gospel is condemnation. Repentance is the only path to Gods forgiveness. Does the lampstand remain?There is a remnant at Northside who have not actively embraced compromise,
or defended error. Yet, very few of that remnant are able to claim that they do not
tolerate that which God hates. Almost all who know the truth remain silent. That silence
is evidence of tolerance. Will God hold them blameless? Will He declare that they are
lukewarm? Why will He consider them zealous for truth if they are not?
Charles Finney was only one of many voices condemning Freemasonry during the 19th century. Another evangelist of the period was Dwight L. Moody. Moody spoke clearly on the issue as well:
Scripture makes it clear; the penalty for silence is particularly severe for those who are considered watchmen:
The sword is coming. The congregation at Northside is poised to meet the cutting edge. Is there anyone in leadership who will break ranks and sound a warning, or will they all stand before God with blood on their hands? What will Jesus do if He returns to find us standing shoulder to shoulder with men who meet in secret to lift up another savior? Larry Kunk, member, Northside Baptist Church Download PDF source document file Copyright 1999 Ephesians 5:11, Inc. Publication on another web site is prohibited.
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