What is true worship to God and what is not- Greek/Freemason Rebuttal PART 4

"I worship God through my membership in my organization" is a common statement heard from members of Greek/Freemason organizations when told their organization is one of Satan's evil attempts to deceive people.  Is it true?  Can a Christian claim they are worshiping the true God, Jehovah by the activities they partake in through their fraternity/sorority?  What does the word of God say? What does it mean to "worship?  These questions will addressed in the next points in this post series and those who have an ear to hear will hear from God the truth.  Because this is a complex topic, this post will be broken down into four posts. This is post 4.

**This info sets the stage for each post:
First, what does it mean to worship in practical terms.  Merriam defines worship as "to honor or reverence as divine being or supernatural power" or "two regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion".

John Piper (2016) gives this statement about worship of God, " The inner essence of worship is to know God truly and then respond from the heart to that knowledge by valuing God, treasuring God, praising God, enjoying God, being satisfied with God above all earthly things. And then that deep, restful, joyful satisfaction in God overflows in demonstrable acts of praise from the lips and demonstrable acts of love in serving others for the sake of Christ." (emphasis added)

Delesslyn  Kennebrew (2012) wrote, "Worship is to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission(Webster's Dictionary,1828). True worship, in other words, is defined by the priority we place on who God is in our lives and where God is on our list of priorities. True worship is a matter of the heart expressed through a lifestyle of holiness." (emphasis added).

Giving sacrifices is a form of worship.  In the Bible worship is defined in these scriptures:

Hebrews 13:15 "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."

Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Many who profess to be Christians and defend staying a member of their Greek/Masonic organization claim they are not idol worshiping, but again, we have look at what it means to 'worship'.

**This info sets the stage for each post

Point 8. Elitism

Once a person becomes a member of one of these organizations they go from being a just a regular person to now an illustrious member of higher values and worth than those who are not members.  There is a hierarchy within these organizations and the leaders are given king and queen servitude from its members.  The older members of these organizations as well as those in other leadership
positions are considered VIP members who must be treated with all due respect and honor and given special privileges and service.  The evil spirit of pride is rampant.  I have witnessed physical and verbal altercations, cursing and hatred demonstrated between "sorors". VIP's expect all their expenses to be paid when visiting for events, they expect to be escorted, catered to.  

Are Christians to believe they are better than others? Are Christians to believe and desire positions over others? Here is what the bible has to say, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave or free, there is neither male or female; for your are one in Christ" Galatians 3:28.  Jesus makes it clear that elitism is not a characteristic of one His followers, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be among you; but whoever desires to be come great among you, let him by your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:25-28. 

Point 9.  Idolatry

Some people have a misconception about what idolatry is.  Idolatry is not exclusive to bowing down to a statue or graven images.  Merriam-Webster defines Idolatry: is extreme admiration, love, reverence for something or someone. 

“God is jealous that he be honored by being treasured, and he is jealous that we be satisfied by treasuring him.” - John Piper

United Church of God- When God said, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3), He wasn’t just talking about the imaginary deities that seem so ridiculous to us today. He was talking about anything  that usurps His place as number one in our hearts.

 God's description of Idolatry:  "For since the creation of the world He invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were they thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man- and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things." Romans 1:20-23.

Members of these Greek/Masonic organizations praise the founders, spend countless hours learning the history of their organizations, but don't know the word of God. And even if they do know the word of God, but still like the children of Israel, who knew the law but still tried to mix God's laws with pagan laws for which.  When people go out and serve their community it is their organization that gets the praise.  Even when these people get married, they sing that their first love is still the organization. 

Point 10. Works of Darkness

As mentioned above, Christians are the temple of God, we are to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and blameless to God.  What is clear, especially at the undergraduate level the activities of these Greek members is anything but godly. The partying with drunkenness, lewdness, fornication, mean girls/guys, conceitedness, young men and women dying as a result of going through hazing processes.  The step shows that are full of debauchery and classicism.  Women dressed like prostitutes, men and women prostrating themselves in lewd and raunchy dancing.  The house parties where anything goes. But the wickedness does not stop after graduation, it just 'matures'.  Maybe there are no more wild parties, instead other sins like gossip, lying, selfishness, hate, unforgiveness, pride, hypocrisy, divination, sexual immorality, envy, unloving, maliciousness, strife are the fruits within these organizations. 

Many profess to be Christians but this is what the bible says, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived.  Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God"  1 Corinthians 6:9-10.  Jesus called out the religious folks in His day who thought they were followers of God but He correctly identified who their real father was, Satan.

A true Christian's works and behavior should glorify God.  Also works done out of anything but love for God are works of lawlessness and worthless, "Though I speak with tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing" 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; and, the most important warning of all comes from Jesus himself, "

Jesus declares that works that look good on the outside are actually acts of disobedience, works of darkness. This warning is not just for Greeks/Masons but non-Greek church members as well.

I can image at the judgment seat of Christ, many saying, " Lord I served on the deacon board in Your name, I served the homeless in Your name, I served as president of my chapter in your name, I helped build homes for the homeless in Your name, I sang in the choir in Your name, I am the son/daughter of a pastor,  I was a preacher in Your name, Lord I gave 10% of my monthly earnings to the church in Your name, Lord I went to church every Sunday in Your name, I served my sorority/fraternity for 50 years in Your name and on and on will be the litany of things they did thinking they were doing them for God when the truth is they were working for Satan. Jesus says these people are deceiving themselves and they will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

These are points 8 thru 10 in this series, it is recommended you review all the posts in this series for a full exploration of the issue.  

If anyone is interested in more information please click on this link:

https://www.outfromamongthem.com/

For we are opposed all over the world by a monolithic

ruthless conspiracy that relies mainly on covet means for expanding its sphere of influence.  It's preparations are concealed, not published. It's mistakes are buried, not headlined. It's dissenters are silenced, not praised. No expenditure is questioned, no rumor is printed. No secret is revealed. The very word secrecy is repugnant in a free and open society and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths, and to secret proceedings, confident with your help, man will be what he was born to be, free and independent.  John F. Kennedy

There is going to be a Day of Judgment, and God will judge everyone who has ever lived, His wrath is going to poured out on all the wicked and ungodly. The eyes of the unrepentant wicked need to be opened and the ears unplugged so they can see and hear the truth. In order for the children of Satan to become children of God they must believe  The Good News ,  Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, born of a virgin; Jesus lived and died but He rose from Dead, and now offers anyone who will believe in Him Salvation.  Salvation is a free gift from God, anyone who will believes in the shed blood of the risen Savior, Jesus, will know and have a real relationship with the true God.  You can't work for it or buy because the price has already been paid with the Blood of Jesus Christ and  Believing in Jesus gets us into the Kingdom of God and saves us from the righteous wrath of God.  But that is not all, He gives us a new heart and mind NOW, and we receive some of His blessing from heaven NOW and are equipped to be able to live a life that is holy and acceptable to Him NOW. (Romans 6:9; 10:9-13, Ephesians 2:8, Isaiah 7:14, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19). 

1. Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is real, He lived and died and rose from the grave. (Romans 10:9-10)

2. Believe that you are a sinner, repent-turn from your sins and realize and accept you need Jesus. (Mark 1:15, Matthew 4:17, Acts 3:19)

3. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord and God. (Romans 10:9)

4. Find a local Bible preaching church that does obey the commandment for water baptism for the remission of your sins and to identify yourself with Christ. (Acts 16:31)

This is just the first step to a lifelong journey of growing in truth and love with the God who created this earth and everything in it, including every human being that has ever lived.

Bible verses related to this post:   Proverbs 4:23; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Chronicles 29:11; Psalm 105:1; Psalm 16:2; Psalm 95:6; Matthew 5:15-16; Isaiah 12:4; Psalm 73:25; Psalm 9:2; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Psalm 103: 1-4; Psalm 63: 3-4, 7-8; Psalm 100; Acts 17:30; Ephesians 2:8-9; Psalm 47:6-7: 2 Corinthians 9:7; Matthew 22:37; Matthew 5:37; Matthew 5:33-37; Matthew 5:16; Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 6:21; James 4:4; 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 10:20-22; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Galatians 3:28; Matthew 20:25-28; Romans Chapter 1; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; Matthew 7:21-23; John 8:12;  Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Romans 1:20-23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

References:  https://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/worship; https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-is-worship; https://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/bible-answers/spirituallife/what-is-true-worship.html;  http://www.stichtingargus.nl/vrijmetselarij/g/greekindex.html