Can you explain exactly why a christian becoming a Mason is forbidden because I know some men serve both as christian pastors in churches and Freemasons wearing their medals in lodges?

Sincerely,
Double Duty

Dear Double Duty,

Freemasonry is an organization that arose in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.  The rules of this society are many and exceptionally complex – far too much to be addressed in this particular post.  However, they are definitely a religious organization (regardless of what they might tell you to the contrary).  Their beliefs center around the Bible’s teachings on the building of Solomon’s temple and the role of the masons in that construction.  They use the building of the temple as an allegory for how to live.  This is a perversion of the Scriptures – exactly like what Paul warned us against (Gal 1:6-8).  The Freemasons veil religious beliefs under the guise of an innocent society.  They take a portion of God’s Word and throw out the rest.  This is in contradiction to the Scriptures (Ps 119:160).  A christian should never be a Freemason.

There are those who believe that the two are compatible, but this is typically because they haven’t reached a level of the Masonry organization that reveals the occult and anti-Scripture practices involved in the organization.  Ignorance is the reason for most involvement with Freemasonry, but it isn’t an excuse.  Everyone is responsible for seeking the truth for themselves (Php 2:12) and testing all teaching against Scripture (1 Jn 4:1).

5 minutes a day
5 days a week
1 New Testament in a year

There are 261 weekdays in a year, and there are 260 chapters in the New Testament. By reading one chapter, Monday through Friday, you will read the whole New Testament by the end of the year. The Daily Cup series is to help with that goal.

Happy Studying!

"The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup." -- Psalm 16:5

Click here for a pdf of the study schedule - CLICK HERE

Thank you so much for this wonderful site!  It is a blessing and a great tool for Bible study!  My question is: how exactly are we supposed to examine ourselves before and while participating in the Lord's Supper (1 Cor 11:26-29)?

Sincerely,
Looking In The Mirror

Dear Looking In The Mirror,

When Paul told us to examine ourselves before taking the Lord’s Supper, he used a very unique word.  ‘Examine’ means ‘to try or test for genuiness’.  The Greek word for ‘examine’ is sometimes translated ‘prove’, ‘discern’, and ‘test’.  It is a word that was used when someone examined precious metals to see whether or not they were genuine.

God doesn’t give any specific method for examining ourselves.  We are supposed to contemplate and use introspection to examine whether our lives are genuinely dedicated to Christ.  We can know whether our lives are faithful by the fruits we are bearing (Matt 7:16-20).  When you get ready to take the Lord’s Supper next Sunday (Acts 20:7), ask yourself what kind of life you have lived this week.  Examine your life and whether or not it genuinely belongs to Christ, and you will have fulfilled the commandment of 1 Cor 11:28.

5 minutes a day
5 days a week
1 New Testament in a year

There are 261 weekdays in a year, and there are 260 chapters in the New Testament. By reading one chapter, Monday through Friday, you will read the whole New Testament by the end of the year. The Daily Cup series is to help with that goal.

Happy Studying!

"The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup." -- Psalm 16:5

Click here for a pdf of the study schedule - CLICK HERE

Is lying in a life or death situation a sin?

Sincerely,
In A Pinch

Dear In A Pinch,

God hates lying (Pr 6:16-17), but you don’t have to tell everyone everything about your life.  Even Jesus ignored his brothers’ request to know His comings and goings on occasion (Jhn 7:8-10).  Jesus never lied (Tit 1:2, Heb 4:15), but He did deflect their question because what He did or didn’t do, wasn’t any of there business.  In a life or death situation, you have every right to deflect someone from the truth in order to preserve life.

It is worth noting that good christians are of mixed opinions on this issue.  Some believe it would be perfectly appropriate to flat out lie because you would be protecting human life – which is the greater good.  Other christians believe that it would be better to die and go to face God without lying.  Both sides have good arguments, and in such extreme circumstances, each person would need to choose what they believed was the most faithful and godly option.