Can a Christian Be a Freemason?

Grand lodges answer yes. They say Freemasonry is a fraternity, not a religion, and that it admits men of any faith who believe in a Supreme Being. Most churches that have issued an official text answer no, or advise against it. They point to the lodge’s altar, its prayers to the Great Architect of the Universe, its oaths, and a ritual that speaks of being “raised to the faith of salvation.” The Southern Baptist Convention left the decision to each member’s conscience.

Key Points

• United Grand Lodge of England (1): “It cannot be too strongly asserted that Masonry is neither a religion nor a substitute for religion.”
• Albert Mackey (3), 1874: Masonry is “an eminently religious institution.”
• Albert Pike (4), 1871: “Every Masonic Lodge is a temple of religion; and its teachings are instruction in religion.”
• Orthodox Presbyterian Church (7), 1942: “Masonry is a religious institution and as such is definitely anti-Christian.”
• Catholic Church (9), 1983: members “are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.”

What Grand Lodges Say

The United Grand Lodge of England says Masonry “seeks to inculcate in its members a standard of conduct and behaviour which it believes to be acceptable to all creeds, but studiously refrains from intervening in the field of dogma or theology.” (1) The Grand Lodge of Texas says, “Masonry is not a religion,” and “Religion and politics are two subjects not allowed to be discussed when a lodge is in session.” (2)

What Masonic Writers Have Said

Two of the best-known American Masonic writers used stronger words. Mackey wrote, “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.” (3) Pike wrote, “Every Masonic Lodge is a temple of religion; and its teachings are instruction in religion.” (4) Neither writer speaks for a grand lodge today, and Pike’s own preface calls his teachings “not sacramental.”

What the Ritual Says

Duncan’s 1866 text of the Master Mason degree says the Master Mason “represents a man under the doctrine of love, saved from the grave of iniquity, and raised to the faith of salvation” (pp. 126–127) (5). Elsewhere the text speaks of “that celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the universe presides” (p. 50) (5). The Assemblies of God bylaws say confidence in secret orders “has always tended toward the embracing of a false hope of salvation through good works and improved moral service” (12). Jesus said, “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6John 14:6 · King James VersionJesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.John 14:6 · King James VersionOpen source) (10), and Peter preached, “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12Acts 4:12 · King James VersionNeither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.Acts 4:12 · King James VersionOpen source) (11).

What Churches Say

• The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod calls Freemasonry an organization “that espouses and promotes teachings and practices that conflict with the fundamental teachings of the Christian faith.” (8)
• The Orthodox Presbyterian report adds, “Far be it from the committee to assert that there are no Christians among the members of the Masonic fraternity.” (7)
• The Southern Baptist Convention in 1993 found “many tenets and teachings of Freemasonry are not compatible with Christianity or Southern Baptist doctrine,” but recommended that “membership in a Masonic Order be a matter of personal conscience.” (6)

The full list is on What Do Churches Say About Freemasonry?.

Frequently Asked Questions

Many Pastors Have Been Masons. Doesn’t That Settle It?

The 1993 Southern Baptist report itself names past Baptist leaders who were Masons, including B.H. Carroll and George W. Truett, and still found many Masonic teachings incompatible with Christianity (6). Whether members were Christians and whether the lodge’s teaching is Christian are separate questions.

Is a Mason Required to Deny Christ?

No ritual text quoted on this site requires it. The objection churches raise is that the lodge treats all members’ prayers as addressed to one Great Architect and offers its own path to the “celestial Lodge above.” See What Is the Great Architect of the Universe?.