The Italian Memorandum

“So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold”

(1 Kings 12:28)

The story of Jeroboam’s golden calves is contained in 1 Kings 12. The Bible says that he put one of the golden calves in Bethel, and the other in Dan. 1 Kings 12:30 states that the people then went to these places to worship. The respected Hebrew scholar, F. Furman Kearley asks—“Was Jeroboam’s religion as good as the religion of God as revealed through Moses?” This question is very timely because people today are saying that one religion is as good as another; or, that one church is as good as any other (Is One Religion as Good as Another? Gospel Advocate (May, 2003): 20-21.

Jeroboam led this rebellion against Rehoboam and thereby divided the kingdom. He feared that if the people continued to worship according to the law at Jerusalem, they would leave him and go back to Rehoboam. So, he simply started a new religious practice to satisfy his own feelings.

1. He rejected the law of the Lord (from Moses’ to his own).
2. He changed the manner of worship (from Yahweh to familiar calves of Egypt).
3. He changed the place of worship (from Jerusalem to Dan and Bethel)
4. He changed the time of worship (originally the 1st, 3rd and 7th mos. to the 8th mo.)
5. He changed the people authorized to offer worship (originally Levites).

There are many today who choose the golden calves of Bethel; leave Jerusalem, and go as far as Dan to worship in the glitter of Jeroboam. This was sin then, and it is sin today.

– Robert M. Housby

“When a man’s ways please the Lord,

he makes even his enemiesto be at peace with him”

(Proverbs 16:7)

“Now before he [Enoch] was taken he was commended as having pleased God”

(Hebrews 11:5)

Do your ways please God? The Bible is full of instances which depict: land pleasing man; woman pleasing man; man pleasing woman; servants pleasing kings; and, yes, man pleasing God (Gen. 49:15; Neh. 2:7; 1 Cor. 7:33,34; Heb. 11:5). We have noticed that there appears a rather definite theology of pleasing God in the book of Hebrews.

1. 10:6,8,38 – God determines what is pleasing, and what is not.
2. 11:5 – The example of Enoch.
3. 11:6 – The principle of faith as essential to pleasing God.
4. 12:28 – The exhortation to offer acceptable worship as pleasing.
5. 13:16 – The act of praise and doing good pleases God.
6. 13:21 – The clarification that doing his will is God pleasing when done through Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:13 reads: “…for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Do your ways please the Lord?

– Robert M. Housby

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols”

(1 John 5:21)

The New Testament scholar, Dr. Neil Lightfoot, recounts the old line of American liberal theology in 5 general observations (Notes taken September 7, 1989, RMH). Since these observations are still a part of American mentality, we make them available, as follows:

1. God is pure goodness and love. All men are his children. Sin does not separate man from his love. So, let us talk of, and emphasize, brotherhood and the Fatherhood of God.

2. Man, likewise is good; a spark of the divine. Men need only to be encouraged to express their natural goodness.

3. Jesus Christ is man’s savior in the qualified sense that he is a perfect example and teacher; though there is nothing really unique about him. He was not born of a virgin; didn’t work miracles; and, was not raised from the dead.

4. Christianity is different from other religions only in that it is the highest and best that has so far appeared.

5. The Bible is not a record of divine revelation. Bible doctrine is not necessary or normative. The essence of Christianity is ethical, not doctrinal.

The above should be carefully studied and understood, because they are where many Americans live (especially see 1 John chap. 5 and Romans chap. 3).

– Robert M. Housby

“…what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

(1 Peter 4:17)

We have come across some information that, while we have known as much, the impact of the stats are staggering. According to the research of Dr. John Palmer—

19 out of every 20 who become a Christian do so before age 25.

After 25, only 1 in 10,000 respond
After 35, only 1 in 50,000 respond
After 45, only 1 in 200,000 respond
After 55, only 1 in 300,000 respon
After 65, only 1 in 500,000 respond
Afyter 75, only 1 in 700,000 respond
After 85, only 1 in a million.

Dr. Palmer goes on to say, “It is evident that the time to make Christians is when the mind is still plastic, and the habits are not yet fixed, and when sin has not yet fastened its death grip upon that life” (Dictionary of Prophetic Terms, Signs & Symbols, Star Bible Publications, p. 75). This data is based upon a 6 billion world-wide population (2000).

To obey the gospel is to become a Christian at the point of Christian baptism (Romans 6:3-5; 6:17). Do you know of a loved one who has put off this act of submission to the Lord Jesus? Perhaps they will realize that it won’t be long for most, and can’t be very long for any. Have you obeyed the gospel yet?

-Robert M. Housby

“You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.”

(Acts 2:28 ESV)

In our experience, the typical preaching emphasis of Acts 2 has been to use 2:28 to get to 2:38. Perhaps, it can be argued that the plan of salvation is so beautifully arranged in that one single verse of 2:38 that 2:28 is something of a stepping stone. However, we have found that Acts 2:28 holds real delight for those who have already been added to the church, according to Acts 2:41.

1. Acts 2:28 comes from Psalm 16, a Psalm of David. As such, Christians are reminded that Jesus is David’s ultimate Messianic subject (2:25). We are, therefore, a people of the Messiah: with a royalty behind us, and a majesty before us (2:30,37).

2. In Psalm 16:11, David speaks in the first person. The life of David was bound up in the coming of Messiah. Christians are people whose lives, also, are bonded to their Lord, inseparable with him—one with Christ, we say.

3. Acts 2:28 (because of the above observations) offers specific benefits:

a. Knowledge –         Cognitive (logos)
b. The paths of life – Moral (ethos)
c. Full of gladness –   Emotional (pathos)
d. Your presence –     Spiritual (theos)

– Robert M. Housby

(The following list has been adapted from the respected scholarship of G.R. Beasley-Murray, in his book, Baptism in the New Testament. “Baptism saves, not because water washes dirt from the body, but as the occasion when a man is met by the risen Christ” (pp. 264-265).

1. The forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).
2. The cleansing from sins (Acts 22:16; 1 Cor. 6:11).
3. Union with Christ (Gal. 3:27).
4. Union in his death and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-6; Col. 2:10-12).
5. Release from sins power and guilt (Romans 6:1-11, 17-18).
6. Participation in Christ’s Sonship (Gal. 3:26,27).
7. Consecration to God (1 Cor. 6:11).
8. Membership in the church, the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).
9. Possession of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
10. New life in the Spirit and regeneration (Jn. 3:5; Tit. 3:5).
11. Help to live according to the will of God (Rom. 6:6-7; 11-14).
12. The answer of a good conscience toward God (1 Pet. 3:21).

From time to time, we meet people who have been exposed to a denominational type of Christianity, who reject what the Bible says about baptism. They make up their own little creeds about baptism and recite the doctrines of men rather than what the Scriptures affirm about it. They contend that baptism is an outward expression of an inward grace, and so forth. But, as the above scripture references confirm, Calvinistic–saved at the altar type experiences–are but human substitutes for the Word of God—“Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you” (1 Peter 3:21).

Would you obey the command to be baptized and become a New Testament Christian today? The benefits are for those who are Scripturally baptized.

– Robert M. Housby

[The following points have been adapted/revised from Dr. Evertt W. Huffard (Vice President/Dean and Professor, Harding Graduate School Religion) 2006-2007 Catalog]

In his book Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Chambers observed that, “Courage of the highest order is demanded of spiritual leaders—always moral courage and frequently physical courage as well” (Page 86).

As our world continues to slide into self-serving relativism, as families lose their stability…the cry for courage to lead grows louder. As good men and women hesitate to lead at all levels because we are such terrible followers, the courage to lead continues…As leaders at all levels seem to lack the will or strength to do what is right…models of courageous leadership becomes more difficult to find. To be people of moral courage is Paul’s admonition in 1 Corinthians 16:13 and 2 Timothy 1:7: “be men of courage” and “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline”

1. The courage to lead starts within our own souls (Mark 10:43-44).
2. Leadership in the home requires courage (Deuteronomy6:7-9).
3. Leading a church takes more courage than managing one (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15).

One reason for the decline in churches is overmanagement and underleadership. Too many congregations lack members with courage to confront conflict or assume responsibility for fear of criticism.

Lead your family today as the leader that God knows you can be. Lead with moral courage.

– Robert M. Housby

“…they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one”

(Hebrews 11:16)

Growing up in northern Illinois, where fireworks were not legally sold, naturally I was overjoyed when my friend informed me that his family was traveling to Missouri and that he had plans to bring back boxes of fireworks. That summer was spent throwing firecrackers at passing cars from a concealed location across a canal, where the culprits could not be seen. The adrenaline flowed like soda that summer. Many years later (having repented of those deeds) and now living in Missouri, with Boomland so near, I could care less. Isn’t that the way it is with immaturity? We think that we know what we want out of life, and then when it comes our way we have lost interest. Still, the “precious faith” (2 Peter 1:1) is persistently and consistently precious. It does not wane with the years; sag with the tears; or feign with the rain. The Christian faith has a hope that begins in this life and reaches into the next.

Some Christian groups (individuals), in order to pursue their immature need for the pops and cracks of adolescence, must worship with the innovations of musical bands; religious garments; incense; statues of saints; holy water; ad infinitum. But, we did not so learn Christ (see Eph. 4:20). These sensual aspects of church worship are a better reflection of pagan culture, than the Acts of the Apostles (Eph. 4:17-24).

That happy place is neither Missouri nor Boomland, but heaven (Colossians 1:5). May your hope bring you to worship God daily, in the specific splendor of the simplicity which is in Christ (2 Cor. 11:3,4).

– Robert M. Housby

“…they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful
in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”

(2 Peter 1:8)

What is meant by Christian development? 2 Peter 1:8 suggests that Christian development may be (and should be) measured along the lines of being effective and fruitful. To lack the qualities that result in this development is a critical problem (see 2 Peter 1:8-11).

1. Christian development means, first, becoming a Christian (2 Peter 1:1,2).
2. Christian development involves aspiring to the divine nature (2 Peter 1:3,4).
3. Christian development necessitates pursuing certain qualities (2 Peter 1:5-15).

a. Faith – virtue (1:5)
b. virtue – knowledge (1:5b)
c. knowledge – self-control (1:6)
d. self-control – steadfastness (1:6b)
e. steadfastness – godliness (1:6c)
f. godliness – brotherly affection (1:7)
g. brotherly affection – love (1:7b)

The apostle’s list of qualities activates an effective and fruitful lifestyle (2 Peter 3:18). The word produces our thinking; our thinking produces our emotions; our emotions produce our decisions; our decisions produce our actions; our actions produce our habits; our habits produce our character; and, our character produces our destiny. Life in the overflow.

– Robert M. Housby

“…the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for
salvation through faith in Christ Jesus”

(2 Timothy 3:15)

We believe that the Bible has an overarching message. While certainly kingdom is a major doctrine, along with covenant; promise; and salvation, perhaps it is the coming of Messiah which holds all of these together (John 5:39; Luke 24:44-47). The Messiah is Hebrew for “the Christ” (John 1:41). To make the message yours’, several biblical concepts become important.

Torah – The essential ideas behind torah are: teaching, law and direction. Torah, while often identified with the first five books, involves more than a quantity of scrolls, however. Guidance seems dominant.

Mitzvah – This Hebrew term is translated along the lines of commandment. We recognize the Jewish ceremony of Bar-Mitzvah, when a male becomes a son of the commandment in Judaism (Bat-Mitzvah for girls).

Torah and mitzvah enable the sons of God to live for Him—guided specifically by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14). Jesus, himself, seems to be using these two Jewish concepts in his final plea for his disciples in Matthew 28:20—“ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Make the message yours’ today. His presence is conditioned upon these two directives.

-Robert M. Housby