474. Youth Conference in Oslo 1935

A large number of young people came this time, God-fearing young boys and girls. It was good to hear them testify and pray. Quite a number of them were at the conference for the first time.

Initially we clearly sensed the absence of the five brothers who are out evangelizing. However, God’s Spirit quickly fills all lack and all need. The young brothers, namely, Sigurd Bratlie, Aksel Smith, Johannes Kronstad, Elihu Pedersen, and Ronald Henriksen are in Trysil with a car and tents, where they are singing, playing, and speaking the Word of God every evening. They also hold Bible studies now and then for those who are fit for God’s kingdom. There are many people, and there is considerable opposition from those who keep the sheep gathered in their own parties.

Jesus Christ will have a hard time on the day when the Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, Apostolic churches, and even the friends of “Tom, Dick, and Harry” rush at Him to get their exclusive rights from Him. It is a good thing that He will first let fire and brimstone rain from heaven and will let the earth be shaken powerfully before He gathers His kingdom. I think the “party folly” will die away under this powerful treatment.

Meanwhile, the young people rejoice in Christ Himself. It is the older ones who create parties in order to make a living. They feel so safe having names written in black ink in the register. Then they have an overview of how many members they have and how great an income they can reckon on. All this is pure unbelief and fear that God will fail to supply them with bread. The most amazing things can happen when this is the case. A very old preacher from one of these parties attended a meeting that our young brothers were holding. Freedom was given to testify after the usual messages, but no one said anything. After the meeting the old preacher said that 40 years ago he had also lived according to the Word of the cross, but now that had gradually trickled out of his life. He said he had felt reproved by the Word and wished the brothers peace and God’s blessing over the work. The next day, the party where the old preacher belonged called a meeting. He then warned the congregation in the strongest possible terms against the young brothers whom he had blessed the day before.

In this way the party system can deceive and blind people. We can see that God’s Word is right when it says that parties and envy are works of the flesh [Gal. 5:20-21, Norw.], and those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

I want to wish the young brothers all blessing and success. You can never expect help from the religious parties. Help always comes from above, from Him who gave His body. That is the church. His body is not divided into hundreds of parties. He who has an ear hears what the Spirit says to the church. Then all the Bible schools become superfluous. People have learned enough Norwegian to be able to write letters, and they can learn more without having to study theology.

Our names are written in heaven without pen and ink, and we are made into a holy people, into kings and priests, without a theological education. That is biblical. Let us hold to that. Everything else is a human invention.