A Crack in the Masonry

No, we are not speaking of a wall or building of any sort, usually associated with brick masonry. We refer rather to that organization consisting of Freemasons, the Masonic Lodge. It is of some interest to note that this secret society for the past few decades has been on the decline, and its membership is now only half of what it was 50 years ago. Part of its appeal in the past was to man’s ego, hinting that being a Mason was sort of a status symbol. Popular among a certain segment of the population, it was not popular with those who take the Christian religion seriously. Confessional Christians have always found Masonry to be incompatible with the Christian faith, which teaches that in Christ alone is man's salvation.

Though the Masonic Lodge’s 1.8 million members may still have some influence behind the seats of power, their impact is waning. There is “a crack in the Masonry.” An example of its waning influence can be seen in Africa where the Kenya Presbyterian Church has had some success in eliminating Masonic symbols from certain churches and government buildings. A congregation in Illinois, having taken over a Masonic temple, was about to remove the Masonic symbols when the state stepped in to preserve the historic character of the building. However, the members of the church were permitted to cover those symbols that offended their Christian belief. The symbols in themselves are inoffensive except for their association with a false religion. At any rate, whether the symbols are removed or just covered, it would seem to indicate “a crack in the Masonry.”

WWLD, or “What Would Luther Do?”

The issue of homosexuality in this country has come to the point where opposition to such behavior can disqualify a person from serving in public office. And the observation was made in a recent issue of Time magazine, “On what issue is history moving faster than on ‘gay rights,’” meaning that it is fast heading for public acceptance in American life. In view of what is becoming an unfavorable social climate for those who oppose this licentious lifestyle, a writer in Christianity Today poses the question: “Where does this leave biblical Christians? We may soon come to the point where supporting a secular ethic based on an orthodox reading of Scripture becomes part of our cross to bear.”

In their efforts to create a climate of tolerance for “gay” orientation, some activists among religious liberals have attempted to enlist Martin Luther in support of their cause. It may be termed “WWLD: What Would Luther Do?” So there appeared an article in USA Today that asked whether Luther would take such a negative view of homosexuality today and concluded, “Most probably, given the way his theological mind worked, he would not.” What was the reasoning behind this conclusion? The writer claimed that Luther was simply “a product of the social prejudice of his time and culture,” a time when such a lifestyle “was still unheard of.”

When Luther said: “The vice of the Sodomites is an unparalleled enormity,” it was not because of his being “a product of the social prejudice of his time.” It was because he knew how God’s Word viewed it. And when he said, “Whence comes this perversion? Without a doubt, it comes from the devil,” he could not care less what his contemporary culture thought. He was concerned about what God thought, and this he knew from His Word. Luther, his mind being captive to God's unchanging Word, would say the same today as he said centuries ago: “The cure must come from within outward, not from without inward... Faith can subdue and check it so that it must give place to the Spirit” (Plass, What Luther Says, Vo1. 1, p. 136).

Spirituality And Happiness

An Associated Press and MTV survey found that young people (ages 13-24) who described themselves as quite religious tend to be happier than those who don’t consider themselves religious or spiritual. Should this “discovery” surprise us? Does not the Bible say that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6)? The poll found that, on the whole, many American young people found religion to be a vital part of their lives.

There are, of course, many variables in such a poll, and it can be interpreted in various ways. Sociologists would draw a connection between happiness and a sense of belonging that is found in a religious community. There is something to be said for that. But the survey did not indicate what is the greatest source of happiness, namely the heart and center of the Christian faith—the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal salvation in Jesus Christ. That is not just a passing emotion or an imagined happiness. It is a divine reality. We hope that many who participated in the survey spoke from this perspective.

Paul Madson is a retired pastor living in North Mankato, Minnesota.