The Italian Memorandum

(In Review of “The Last Templar” Mentality)

“For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel”

(Galatians 1:11)

The Last Templar appeared on national television January 25, 26, 2009.  This program is indicative of the kind of non-critical approach to Christianity that is so often aired in the 21^st century marketplace.   Much of this sentiment is liberal, anti-Christian, and/or so off the wall that it is incredible.  However, we say this having a background in both classical and historical Christian evidences; not all have taken this trek.  We are reminded therefore of the tremendous importance of source.

1.   Galatians 1:11 claims divine origin. The Last Templar intimates with delight-human origination. The idea is further complicated with the notion that God needs help to sustain the scheme of  a noble but far fetched story by a Nazarene called Yeshua.

2.   We are reminded of critics who attempt to expose the book of Job. The matter becomes absurd when they quote from the very sources whom Job says do not speak for God (16:2; 42:7)!  This is  the kind of non-sense that is being lauded as astute today.

3.    See Psalm 18:26 regarding how astutely God outwits the crooked.

Source remains critical (Gal. 1:11-12).

-Robert M. Housby

(Your Self-Test)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law”

(Galatians 5:22,23)

Circle either the ? or the !

1. How are you doing with love ? !

2. How are you doing with joy ? !

3. How are you doing with peace ? !

4. How are you doing with patience ? !

5. How are you doing with kindness ? !

6. How are you doing with goodness ? !

7. How are you doing with faithfulness ? !

8. How are you doing with gentleness ? !

9. How are you doing with self-control ? !

This Self-Test will help you to evaluate your own end of the year spirituality. Let’s get ready for a productive 2009!

-Robert M. Housby

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”

(Galatians 1:6-9, English Standard Version)

The children’s book, “What Makes A Raphael A Raphael?” is an attempt to explain art. We happen to think this is an excellent question. We ask in this article, “What makes a gospel sermon a gospel sermon?”

In Galatians 1:6-9, the apostle Paul presents a scathing criticism against misrepresenting the gospel. Four points arise from within the biblical text:

1. It is possible to distort the gospel message (1:7).
2. Distortions may be detected by a departure from the New Testament (1:6,7).
3. The gospel is not to be changed, by apostles, angels, nor men (1:8,9).
4. Preaching “a different gospel” gets an accursed rating (1:8,9).

We might point out that Raphael was a painter, not a preacher. Attempting to understand Raphael is one thing, and believing the gospel is very much another matter. Psalm 119:89 reads, “Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.” The gospel is a settled matter. It was settled when Paul wrote Galatians; it is settled today, and will abide tomorrow and forever (1 Peter 1:25). Is this your faith?

– Robert M. Housby