Foolish Religious Objections

1. You must never be firm, decisive, or sure on behalf of your cause (faith is full assurance) because that is arrogance.

2. You must never speak the truth to those who are present—“of course we realize that you mean us”—because it hurts and offends. Then you lack love. You must speak into the air, to those who are not present, or only about all the things that God has done for us.

3. The Word must not strike anyone; it must not strike any particular spot.

4. Sin must not be mentioned by name, in detail, because then people feel judged.

5. You must never say that you have obtained anything; you must not speak with conviction, with authority, because then you are not humble.

6. You must not have advanced further than the others; everyone has to be equal. No submission. Because then you would be a pope.

7. You must not instruct God’s people; that is insulting, because people know everything so well. In any case one does not receive instruction from man. That would be beneath one’s dignity.

8. You must not use the Sword (which is God’s Word) among God’s people. On the contrary, you must speak peace to them.

9. They say that light over how we can get rid of sin and grow in all that is good are theological quibbling.

10. When people hear something they do not understand they get angry. Then they say, “We need love and humility.”

Elias Aslaksen