THE UNEQUAL YOKE
(Continued from p.19.)
"Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?" (2 Cor. 6:14-16). "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [expose] them" (Eph. 5:11).
Peter, in his first epistle, says:"He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation" [manner of living], quoting from Lev. 11:45:"Be ye holy, for I am holy."
With Israel, separation from the nations was strictly enjoined, no alliances were to be made, national or individual; those who bore the name of Jehovah must reflect His holy character. Neglect in carrying out the plain instructions of Deuteronomy (disobedience to the Word of God), brought upon Israel God's governmental hand in judgment, and caused them to perish as a nation. Their present condition should speak loudly to the children of God to-day. A holy God has called us to reflect His character, and tread a path of entire separation from all that is contrary to Himself.
The scripture already quoted from 2 Corinthians is far reaching in its application. It is often used in relation to the marriage tie, and rightly so, surely, since this is the closest of earthly relationships. How can two walk together except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3). What sorrow, what disaster, has been occasioned by disobedience to this plain scripture! We can never violate a scripture principle without dire results. The reader would do well in this connection to secure a booklet from the Publishers, "The Unequal Yoke," by C. H. M., 6 cts.
Then how could a believer have fellowship in the light (1 John 1), and partake of the holy emblems of the Lord's Supper, thus announcing participation with Christ in death, and belong to any secret organization? Scripture says, "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." How then can a believer belong to an association whose rules demand utmost secrecy, under oath?
Take, for instance, what is best known:"Freemasonry." This may be a beneficial organization for a man of the world, but for a child of God to link himself with it, is a total denial of his heavenly calling, if not worse.
It is admittedly an anti-Christian organization, for one of its recognized best authorities, Albert G. Mackey (a voluminous writer in support of Masonry), says in his "Encyclopedia" (pp. 640, 641), "I contend without any sort of hesitation, that Masonry is, in every sense of the word, except one, and that its least philosophical, an eminently religious institution, that it is indebted to the religious element which it contains for its continued existence, and that without its religious element, it would scarcely be worthy of cultivation by the wise and good." On page 641 the writer continues:"The religion of Freemasonry…. .is not Christianity." If that be so, then Freemasonry is a false religion. On the same page of the Encyclopedia he says, "The religion of Freemasonry is not sectarian. It admits men of every creed within its hospitable bosom, rejecting none and approving none for his peculiar faith. It is not Judaism… it is not Christianity." So, Christianity is treated as a sectarian religion and put in the same category as Judaism, Buddhism, Brahmanism and Mohammedanism!
Moreover, the God of Masonry is not the God of the Bible. Their prayers are offered not to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, but to the G. A. O. T. U.; Masonry's technical name for their God!
In a book by Hislop, "Two Babylons" (easily procurable as it is still in print), we read the following:"It is admitted that the secret system of Freemasonry was t originally founded on the mysteries of the Egyptian Isis, the goddess-mother, or wife of Osiris. But what could have led to the union of a Masonic body with those mysteries, had they not had particular reference to architecture, and had the god who was worshiped in them not been celebrated for his success in perfecting the art of fortification building?" In view of the foregoing, it must surely be admitted that no Christian could possibly link himself with such an organization and be a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ!
That many are ensnared in it, not knowing its character, is admitted, but any believer who would consent to rule out all mention of the Name which is above every name, has compromised in the saddest way. Scripture says of this and every other worldly association, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing."
Does not the promise to the faithful doer of the Word suffice? "I will receive you, and will be a Father to you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord, Almighty." Paul to the Ephesians wrote:"Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them" (chap. 5:11). Let us then seek grace, not to compromise our heavenly calling, but "walking in the light as He is in the light, have fellowship one with another." J. W. H. N.