“Before honor is humility.” Prov. 18:12.

Thanks for your very good letter where you describe the viewpoint shared by Miss Holmkvist, Jensen, and Father. At the same time, you mention the memorable meeting at Th.R.’s, where by God’s amazing leading I was present from 8:45 to about 9:45 the same evening, while on my way to Egersund to participate in a conscription evaluation.

Present at this meeting were Jensen, a large lady sitting behind Br. Gerrard, and Miss Holmkvist (I don’t remember her so well). They mentioned that when Br. Barratt was in Kristiansand, he was surrounded by a crowd of wealthy people. According to the ones making the complaint, these wealthy people were esteemed as being the most important according to the flesh. The large lady behind Gerrard told about how she also had tried to get in that evening Barratt was visiting Torjussen, the chimney sweep. His daughter Anna had told her that she was welcome to come in but that it would be difficult for her to find a seat, etc. This caused her to feel like she was being left out. Br. Jensen had really wanted to speak with Barratt, but Barratt was always surrounded by a group of people, making it impossible for Jensen to talk to him; so he felt rejected. Br. John W. told us later that Sr. Anna T. (now Mrs. G.) was visiting W. and had invited John’s father and step-mother to come, but not John. John felt like he had been judged according to the flesh, and he felt repressed in his spirit.

Judging from this, it seems to me that people are not completely without blame for having caused Br. Jensen, Sr. Holmkvist, and, in part, John, to wind up somewhat on the outside. Br. Gerrard was not able to clear things up that evening either. To me, it seems absolutely necessary for all those who have transgressed in these instances to acknowledge their offenses directly to those who have suffered the injustices. Then I believe that the mistakes these friends have made will dissipate on their own.

Servants in the church have a duty to be the first to acknowledge their mistakes so that the church can have confidence in them. You mentioned how you really wished that Father would be honored appropriately considering his age. By setting this matter straight, you would win the full confidence of Br. Jensen, Sr. Holmkvist, and Br. John, and Father would be honored for his utter faithfulness in his ministry as a shepherd. Father is a righteous man, and he cannot be disregarded. There is a reason why God worked in him to tenaciously persist in maintaining contact with Jensen and Holmkvist. A full judgment needs to come over the entire church in Kristiansand under which those in leadership humble themselves, those who have been left out are comforted, and Father is honored for his faithfulness.

Your letter from yesterday laid a heavy burden on me, especially regarding your opposition against Father who stood with Jensen and Holmkvist. I was unable to see a way out of this predicament. I told Pauline about it and about the meeting I attended in Kristiansand. As I sat talking to her, it became completely clear to me, and the whole matter resolved itself as I described above. When you settle this matter in the presence of Father, Jensen, Holmkvist, John, Gerrard, Mrs. Gerrard, Torjussen, and the large lady, I believe that this will be a solid foundation for establishing a church that is in good order. This is an excellent opportunity for Br. Gerrard. You should also include yourself among those who have made a mistake, because the whole time you reckoned that J. and H. were entirely at fault. I am not saying by this that J. and H. are faultless, but by removing the blame that all of you have laid on them, the complaint that they had against all of you will be resolved. Because wisdom resolves sins, and it is wise to humble yourself.

God’s ways are wonderful, and His judgments are unsearchable, but since we also have waited for Him in the way of His judgments, let us also humble ourselves under His judgments. For if many souls can be won by my humility, why not then lie flat on my back so that they can cross over on me?

You speak about many things in your letter which I cannot respond to in detail at the moment, because what I have already written can be enough to work with for the time being. We can liken our spirit to something constant which both God’s Spirit and the spirit of the devil are trying to influence. Thieving spirits, lying spirits, etc., are part of the great body of sin (the devil). If you follow the direction of the lying spirits, it will lead you to the devil. It is the same with every other spirit that has a special mission in the service of the evil one.

Hearty greetings to you with Prov. 18:14, and to the church with Prov. 21:16.

Greet Father especially with Phm. 7 in the context of what I have written in this letter.