Allow me to introduce myself to the Puritan Board members. My name is pastor John M. Otis of Covenant Reformed Presbyterian (RPCUS) in Burlington, NC. I recently became the new evangelist here. Previously I was evanglist in Corpus Christi, Tx.

I have authored the most detailed critique of the Federal Vision with my book
"Danger In the Camp: An Analysis and Refutation of the Heresies of the Federal Vision, and I commend the administration here for its prohibition of Federal Vision sympathizers.

I have recently authored a new book that is now available titled,Unveiling Freemasonry's Idolatry. It is nearly 700 pages, and is the most comprehensive Christian analysis ever written on the subject. You can purchase this book from my publishing website, www.triumphantpublications.com

While on my website you can watch my 2008 televised debate in London, England with a prominent English Freemason. I have also made available on my website, a lengthy narrated power point presentation of Freemasonry based on my new book.

I want to know what you think of my debate and power point presentation, and if you agree with me that the Masonic Lodge is one of the world's most deceptive and dangerous cults.

Welcome to the board!

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Anna
Wife of Tim/Marrow Man
Louisville, KY
Member of Midlane Park Presbyterian (Associate Reformed Presbyterian)

Hi John! Mike Masztal here. Jaci's sitting next me as I'm typing and says "Hi". Chris probably mentioned that we are now back in FL and loving it. I will check out your book and debate.

As far as your question goes, I can only say that I have several family members, including my late father and brother, who are Masons/Shriners. They tried to get me to join, but when I voiced my objections based on my faith in Christ, they simply looked puzzled.

For sure their view of God is idolatrous, but every Mason I know possesses a nominal faith at best. For them the Masons, like whatever church they might attend, is more a social club than any serious religious devotion. I'd be interested in hearing how Masonry might differ in the UK?Europe vs the US.

Glad to have you here!

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Michael Masztal
Ruling Elder, Chapel By The Sea, ARP
Melbourne Beach, FL

Welcome Pastor Otis!

How are things in Burlington?

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James Helbert, Wytheville, VA
Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church, RPCUS
TheBibleAlone.com / The Edinburgh Inn
"Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” - Zechariah 3:2

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

Greetings. Are you here for fellowship and debate, or to sell books?

And if you are interested in the underlying question, you might look at the materials from the PCA study of the issues in 1987 and 1988.

PCA Historical Center: Index to the Position Papers of the Presbyterian Church in America

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Edward
Deacon
PCA
Texas

I just wanted to say Welcome to the PB.

I received your emai attached to I T R Reformer mailing I will check out your web site later.

As far as Freemasonry, I knew some Masons and Shriners and my brother in law was really involved with the Shriners but I never really got into what they believe. Most of the Masons and Shriners I knew were Roman Catholic. As far as being Idolatrous never seeing what they do behind closed doors I can not say for sure. They might be thats why I never joined due to all their secretive nature. They do a lot for children.

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John Komenda
Symphony Bible Church
Conservative Baptist
Buffalo, New York

Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. Is.65:24 ESV

Welcome John!

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Michael Turner
Christ Reformed Church | Independent [WCF]
Georgia

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sarah
WI
OPC
My Pastor's Sermons: Mark Jenkins...he's awesome!!!

Welcome to the PB.

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Norm
IA PCA

In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:4-5

WELCOME

Is the Masonic Lodge the same group as the Freemasons? I heard that there are actually different groups.

Also, there was this pamphlet that I read which claimed that the Masons incorporated Satanic rituals. Is there any truth to that claim? I forgot what the title of the pamphlet is or who wrote it.

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Joel de Leon
Member (man under care)
Christ Presbyterian Church, OPC
Salt Lake City, UT

The Cleansed Leper

Howdy Pastor!

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John
Member
Christ Presbyterian Church (OPC)
Salt Lake City, Utah
www.christpres.net

Welcome, John, from another newbie to the PB.

Welcome Pastor, enventually you should start another threat on the topic of Freemasonry on the Cult's section.

This way every time a member welcomes you, the Masonic Lodge gets the credit...

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César Proença

there is no will nor running by which we can prepare the way for our salvation, it is wholly of the Divine Mercy Jean Calvin Institutes II . V. 17

Reformed Churches in The Netherlands (liberated) http://www.gkv.nl/main.asp?intTreeviewID=954

Igreja Reformada em Massamá Portugal http://www.igrejareformada.pt

to the PB

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Martin - Reformed
Husband to the most godly, honorable and loyal wife Line
Searching for a Church
Webpage www.5solas.dk
Free Online Reformed Seminary - http://www.tnars.net
Soli Deo Gloria

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Andrew S.
Covenant Presbyterian Church (OPC)
Abilene,TX

Greetings! I attended the funeral of a Freemason and it was full of Freemason rituals and, in my opinion, very idolatrous. I felt like I should leave but remained out of respect to the family.

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Mike Myers
Teaching Elder
West Suffolk Baptist Church
Suffolk, Virginia

Many a plain, honest, unlearned disciple of Christ, by meditation, experience, prayers, and especially obedience, attains to a more clear, sound, and useful knowledge of the word of God, than some great scholars with all their wit and learning. Matthew Henry

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Michael P Doyle
Waukesha WI
Member of http://www.cornerstone-pca.com/
Attending http://www.lampseminary.org/

Welcome to the "PB" Pastor Otis!

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Seeking Godly Wisdom,

Melissa
Baptist>Seeking Reformed Church Home
Louisville, Ky

Well hello Mike and Jaci; been a long time since Atlanta days. Blessings on you. To answer your question about difference between Freemasonry in the US and UK, there isn't fundamentally that much difference otherwise it would cease to be Masonic. The Landmarks as set forth by the Masonic Lodge are fundamentally the same. The Lodge began officially in England in 1717 and spread to the colonies. Of course, the philosophy reaches back into antiquity as I show in my book.

In my 2008 debate with the English Mason in London, he tried to tell the audience that there is a big difference in his lodge than other English lodges and with American lodges. He was shown wrong in the question and answer from a former Worshipful Master in England who bluntly said he was wrong.

The basic ploy of Masons in debate is to deny,deny, and deny claiming no one knows the real facts unless you are part. Problem is that those having been in Lodge and Masonic authorities tell us the facts. The classic scene in my debate with Robert Gilbert was when he emphatically denied that Albert Pike equated Lucifer with the god of light and that it was fictious and an outright lie. Well, I happened to bring Albert Pike's book to the debate, and showed him the quote. There was complete silence.

-----Added 10/3/2009 at 08:34:25 EST-----

Greetings brother Helbert. I am just getting settled in, but we are pressing on very hard. We are starting evangelism classes this Sunday evening to teach people how to share the faith, and some of the methods I use in evangelizing.

-----Added 10/3/2009 at 08:43:06 EST-----

Edward: to answer your question if I am here to sell books, fellowship, and or debate. Well, I am here to do all. Since I have my own publishing ministry, I have to do all the promoting of my books in order to show the world that my book exists.

This is an important topic, and I need to let people know about the book, debate, and power point in order to teach.

As far as consulting the 1987 and 1988 PCA study report, I am very familiar with it because I am the one who started it all in 1985 in petitoning my presbytery (Westminster PCA) to petition the General Assembly to study the issue. The 1985 General Assembly approved forming a study committee, and I was the convener of the committee until Jack Scott was made permanent chairman. I was on that committee for two years, and I supplied the committee with most of its research material.

In my book, I discuss the history of my involvement with the issue in the PCA. And in my book's appendix, I show the original letters that Masons sent to our committee.

-----Added 10/3/2009 at 08:51:32 EST-----

Chippy: the Masonic Lodge and the Freemasons are the same. Now, the Shriners and the Masons are not, but one must be a 32 degree Mason to get into the Shriners.

Regarding the satanic rituals going on in the Lodge. The best way to answer your question is to say this: my major thesis of my book is in the title - [I]Unveiling Freemasonry's Idolatry[I]. By its very nature, its ritual is Satanic because it mimicks sun worship, a fact that Masonic authorities don't deny. I have an entire chapter in my book, ironically chapter 13, that goes into the relationship of the occult with Freemasonry. In the higher degrees, it becomes more explicit as Masonic authority, Albert Pike states.

The Masonic Lodge is one of the most hideous and deceptive cults in the world. It instills fear into its initiates. The oaths that are required and the penalties mentioned if one divulges the ritual is ghastly. In fact, the Masonic oaths are more ghastly than the oaths taken in some witch covens.

I know this may be touting my book, but get the book, and you will be shocked to learn the truth. My facts are well documented.

Welcome & YES

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Rich Koster
1689'er
Browns Mills NJ USA
Often Goofy Reformed Eccentric
Romans 7:14-25

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Benjamin P. Glaser, M. Div, Licentiate, Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
Member Fairmount ARP Church
Pittsburgh, PA

Deo Vindice

Welcome Pastor Otis. My wife and I have enjoyed your sermons on Sermonaudio. Looking forward to your input here.

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Jeremy Bailey
Deacon (Currently, not serving), PCA
Grace Church of Pleasanton (Seeking in San Antonio)
San Antonio, TX

Welcome, I also have enjoyed your Sermon Sudio conference series on Federal Vision. I look forward to having you be a part of this great Board. I have respected your work for years and look forward to learning more from you in the future.

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Alan Hughes
PCA
Lake Zurich, Illinois

If you think I'm a Hyper-Calvinist, God planned that thought before the foundation of the Earth. If you try to tell me that God only planned some things and not all things, then your problem is with God not me.

yes

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Aaron Josh Wright
Deerbrook Baptist Church, Humble Tx
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

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Robert Brown
Emmanuel OPC
Kent Washington

Augustine. ' Animam meam in odia haberem'
(Translated) I would hate my own soul if I did not find it loving God

Welcome Pastor Otis,
I first heard you on Iron sharpens Iron [on the error of FV}:,and lately on sermonaudio. Hope to hear good things are happening in Burlington,NC.

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Anthony D'Arienzo
Sunday School Teacher
Hope Reformed Baptist Church:
Medford, N.Y.

Welcome Pastor Otis!
Will your new book be available through Amazon.com??
Jim

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Jim
An Elder, Harvest Reformed Church (RCUS),Minot, ND
http://www.harvestreformedchurch.org/
http://tbftgoggi.wordpress.com/

Upon a life I did not live; upon a death I did not die, Another's death, Another's life, I'd rest my soul eternally
Omnia dicta fortiora,si dicta Latina
Si vis pacem, para bellum

Yes, to name but one of their ills.

Thank you sir, for your work against this group. They are in ancient and satanic order only recently, relatively speaking, being called Masons. They are Luciferian to the core. The only Masons that would deny this are the "porch Masons" as those in the upper echelons so *fondly* call them. These porch Masons are for decoration and diversion, they are considered in the club in so far as one is considered in the house while being on the porch.

If one has not read Pike's work (at least), then one has no idea what the Masons are.

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Chris
Presbyterian Reformed Church of Charlotte (PRC)
Student, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
SC

...hope is nothing but the nourishment and strength of faith.
~ Calvin's Institutes III.ii.43

Welcome!

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David
PCA
Richardson, Texas

Saving faith is an immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, resting upon Him alone, for justification, sanctification, and eternal life by virtue of God's grace.
--C.H. Spurgeon

Welcome!

In answer to your question:

Yes, as they require you to swear an oath of allegiance to the lodge, which supercedes your oath to God.

That also is the reason why lodge members are precluded from membership in the PRCA.

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Bert Mulder
Elder of the First Protestant Reformed Church of Edmonton
Edmonton Alberta Canada

I have always accepted the premise of idolatry for the Masons. However, it is my understanding that in some parts of the country (e.g., the "south"), a sizable number of pastors are also Masons. On the internet, I have read exchanges where pastors have defended the Masons! We don't have much of a Mason influence in Southern California, so my "information" is mostly second hand.

1. Is it true that pastors in some parts of the country join the Masons the way they join service clubs out west (e.g., Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.)?

2. Out here the Masons are just a few old men. Are there parts of the country where the organization is more of a force?

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Dennis E. McFadden, Ex Mainline Baptist (in Remission)
Atherton Baptist Homes, CEO
First Baptist Church of Alhambra, Member, Transformation Ministries (CA)

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

it's already there

Amazon.com: Danger in the Camp (9780977280001): John, M Otis: Books

Amazon

Welcome! I listened to the first half of your PP presentation. It was very disturbing, I knew they were bad but I didn't realize just how bad. The ancient idols and religions are still leading people astray.

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Traci
Lynnwood OPC
"I have taken all my good deeds, and all my bad deeds, and cast them through each other in a heap before the Lord, and fled from both, and betaken myself to the Lord Jesus Christ, and in him I have sweet peace."--David Dickson

Hello, John. Good to see you here! I read with great profit your book on the FV, and look forward to fruitful interaction with you here.

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Rev. Lane Keister
Teaching Elder, PCA, North Dakota (working out of bounds in a CRC and an RCA church)
http://greenbaggins.wordpress.com
http://brahmsgreenglove.blogspot.com
http://accenttranslation.blogspot.com
Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

Welcome Rev. Otis! Say hi to Rev. Mitchell at Northside Presbyterian if you ever cross paths.

From what I have heard the Masonic Lodge is idolatrous. Thankfully, it's membership appears to be declining. I don't know anyone personally who is a member. I don't think it has the influence it once had.

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Scott Roper
Member, Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA)
Winston-Salem, NC
scottandjenny.ws

Welcome! I read Danger in the Camp in 2006 with profit.

Godspeed,

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Adam B., Wine Country, California, PCA

"I fear not to hold with Junius, de Politia Mosis cap. 6, that he who was punishable by death under that Judicial law, is punishable by death still; and he who was not punished by death then, is not to be punished by death now."

Welcome.

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Brian Eschen
Ruling Elder, PCA
Pleasanton, California

Welcome to the PB.

There is a PCA church in Greenville, SC that has Masons that are elders or maybe it was deacons, I forget, and the pastor refused to call them on it and instead attempted to educate the congregation on why it was ok. I probably still have the pamphet he passed out to the church on the masons and why they were ok. Families left over that and we were one. It was the last straw.

Nice pastor but...

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Life is a journey; learn to enjoy it.
shelly {approved by admins for limited information in signature}
attending a reformed church

welcome to PB!

I want to offer a thought here.

But first full disclosure.
I am not, have not ever been and never will be a mason or Shriner or Freemason or Stonecutters. I have however been guilty of sin and idolatry in my life.

Here is my quandry.
I know a really fine man who is now a part of the Masonic Lodge.
I don't know at what level or rank or whatever they have.
This man loves Christ.
He is a brother who I would never in a million years
have thought God would make me care a great deal about.
But God did that.
I love this dude as a Christian brother.
I cannot imagine him lying to me. If something exists that shames or replaces God I don't think he would do it if he knew.
Perhaps I am naive but I am talking about a guy I would trust completely with anything I own or care about.
therefore,
I just want to caution people to discuss this topic in love.
The tendency might be to go on a witch hunt or a church purging instead of sanctification or care and I think loving the men is better in the long run.

My friend has told me that anything I heard on the History Channel about Freemasons is as accurate as anything I heard on there about the Bible or Jesus. That said a lot. Because basically the History Channel is the worst place to learn about Jesus. I only know what I have heard on the History Channel about Freemasonry and in tapes that used to go through the charismatic circles or quick scan of a book at Barnes and Noble.

He did choose to step down from Deacon training and honor the church leadership regarding the PCA position on the Masons rather than quit the lodge.

My plan is to read Pastor Otis' book and then discuss it openly with my friend.

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Richard H. King
Providence PCA
Lubbock, Texas
You know what my main problem is? I start things but rarely finish anyth...