Baptistic Theologies, 2009

received the same call as him/ 14 Diesen, Norges Vekkelseshistorie gjennom 1000 ar, p. 47. 35 Ibid., p. 47. 36 Ibid., p. 48. Baptist Beginnings in Norway 111 As a result of his work and the people’s response to his message, revival broke out throughout Norway. As always, strong opposition resulted, mainly from the Lutheran hierarchy. The government had sent out letters stating that all ‘unauthorised preachers’ should be considered as ‘loose cannons’. ‘Tukthusloven’ (The Silence Law) of 9 th August 1799 was meant to stop ‘the unauthorised’ preachers by either sending them home or putting them into chain gangs. The ‘Konventikkelplakaten’ law of 1741 forbade preaching by unauthorised preachers. In an attempt to stop Hauge, the authorities arrested him in 1804. Nine years later his trial began, and in 1814 he was found guilty. During his imprisonment his health deteriorated and he was never active again as in the first eight years of his ministry. He died on 29 th March 1824. Today Hauge is recognised as one of Norway’s greatest and most important men, even by the Lutheran Church which rebuked him. Hauge’s connection with the Moravians has been much debated. 38 It is right to say that Hauge's preaching was concentrated on conversion, new birth and forgiveness - along the same lines as the Moravian churches. But in addition, Hauge's preaching was very strong in its emphasis that conversion had to bear fruit, evidenced by new life. On this point Hauge was likened by some writers to the older Pietists. This was the central point of Hauge's message throughout his remarkable work in Norway. Bang states ‘that Haugianism is sole fide (faith alone), plus fruits which were the proof of salvation’ , 40 Were there any Free Church elements in Hauge's preaching? The following things could be included. First, his strong emphasis upon personal conversion drew a clear distinction between the lost and saved. Secondly, this caused a split from the ruling Church. Hauge’s friendship societies became a separate church-like flock with their own meetings. This 7 Already in 1798 he tells about being beaten three times and thrown in jail three times in a very short period. By the end of 1799 both Hauge and many of his fellow workers were in jail. In 1804 he was arrested and was jailed for ten years. Bishop Peder Hansen was directly responsible when he sent a letter to the King’s minister in Copenhagen, attacking Hauge. He was accused of the following: He had held a religious meeting which was illegal according to the law of 1741. He had attacked the rationalistic pastorates of the Lutheran Church. He had led people into a ‘religious excess’. Diesen, Norges Vekkelseshistorie gjennom WOO dr, p. 50. 38 Diesen, Norges Vekkelseshistorie gjennom WOO dr, p. 53. Some maintain that Hauge's preaching was a clear reaction to Rationalism, Orthodoxy and the Moravian movement. But in regard to the last group, is this perhaps only