Thank you for your long and well-substantiated letter. I am so happy to see that you are holding fast to the Head, Christ Jesus, and that you are of the opinion that “in the clique” is no different than “no clique” and loneliness is no different than fellowship as long as absolutely everything is in Christ. We can agree on this matter for now, just as long as you don’t use this knowledge to benefit “the clique,” but that you also share it with “no clique.”

Then you say that God’s wisdom is the link between God and tangible things. This is not quite correct. If you touch a blue anemone flower with all its delicate veins and tendrils, you touch God’s wisdom. Tangible things are God’s wisdom, because His work is His wisdom. Wisdom leads the way for all things and is the mother of all things. (Ref. Apocrypha.)

The next thing you speak about is that we as people, who are created in His image, should make our plans and consciously set our goals; then by the power of His wisdom we will also reach our goals.

I can in no way agree with this. How can we consciously set defined goals if we don’t even know what to pray for as we ought? If we had a conscious goal, we could pray for success in reaching that goal; but the fact is that we don’t know what we should pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. A messenger from Satan struck Paul on the mouth, and Paul prayed three times that it would depart from him, but the answer he received was, “My grace is sufficient for you.” This messenger of Satan was certainly not included in Paul’s goals and calculations. Who sets for himself a goal to be brought to nothing? Who can see beyond tribulation and adversity and set his own conscious goals of obtaining glory that can only be attained on the other side of sufferings and tribulations? No! Those clearly defined goals certainly are of a father—the devil—even though they sound so beautiful. God certainly has conscious goals for us, but the notion that we can define goals for ourselves is doomed to fail. Just let it fail! It is certainly beyond the scope of all my goals and calculations that I should have to go out now and deal with such a huge crowd of people. But all of it is within God’s calculations. That’s why we must allow His calculations to stand and let go of our own.

We still have very much to talk about together regarding many things, dear Aksel. But God will allow that in His time. Follow the truth and live in God’s will, and listen to the Spirit and do His bidding; then your ear will be in tune, and your heart will become like the finest litmus paper, able to detect the smallest traces of acid. However, never try to kick against the goads, because you cannot play that game without suffering cuts and bruises.

That’s all I have to say to you this time. God will stand by you in tribulation; and you have not yet resisted unto bloodshed. It is not pleasant for us to be unclothed, but the One who has chosen us for this is God, and He has also given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

Best wishes “in the clique” as though you were outside “the clique,” and you will find that I for my part will love “the clique” as though there were no “clique.”

Your brother, remaining in Christ Jesus, “in the clique” and outside “the clique,” but not “without the clique.”

Greet everyone at home.