Another reason Masons give as to why Freemasonry cannot be considered a religion is because "It offers no system of salvation" [Transcript, "Christianity and the Masonic Lodge: Are They Compatible?" (guests: William Mankin, Dr. Walter Martin), Chattanooga, TN, The John Ankerberg Evangelic Association, 1985), page 2]. In other words, they say Freemasonry has no teachings about how a man can go to heaven. But is this true?

Every candidate who enters the Blue Lodge is told again and again during the first three degrees of Masonry that God will reward those who do good deeds.

This can be documented by examining any Masonic manual that contains the Ritual of the first three degrees. In the manual under the explanation of the symbol of the "All-Seeing Eye" -- one of the symbols for God -- you will find these words: "The "All-Seeing Eye [God] ... beholds [or "pervades" [Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. and A.M., Monitor of the Lodge: Monitorial Instructions in the Three Degrees of Symbolic Masonry, Grand Lodge of Texas, 1982, pp. 83] the inmost recesses of the human heart, and will rewards us according to our works (Malcom C. Duncan, Masonic Ritual and Monitor, New York, David Mckay Co., nd., p. 129], emphasis added).

What is the rewards Masonry teaches man will get because of his good works? Masonry teaches that God will reward man with eternal life in the "Celestial Lodge Above". This can be documented in the Masonic Ritual and Monitor under the explanation concerning the lambskin, or white linen apron. There it says, "He who wears the lambskin as a badge of Mason is thereby continually reminded of purity of life and conduct which is essentially necessary to his gaining admission into that celestial Lodge above, and will rewards us according to our works" (Malcom C. Duncan, Masonic Ritual and Monitor, New York, David Mckay Co., nd., p. 50], where the Supreme Architect of the universe presides", "pervades" [Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. and A.M., Monitor of the Lodge: Monitorial Instructions in the Three Degrees of Symbolic Masonry, Grand Lodge of Texas, 1982, pp. 83] emphasis added; cf p. 88).

Now does this sound to you like Freemasonry is teaching a way of salvation? If you were to hear this taught in the Lodge, wouldn't you think that Freemasonry is saying that you can go to the "Celestial Lodge Above" if you live a pure and honest life? Isn't that religion?

If you're a Christian, when the Lodge teaches a man that by his good life and by his good deeds God will admit him into heaven, isn't that contrary to biblical teaching? Doesn't the Bible clearly teach that salvation is not by a man's work -- salvation is only by God's gracious provision through Jesus Christ? Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) very plainly says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast."

But if you are still not persuaded that Masonry is presenting a way to heaven, you should listen to Masonic authority Henry Wilson Coil, who writes the following about one of Freemasonry's religious services, In his encyclopedia he argues:

"Freemasonry has a religious service to commit the body of a deceased brother to the dust whence it came, and to speed the liberated spirit back to the Great Source of Light. Many Freemasons make this flight with no other guarantee of a safe landing other than their belief in the religion of Freemasonry" (Henry Wilson Coil, Coils' Masonic Encyclopedia, New York, Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply, 1961, p. 512), emphasis added).

Notice he says, "religion of Freemasonry." From this evidence, all must conclude that Freemasonry is a religion because it does offer religious instruction and promises of how a man may get to heaven. [In conclusion], Freemasonry is a religion because it presents its own plan of salvation.

The material in this article was taken from "The Facts on The Masonic Lodge, Does Masonry Conflict With The Christian Faith?", by John Ankerberg and John Weldon.