Frater Cliff Porter
Premium Member
I am looking for a direct, straightforward answer. Gnosticism seems to be promulgated as some mandatory Masonic path by some posters. Is it, or is it just a sideline? It's been flatly stated that Gnosticism is the earliest form of Christianity. Does that mean that non-Gnostic Christians aren't following Christianity as believed by the Apostles? That would have to be the conclusion, if Gnosticism is the earliest form. Gee, I guess that means that all the Evangelicals are wrong, too...
Bryan you have decided to read things into statements that have not been made. Can you show me where Gnosticism was provided as a mandatory path?
And I am not sure anyone historically knows what the "oldest" Christianity is. If you were going to use written text, then yes, what we would call Gnostic Christianity is the oldest.
As to the apostle's, who knows what was in each man's heart? I read what was allegedly written by them or ascribed to them and take them at their word.
But out of curiosity, what does it matter what anyone else believes as long as you have a wonderfully rich walk with Christ? Shouldn't Masonry be strong enough to allow for the difference of opinion on matters of faith? Shouldn't we as people be open to such things? The idea that a man's faith is his own and that we need not worry about their walk as much as our own?
As far as your sarcasm in regards to Evangelicalism, I would provide that if you wanted to demonstrate an Evangelical ideal of a Christ like life was the example meant by the apostles and by Christ you should not be demeaning and argumentative. Being loving, forgiving, and willing to talk (such as Paul in Corinth for example) would set out to show how you believe.
In the end, if you are a Mason and you are an Evangelical Christian how can someone deny you this? Even if the head of some Gnostic order showed up and said, "No Bryan you are not a Mason" or as you put it a "full Mason"...would it change anything? No, of course it would not. You would still be a Mason and whatever your chosen faith.
I was told by the Lutheran church when I was withheld continued membership in the church of my youth because of my Masonic membership that I was in essence, not a good Christian, because I was Mason.
In the end, they couldn't take Christ from me anymore than I could from you.
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