Some time ago, Br. Elias Aslaksen traveled to Tjømø...

Some time ago, Br. Elias Aslaksen traveled to Tjømø with Br. Even Evensen, the pilot. Evensen wanted his old pilot friends on Tjømø to hear the truths that had made him so happy. Br. Aslaksen spoke at the “free church’s” meeting hall about “cleansing,” but they couldn’t stand it. When these brave pilots (who had probably ridden out many a storm and blizzard on autumn and winter nights off Færder to the northeast) heard about cleansing themselves, their hearts sank. Their fearlessness, which had defied the raging of the elements, was of no use here. Their courage sank, and they hoped they could be saved without having to endure such a thorough cleansing. Br. Aslaksen had to leave after having only held that one meeting. Br. Evensen also learned a lesson here that he had never learned before. An old woman who was crippled with arthritis stood right in the way of the people coming out of the hall and gave Br. Aslaksen this testimony: “God bless you, my boy! Nobody has ever spoken as you did in this hall.”

The same thing happened when Br. Aslaksen visited the evangelicals in Hemsedal. They let him speak at a couple of meetings, and he again spoke about cleansing, whereupon they asked him to leave and never come back. They wanted to keep their “good old” unadulterated doctrine about sin and forgiveness—without being cleansed. What a strange religion that hates purity of heart and the brothers who only want the very best for them.

As we see, the preaching of the “way of the cross” is not tolerated anywhere in the denominations. From the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches on the one extreme to the most liberal Pentecostals on the other, they all agree that Jesus carried the cross, but that we must be spared from bearing our cross. Very few have understood the need to take up their cross daily and cleanse themselves.

Br. Theodor Ellefsen, Karl Pedersen and I have planned to visit our friends in Copenhagen during the holidays, but I don’t know for certain yet if Br. Aslaksen will be able to come with us. Pray that God’s work will succeed through us, because we intend to preach the Word about being cleansed from all filthiness of flesh and spirit.