To: Missionæren

Br. Ludvig Ellingsen wrote in the Nov. 21 issue of Missionæren:

“The Free Mission friends opened a bazaar the evening I was there. Some people think that bazaars should be done away with as much as possible, and I agree. However, in that case we should be extra careful about introducing other methods that are not one bit better, such as the practice of going around knocking on almost every worldly person’s door, begging for money. Quite honestly, that seems to be even worse than putting on a bazaar, as well as all the other nonsense that people come up with in order to solicit money—for God’s cause!!! I wonder if it isn’t worth considering whether there is something fundamentally wrong with the cause itself, since such a ruckus is needed to raise funds—for God’s cause, as it is so beautifully called.”

In light of the above, perhaps it is fitting to write something about this cause.

People say so glibly: “We need to raise money for God’s cause.” We must first ask, “What is God’s cause?” Is it silver and gold that God requires of us, since people are so busy collecting such things for Him? It seems as though God just demands more and more, and only silver and gold can satisfy Him. Gold must be gathered for Him by whatever means. Bazaars with music or stage productions—the country must be searched high and low to find singers and pianists who can gather people by their singing and playing so that lots of money can be raised for God’s cause. The flesh must be built up and Satan served in order to raise money for God’s cause. What a strange cause. Perhaps it would be worth starting a liquor association to raise money for God’s cause, as it is called.

Personally, I have received a completely different understanding of God’s cause. God’s cause is to crush the devil in man. God’s cause is to abstain from the lusts of the flesh and the lusts of the eyes; to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him; to always be delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that His life might be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Peter and John had neither silver nor gold, so, of course, they could not do much to further God’s cause. But the world’s multi-millionaires must accomplish a lot, especially those who give much to the churches. Several times I have been able to visit some of these ornate churches in Southern Europe. Despite all their glory, they are virtually empty. Maybe the people who have provided money for all this also believe they have done much for God’s cause.

God’s cause is to save sinners, to have mercy on those who have a broken and a contrite heart. God’s cause is to train us in righteousness and by His good Spirit to lead us into all truth. Let no one fool themselves by thinking that God’s cause is to gather piles of gold, since all the silver and the gold belong to the Lord, whether it is found in the assembly’s coffers or is buried at the bottom of the ocean. We have not been redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. The cleansing in this blood is God’s cause.

People collect money to build big houses, yet the Lord says that He does not dwell in houses made with hands. Money is gathered for the priest’s cause, yet the Lord says that we are a royal priesthood. Freely you have received, so freely give. You might say: “Well, we must have a place to meet!” True, but we know that if there is room in the heart, there is also room in the house. And if there’s no room in the heart, the Lord has commanded us to depart from them and even shake off the dust from our feet as a testimony against them.

In light of the above, I can’t help but conclude that what people generally think of as God’s cause is in fact the cause of one father, the Devil.

John 8:36: “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

Horten, Nov. 24, 1907