Expert: Bruce Gourley - 6/11/2008

Question
Hello, My name is Johnny W. and I am from Australia.

I am very interested in joining a secret society...

What I'd like to know is...is there anything wrong with joining Freemasons, or the Jesuits?

Does the Bible have anything to say about secret societies?

And, is it against the baptist church, and what are your thoughts on these societies?

Answer
Hello Johnny from Australia,

Your question about "secret societies" would return different answers within the Baptist family. Baptists as a whole have no official stance regarding secret societies. Historically, in the 18th and 19th centuries, many Baptists were Masons (in fact, in some states in America, most Baptist ministers were probably Masons). But by the late 20th century, many Baptists had become adamantly opposed to the Masonic order. (In a similar fashion, through the 19th century, few Baptists advocated total abstinence from alcohol, but today many Baptists in America teach tee-teetotaling.) Those Baptists today who are opposed to the Masonic argue that it is a form of false religion. Those Baptists who still embrace it (or the many who used to embrace it) counter that the Masons are simply a harmless fraternal order.

The Jesuits I would say are not a secret society, but rather a Catholic "order" (that is, a group within the Catholic faith which is devoted to upholding certain practices and tenets of the faith, and/or living a certain, often communal lifestyle, as an outward expression of their faith).

As to the Bible, it says nothing clearly one way or another against secret societies, although, for example, some of Jesus' followers (including Simon) were members of the secret Zealots society (devoted to the overthrow of the Roman Empire).

In seeking to make a biblical judgment on secret societies, I (and some other Baptists) would say that we as followers of Christ should not be involved in activities which seek to tear down the Kingdom of God (rather than build it up). As to whether or not any given secret society is anti-God is sometimes a tough call (and the secrecy makes it all the harder), and requires prayer and wisdom on the part of the individual believer.

Bruce Gourley
www.baptistlife.com
www.centerforbaptiststudies.org