The Italian Memorandum

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned…

knowing from whom you have learned it”

(2 Timothy 3:14)

The letters of Paul to Timothy (1 and 2 Timothy) contain the rationale for why churches and individuals today should discover, re-discover, and/or maintain the Christian faith.

1. Paul’s documents are backed up by his apostleship (1 Tim. 1:1; 2 Tim. 1:1); and his apostleship is based upon the “will of God” (2 Tim. 1:11-12). Paul’s writings are inspired scripture (2 Tim. 3:16,17).

2. Different doctrines are discouraged (1 Tim. 1:3); and are contrary to “sound doctrine” (1 Tim. 1:10). The positive command, here, is to “Follow the pattern of sound words” (2 Tim. 1:13).

3. Doctrinal deviations were predicted (1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 4:3-4).

While many modern Christian churches (and individuals) teach that there is no need to insist upon sound doctrine, conversely, the restoration movement takes seriously Paul’s concluding directives to avoid doctrinal contradictions and false knowledge which results in a swerving from the faith (1 Tim. 6:20-21).

-Robert M. Housby

“…I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourselves in the
house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of
the truth”

(1 Timothy 3:15)

Some popular slogans about church (2007)

“It doesn’t matter what church you attend—just as long as you attend some church.”

“Church isn’t the important thing;
having a relationship with the Lord is the important thing.”

“We’re non-denominational! [unity for unity’s sake]”

The New Testament Church –

A. Has the right builder (Matt. 16:18)
B. Was established at the right time (Dan. 2:44; Mic. 4:2; Acts 2:16)
C. Was established in the right place (Isa. 2:2-3; Acts 2:5)
D. Has the right standard of authority (2 Tim. 3;16-17; Acts 20:32)
E. Has the right organizational structure (Phil. 1:1; Tit. 1:5)
F. Has the right plan of salvation (1 Cor. 15:1-4)
G. And, has the right worship and service (Jn. 4:24; Matt. 15:9; Heb. 12:28)

Next time that someone tries to tell you that the church doesn’t matter, ask them why they prefer the wrong—founder; time; place; standard; organization; plan; and worship. Of course, maybe these relativistic followers know something that the Lord does not know. “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15).

-Robert M. Housby

GREAT SONGS OF THE CHURCH

(Devotional in Prayer)

“…praying at all times in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication…”

(Ephesians 6:18)

E.M. Bounds wrote, “Prayer links human weakness with the power of the over-coming Son” (The Possibilities of Prayer). Prayer, for the Christian, is a privilege. It is founded upon the promises and precepts of Scripture, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…” (Ephesians 3:20). And, “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). And, again, “First, of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people” (1 Timothy 2:1).

The question, “Did you think to pray?” is a humble reminder that one would pray. To be devotionally committed to God through Christ in prayer is but an excursion through this life hand in hand with one’s Creator and Redeemer. We say that it is a privilege because non-Christians, the unbaptized or nominal backslider, will not come around to such a devotional approach to life. But, to the faithful, the hour of prayer is always at hand; the act of prayer is always a blessing; and the life of prayer is always about a relationship with one’s Lord.

There may be something for which you need to pray right now. May you be informed that the God of heaven hears prayer (1 John 5:14,15).

– Robert M. Housby

“…the church of the living God,
the pillar and ground of the truth”

(1 Timothy 3:16)

People in the post-modern world are becoming more and more involved in an approach to truth that resembles an old form of Christian gnostic teaching. Many today do not even think in terms of truth as an absolute body of information. Instead, truth is being perceived as relative to the receiver or worshipper. In the very same way that the United  States Constitution, for example, is being referred to as a “living document,” by post-modern revisionists, the Bible is being seen as a source of truth, but not the exclusive source of truth. A “living document,” in the minds of many today, is an assertion that it may be changeable in order to reflect the new generation’s relativistic morals.

The Nag Hammadi religious texts are an example of early Christian break-away groups. Other more recent examples of gnostic information being influential among the masses include, The Da Vinci Code. But, unfortunately, it does not stop there. Some main-line Christian groups are now alleging that the Holy Spirit is speaking directly to people apart  rom the written word of God. The results of this kind of relativistic thinking have the following consequences:

1. The Bible is being used, but marginalized (see 2 Timothy 3:16,17). Where once, men may have recorded personal thoughts in the margin of their Bibles, now the biblical text is  being relegated to a place of secondary importance.
2. The Holy Spirit is being subjected to the feelings of man, rather than man being in subjection to the Spirit of God (2 Peter 1:20,21).
3. In a word, the truth is now being seen as the people, not the word of God (John 17:17). However, 1 Timothy 3:16 would place responsibility upon the church to be the pillar and ground of the truth—that is, not the truth, but the support of the truth.

Once again, the old adage, the Bible, the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible, is in order. Not the Bible plus a creed; or, the Bible plus a catechism; or, the Bible plus a religious experience, but the Bible only.

– Robert M. Housby

“An athlete is not crowned
unless he competes according to the rules”

(2 Timothy 2:5)

Paul’s style of speaking and writing often reflected familiar things of the Greek world. One such area, in which Paul alluded on numerous occasions were the Greek games (1 Corinthians 9:24,25; 2 Timothy 2:5; Ephesians 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7). To Paul, these games served to illustrate discipline, rules, personal integrity, and joyous victory. Paul tried to communicate the gospel in terms of this very Greek mentality (1 Corinthians 9:22).
Although the Olympic games are usually associated with Athens, Greece, or the Corinthian Isthmian games, there was a gaming atmosphere fostered even in Palestine by Herod the Great. In a city of Samaria, Sebaste (Acts 6:5), Herod built a stadium out of personal devotion to the Greek games. The New Testament scholar, Merrill F. Unger states that: “Herod supported the Olympic games, and even offered rewards for the 192 Olympiad” (Archaeology and the New Testament, p. 150).
The popular Greek historian, Edith Hamilton, and others, have observed, “The Greeks played, but the Romans watched.” Perhaps, it is this spectator mood versus the participation mode that James had in mind when he wrote: “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life…” (James 1:12).
The crown of the games was a simple garland of olive leaves, or pine needles. The crown (stephanos) of Christians is an imperishable wreath from the thorny brow of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 5:4). Herod did not compete by the rules; while the Romans merely watched. Watch the Summer Games of Athens. But, participate in the eternal gospel of heaven.

— Robert M. Housby