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Thank you for your good letter that I received today. God’s way is a way of wisdom, where love covers a multitude of sins—in other words, sins that don’t have any positive significance. I have often been the target of brothers who have tried to cut me down with their sharp swords the very instant they thought they saw something that was vulnerable to the edge of a sword. If they had been outsiders, that would be one thing, but it has often been ones that I have, by the grace of God, cared for as a mother cares for her child. Most often they have been so weak themselves, in the midst of their strength, that I have had to deal with everything by using the way of love in order to cover the multitude of sins that their attacks were full of. The weapons of light could have certainly found many things to cut into in such attacks, but time and again it has gone to show that the Lord has delivered me out of them all. They have only hurt themselves. It is well and good to be strong, but it is far better to be perfect. 2 Corinthians 9.

An attack that is waged in a rigid and self-assured way, which proves to be zeal without knowledge, will not succeed—it is doomed to fail, even if there was something there that the attacker, in his wisdom, had conjured up, brought to light, and labeled as sin.

Nevertheless, I am glad when a person simply does it out of a love for the truth. I will not shrink back from such blows, or answer them with blows, even if there is much to strike at. But when the blows are combined with Korah’s rebellion, that’s a different matter. Besides, I don’t believe that the path to spiritual progress will lead a person to go over the head of those who seem to be in the way. David did not become a great man by getting rid of Saul. Instead, he showed his greatness by honoring Saul even when Saul sinned, because he was the Lord’s anointed.

It’s written that we are to convince, rebuke, and exhort. There is order in the kingdom of God. One must not first rebuke and then convince. Moreover, it is easy to be a taskmaster when it comes to other people’s children; but when a person becomes a father themself, they are not so quick to strike, even though others insist that now is the time to use the whip.

I have never sensed that any of the above applies to you, dear brother, but I want you to be aware of it so that you can judge rightly. For that matter, the Lord has guided me through His revelations in the knowledge of God, and not a single person has guided me into the deeper truths; but there are many who have tried to draw me away from the right track. It is easy to be strong when a person can bask in truths that they have received—truths which others have had to fight for from the beginning.

If there is a problem, something that a person thinks is wrong, they should point it out according to the ways of wisdom and conviction, and not with sword in hand, especially when dealing with people that the Scriptures say should be honored for their labor both in word and doctrine. Not because I need any honor, but rather that they should not behave foolishly. For me there has been nothing but battle from beginning to end, and the Lord has delivered me. But for brothers in the same spirit, I earnestly desire that they should not be deceived by their own strength, because a wise man who is poor can save an entire city.

Warm greetings.

Your brother,