(See Missionæren No. 2, 1908/01/09)

I received your good letter, plus the books and magazines. I wrote immediately to Kristiansen (yesterday). It’s awful to see how scared Dallmeyer has become. It seems Schrenk has managed to totally overcome him with his arguments.

I wrote to Kristiansen that God has never been able to use such people in His service who turn like a weather vane at the slightest puff of wind. Schrenk asserts that the laying on of hands—“the Los Angeles Spirit” (as he so detestably calls it)—was propagated by the laying on of hands throughout America, Norway, and Germany. I replied that I received the baptism of the Spirit in 1900 but received the gift of tongues, interpretation, and prophecy in 1907. I told him I have the same Spirit now as I had in 1900—after receiving the gifts. Moreover, a great many people have received the Spirit and the gifts without the laying on of hands. I also said that those who have received the Spirit live a godly life and detest sin in all its forms, and that the Spirit that leads us to abstain from evil poses no danger. Then I told him that according to Schrenk’s and Dallmeyer’s line of reasoning, the Spirit that was poured out in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost would have to be called the “Jerusalem Spirit” and the Spirit that led Martin Luther would have to be called the “Wittenberg Spirit,” etc.

As for 1 Cor. 14:2, I said it is clear that he who speaks in tongues speaks unto God, since nobody knows what all those strange words mean. However, when the interpretation comes, it comes for the purpose of edification, which pertains to people. That is what they feel is so completely wrong. My reply was that we speak in the “Spirit of Christ,” and the nature of the “Spirit of Christ” is that it always thinks of the others—always has their best interests at heart.

Moreover, all these “mental gymnastics” and “cunningly devised fables” that they are preoccupied with are just natural and human. I wrote to Kristiansen that only someone in gross darkness would dare to use the kind of expressions that Dallmeyer has used. Schrenk certainly has his foot on Dallmeyer’s neck.

Rubanowitsch contends that if anyone uses the expression “I, Jesus” during a prophecy, that is evidence that he has the spirit of the devil and wants to put himself in God’s place, etc. It is clear that Jesus uses “I, Jesus” about Himself, and “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” When people prophesy, they most often use direct quotes from Jesus or His apostles who were inspired by the Spirit, or they use their own words inspired by that same Spirit. Rubanowitsch wants to separate Jesus’ Spirit from the person, but it’s here he’s mistaken, because it is not just our spirit that is identified with Him, but also our body and soul. These things were hard for him to swallow.

Anyway, all they have to offer is dry “doctrine”; God catches these so-called wise people in their brashness. It is difficult to see how Kristiansen can emerge from this whole affair unscathed. If he doesn’t go out from among them but instead touches what is unclean, he will sooner or later succumb. God tests each person, and if they are unable to stand, they will succumb.

Regarding the matter of writing to the newspapers about the mistakes that have occurred in different towns: I think that would be very dangerous since it would give our opponents an opening for attack, and those who are weak might draw back.

God doesn’t place the burden of battle on everyone; it is only the shepherds who have been given the task to keep the enemy at bay. The sheep should be left to graze in peace, unaware of these battles. We mustn’t allow the wolf into the sheepfold and take up the battle with him there, because then the sheep would be scattered. We must fight our battle alone, in all quietness. When the enemy—the wolf—has been slain, we can carry his carcass into the fold and show it to the sheep. This increases confidence in their shepherd. God is the one who has appointed “shepherds,” etc., in the church. We should always show our strongest side to the enemy, because then he will fear us, and show our strongest side to those we are watching over, because that strengthens them. We can show our weak side to God, who is looking out for us all. I have longed to write this letter to you.

We are waging spiritual warfare. Once we have overcome in the Spirit, it only takes a few strokes of the pen to put a whole army of enemies to flight. He gives us power to tread on scorpions and serpents and to prevail against all the hosts of hell. We must make a clear distinction between the “doctrines of man” and the knowledge of God.

It was quite a “scorpion” these Germans put out there. Dallmeyer had sought counsel from several elder brothers, and he had plans to seek even more advice from some “fathers in Christ.” I just hope he doesn’t meet the kind of fathers who were seated neatly in rows at the National Theater in Oslo during the ministers’ convention. I suspect that this kind of father would have fit in perfectly as a spectator at the Roman Colosseum where Christians were tortured to death. It is a terrible thing when Samson loses his hair, because then they can gouge out his eyes so that he is totally blind. God gives them over to a debased mind. There is a need for people to watch over God’s flock who aren’t thrown off balance by the devil’s first onslaught.

Concerning those things that have taken place in the church, much can be credited to these accounts: “So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” There is no doubt that sin was present, but the Lord will not impute it since there was no deceit in the spirit. We, too, must bear this in mind. Concerning the brother you wrote about, there is no cause for alarm, as long as he intends to abstain from all that madness.

Greet everyone at home. Br. Kristian Olsen and Br. Berg just came in, and I read the letter out loud to them. Greet Br. Gerrard, Helga, and the other friends. Hearty greetings to you from your brother, always sharing in the battles and victories of Christ Jesus,

Through battle we get to know one another. Doing battle is actually fun, because it always ends in victory. “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ Jesus.” So whether they “examine us with a fine tooth comb” (F. S. in Missionæren), or they try to “sweep us away” (Dallmeyer), we will stand as firm as ever in the power of God—no thanks to them.

I had to write somewhat cautiously to Kristiansen, so he didn’t get the impression that I had gone completely mad.

I have just received a letter from Plum. He said the letter he received had been really beneficial, because a sister had condemned one of the pillars, and this person had then begun to draw back. Plum is asking if Barratt is a leader appointed by the Lord. The Kirkeklokkerne has attracted enemies because it defends the movement.

If we are to write about how speaking in tongues and interpreting can be directed toward people, it must be revealed in the Spirit. It is easier to understand than to explain. I couldn’t go into detail when writing to Kristiansen about this.