Chapter 13—Should Christians Be Members of
Secret Societies?
[Reprinted from a pamphlet by this title published in 1893.]
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what com-
munion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with
Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? and what
agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple
of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in
them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a
Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord
Almighty” (
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
).
The Lord’s injunction, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with
unbelievers” (
2 Corinthians 6:14
), refers not only to the marriage of
Christians with the ungodly, but to all alliances in which the parties
are brought into intimate association, and in which there is need of
harmony in spirit and action. The Lord gave special direction to Israel
to keep themselves distinct from idolaters. They were not to intermarry
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with the heathen nor form any confederacy with them: “Take heed
to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land
whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: but
ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their
groves: for thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name
is Jealous, is a jealous God” (
Exodus 34:12-14
).
“For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord
thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above
all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set
his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number
than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the
Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had
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