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aedifico42| Let’s Get Biblical!

Posted at: 11:24 pm

   I like to hear people freak-out trying to figure-out why Masonry is not a religion.  It’s usually somebody that has a strong desire to find flaws or faults in other people so they can feel better about themselves.  What a hoot!

   As a Christian, I take great umbrage at those ideas.  But as a Christian, and as a Mason, I recognize that there are great lessons in the VSL that sits on my personal Altar.  So, I decided to go to the little Giddeon Bible that sits at my bedside.  For years, I have read through it and once in a while a passage catches my eye.  Tonight, I will share some of my favorite quotes and passages out of the Bible…specifically quoting from the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs.  (As a side note, this is the bible that I got at the MEPS station the day I shipped-out to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego for Boot Camp.  It has been at my side ever since.)

   Here’s the small print (I’m putting it at the front so nobody can get their panties in a wad about me hiding it!).  I DO NOT SPEAK FOR FREEMASONRY!!!  I’m just a regular guy who drinks beer and tequila, smokes cigars, glances at hot women (while hoping not to insult my wife), and living the American Dream.  I am NOT better or smarter than any of the rest of you, nor am I a prophet, holy-man, seer, diviner, wizard, or any other type who claims to have insight greater than the average person.  I am a regular guy who owns a book.  So all you fundamentalists, atheists, conspiracy-mongers, bible-thumpers and Jesus freaks can just chill-out.  My interpretations below came from my head, not from some robe-wearing holier-than-thou preacher trying to force HIS interpretation down my throat.  The way I see it, God gave this brain to me…so I’m gonna use it.  And if you disagree with me for religious purposes, fine.  This is, after all, America.  (so why did I take all that time to qualify my statements?).

   Jesus tells us in Luke 8:17, “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.”  I like this one for two reasons…first it teaches me patience.  Second, it acknowledges that secrets and hidden things exist, without making any judgments about them.  So, my read is that, secrets are like ketchup…they make you wait.

   Here’s a good one, also from Luke (18:10-14).  It describes the very nature of hypocricy and public desire for admiration.  In the last verse, Jesus speaks to the one who ‘exhalts’ himself instead of ‘humbling’ himself.  Guess which one “will be exhalted.”?  Of course, that’s a no-brainer.  This is an idea I alluded to in a previous blog about “Public Service….”  Take that - Skeeter.

   At one point during Boot Camp, I found the beginning of Psalm 7 to be especially comforting, it reads, “O Lord my God, in You I put my trust, save me from all those who persecute me; and deliver me.”  I don’t know why it gave me comfort, but I remember reading it alot…it’s one of my favorites.  Along the same lines is Psalm 56 (among others).  I have a note in the margin that says “Protect me from my enemies.”  I don’t remember why I wrote it, or what I needed protection from at that time.  It was either an ex-girlfriend, a cop or Saddam Hussein. 

   The one passage that is by far my favorite comes at the beginning of Proverbs at 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  I just love how Masonic that is!  It appears to me that what is written as “fear of the Lord” would be a natural reaction to coming in contact with something we do not understand.  All humans have a tendency to fear the unknown.  Our ‘fear’ (belief in awesome power?) is where we must begin (both our spiritual and Masonic journeys begin with belief in, and acknowledgement of the S.A.O.T.U.)…and only an idiot would leave it at that.  So, only a fool would NOT want to know more, and thereby get closer to God. 

   Now, Proverbs is just full of great little passages.  I’ll give you a list of the ones I like (you know…if you care to look them up, do it…I’m not going to spoon-feed you.)  I like Prov.1:24-29, 2:10-11, 3:11-14, 4:7, 12:1 is fantastic (my version says, “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.”), 12:15, 14:15, 15:32, and others.

   So, in the very narrow category of passages I have quoted above, a sermon could be built around the idea that only an idiot wants to remain an idiot.  Or something like, God wants you to know more…look…He told you so!  But in any event, I don’t think that matters.

   What matters is that you take the time to look into your own VSL.  Not because Masonry tells you that you should, but because most of the VSL’s out there tell you it’s a good idea.  Masonry is not a religion…and I would renounce my membership if it ever tried to become one.  People looking for religio-masonic connections usually claim to be totally right but they only use small snippits of the book to justify their positions (like I did above).  But don’t take my word for it, check-out the great stories that your church probably never talks about. 

   Don’t just find out what that great book has in store for you…but find-out for yourself.     

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