<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: The biblical revelation of the local church
Review: At the time I first read this book, the Lord had been increasingly showing me how far short of the Bible that most local churches fall, particularly in the denominations, which divide the Body of Christ. Thus, when I read Watchman Nee's exposition on what the Bible teaches us about the practical aspects of the local church (as opposed to the universal Church), I was very much encouraged and enlightened by his exposition.However, I had an extremely hard time with his teaching that the only biblical revelation of a local church is a church that spans the entire city: In God's eyes, a local church consists of every single child of God in a geographical city. A practical local church must include all believers in Christ, and it is unbiblical to form a "church" that excludes anyone in the city whom Christ receives as His own. It took a second careful reading of the book and some practical experience with Christians who are practicing this reality for me to see that this is exactly what the Bible teaches. What also helped was the sequel to this book, "Further Talks on the Church Life", which addresses many confusing questions such as "the church in the house/home", the biblical meaning of Christian unity, and the true biblical membership of a local church. A study of this subject is not complete without reading this companion volume (especially if the first book doesn't persuade you). I've read quite a few of Watchman Nee's books, and I never cease to be astonished by how he manages at the same time to produce a crystal clear yet razor sharp exposition of the Bible. He seems to catch almost every detail, and he is truly gifted in making the most complex theological subjects very simple and practical.
I highly recommend this book to all the Lord's loving seekers who are sick and tired of playing church, who want to practice the reality of the Body of Christ.
Rating:
Summary: this man speaks truth
Review: I have known, studied, followed, and appreciated the ministry of Watchman Nee and his co-worker in the Lord, Witness Lee, for my entire life. I grew up in this fellowship, and I have only experienced denominational Christianity as an outsider looking in. Brother Nee's ministry concerning the church as set forth in this book is full of light and revelation. The church is the Body of Christ, as is made very clear in the Bible (Eph. 1:22-23), and as such there should be an organic relationship between all the members of the Body, namely, all those who have believed into Jesus Christ. If one member of a person's body rebels, the whole body is put out of function. Likewise, if a group of Christians follows one specific doctrine, and another group contends that a different doctrine is truer, more important, etc., then the Body of Christ is dismembered, because all the members of the Body are not fellowshipping in the life of Christ together. Watchman Nee, in his exhaustive study of the Bible and a lifetime of labor in the Lord, the last twenty years of which were spent in a Chinese Communist concentration camp, was very clear that there is but one Body of Christ in the universe. The oneness of Christ's Body is what Christ Himself died to produce, not just individual sects of believers (Ephesians 4:3-6, 13-16, 25). In New Testament times, the believers in a city all met together--which is why the Epistles are always addressed to the believers in a particular locality, Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, Philippi, etc. Paul and the other apostles never addressed their letters to the believers on a particular street, and certainly Paul was very clear that all the believers he wrote to should not be divisive in any way, and should refuse any divisive teaching. How wonderful it would be if all Christians would see this vision, that in the church (including all the believers) there can be no Greek, no Jew, no Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, or anything else...but that Christ Himself is the life in all of us, and that He desires us to live by His life so we would be one Body to express Him and represent Him on the earth. What a testimony to the greatness of our God, that He could build countless irreconciliably different individuals into just one, glorious expression of Himself. This is the normal Christian church life Watchman Nee is talking about: how can it be normal for the Body of Christ to be divided? How can it be normal for believers who claim the same Lord not also claim to be members of His one Body? It is normal for Christians to be in oneness! Watchman Nee is also very clear that if a teaching causes division in the Body, it must be put out. How can I claim to be a Methodist rather than a Baptist? Or denominational rather than non? There is only Body, just as there is only one Christ, and only one God. That is the only claim I make, and Christ's is the only name I take. I highly encourage every Christian who has ever wondered what the Body of Christ is, and why there are so many different "churches" today, to read this book. May the Lord grant you a vision to see His Body, and that you are a part of it.
Rating:
Summary: this man speaks truth
Review: I have known, studied, followed, and appreciated the ministry of Watchman Nee and his co-worker in the Lord, Witness Lee, for my entire life. I grew up in this fellowship, and I have only experienced denominational Christianity as an outsider looking in. Brother Nee's ministry concerning the church as set forth in this book is full of light and revelation. The church is the Body of Christ, as is made very clear in the Bible (Eph. 1:22-23), and as such there should be an organic relationship between all the members of the Body, namely, all those who have believed into Jesus Christ. If one member of a person's body rebels, the whole body is put out of function. Likewise, if a group of Christians follows one specific doctrine, and another group contends that a different doctrine is truer, more important, etc., then the Body of Christ is dismembered, because all the members of the Body are not fellowshipping in the life of Christ together. Watchman Nee, in his exhaustive study of the Bible and a lifetime of labor in the Lord, the last twenty years of which were spent in a Chinese Communist concentration camp, was very clear that there is but one Body of Christ in the universe. The oneness of Christ's Body is what Christ Himself died to produce, not just individual sects of believers (Ephesians 4:3-6, 13-16, 25). In New Testament times, the believers in a city all met together--which is why the Epistles are always addressed to the believers in a particular locality, Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, Philippi, etc. Paul and the other apostles never addressed their letters to the believers on a particular street, and certainly Paul was very clear that all the believers he wrote to should not be divisive in any way, and should refuse any divisive teaching. How wonderful it would be if all Christians would see this vision, that in the church (including all the believers) there can be no Greek, no Jew, no Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, or anything else...but that Christ Himself is the life in all of us, and that He desires us to live by His life so we would be one Body to express Him and represent Him on the earth. What a testimony to the greatness of our God, that He could build countless irreconciliably different individuals into just one, glorious expression of Himself. This is the normal Christian church life Watchman Nee is talking about: how can it be normal for the Body of Christ to be divided? How can it be normal for believers who claim the same Lord not also claim to be members of His one Body? It is normal for Christians to be in oneness! Watchman Nee is also very clear that if a teaching causes division in the Body, it must be put out. How can I claim to be a Methodist rather than a Baptist? Or denominational rather than non? There is only Body, just as there is only one Christ, and only one God. That is the only claim I make, and Christ's is the only name I take. I highly encourage every Christian who has ever wondered what the Body of Christ is, and why there are so many different "churches" today, to read this book. May the Lord grant you a vision to see His Body, and that you are a part of it.
Rating:
Summary: Coming Home
Review: Reading this was like coming home. Ahhh, I thought to myself...that's what I always thought too. And the parts I didn't say that, I said, oh that's how that works out. Yes, that makes perfect sense. This will knock your socks off if you're in a denominational church (99% of the Church). And if you're in a not-mainstream fellowship you will glean much from it of practical use. Highly recommended for any Believer. To go with this book, I also recommend _The Open Church_ by Gene Edwards.
Rating: 
Summary: Good on the apostolic work, not much else.
Review: This book has some very good things in it, and fortunantely, most the book is dedicated to talking about things that are good. I have yet to find any other book that better describes true apostolic ministry, and the book does a good job at also describing the function of elders and deacons. Though I feel Nee was lacking some insight into the these things as well, and probably reads a little too much into the functions of these three offices in relation to local and extra-local ministry. However, I have a serious contention with Nee on one major issue of his book. Nee teaches that indeed, there should be just one local church per city. While I agree with Nee that we should not use national and racial differences as a reason to divide fellowship, for as the Scriptures teach, "There is neither Jew nor Greek...all are one in Christ Jesus." However, Nee promotes that there is no reason to ever disfellowship/break fellowship with an individual(s) on the basis of doctrinal differences. Yet, Nee himself is a hypocrite saying this, for he teaches that "the local church" cannot work together with denominational, or even nondenominational churches. He states that the Bible has called us to be only a local city based church, so we dare not share in "the work." So in otherwords, Nee has decided there is actually a sufficient ground for not working together with Christians who hold a different doctrine than he. Nee creates a denomination in doing this, though he denies it several times. Nee teaches that so long as we hold to the fundamental essentials of our faith- those things which we were required to acknowledge in order to believe in Christ; namely the atonement work of Christ and His divinity. However, even as much as many christians may agree with this view (on just needing to agree on essentials), such thought is totally foreign to scripture. Without preaching a sermon (for this is a book review), the scriptures teach that we must worship in spirit and truth. If we are not worshiping in truth, then we are creating a god in whatever image we have decided to fashion it in. We end up saying God says something, when He does not, which is adding to the word of God. Worshiping according to false doctrines is idolatry, and those who are living in sin Matthew 18 teaches we must attempt to restore, but if restoration fails, we must cut them off from fellowship. People holding to wrong doctrine (and don't confuse doctrine with opinion) are living and darkness, in sin. 1 John teaches us that there is no fellowship with light and darkness, and if such persons have lost intimate fellowship with Christ, then we have no true fellowship with them should we be found living in the light. So it is only natural that if we have no fellowship with them in the heavenly realm, then we are not to pretend we have fellowship with them in this life. "Remove the wicked man from among you." (1 Cor 5) We ought not dare pretend to have a unity that does not exist. Also just a note, this is probably one of the better translations of Nee's works I've read to date. It is a lot more clear what he means in this book vs many others of his I've read. On a bad note, the book after the first couple of chapters becomes way too repetitive. You feel like you are reading the same thing over and over and over again...then you stop and realize you actually are. However, I encourage you to do as Nee said, and read all his book before you make any decisions about it. Sadly, as good as this book might be at times, I cannot recommend you read it or keep it on your shelf unless you are just doing research for apostles in China.
Rating:
Summary: Good on the apostolic work, not much else.
Review: This book has some very good things in it, and fortunantely, most the book is dedicated to talking about things that are good. I have yet to find any other book that better describes true apostolic ministry, and the book does a good job at also describing the function of elders and deacons. Though I feel Nee was lacking some insight into the these things as well, and probably reads a little too much into the functions of these three offices in relation to local and extra-local ministry. However, I have a serious contention with Nee on one major issue of his book. Nee teaches that indeed, there should be just one local church per city. While I agree with Nee that we should not use national and racial differences as a reason to divide fellowship, for as the Scriptures teach, "There is neither Jew nor Greek...all are one in Christ Jesus." However, Nee promotes that there is no reason to ever disfellowship/break fellowship with an individual(s) on the basis of doctrinal differences. Yet, Nee himself is a hypocrite saying this, for he teaches that "the local church" cannot work together with denominational, or even nondenominational churches. He states that the Bible has called us to be only a local city based church, so we dare not share in "the work." So in otherwords, Nee has decided there is actually a sufficient ground for not working together with Christians who hold a different doctrine than he. Nee creates a denomination in doing this, though he denies it several times. Nee teaches that so long as we hold to the fundamental essentials of our faith- those things which we were required to acknowledge in order to believe in Christ; namely the atonement work of Christ and His divinity. However, even as much as many christians may agree with this view (on just needing to agree on essentials), such thought is totally foreign to scripture. Without preaching a sermon (for this is a book review), the scriptures teach that we must worship in spirit and truth. If we are not worshiping in truth, then we are creating a god in whatever image we have decided to fashion it in. We end up saying God says something, when He does not, which is adding to the word of God. Worshiping according to false doctrines is idolatry, and those who are living in sin Matthew 18 teaches we must attempt to restore, but if restoration fails, we must cut them off from fellowship. People holding to wrong doctrine (and don't confuse doctrine with opinion) are living and darkness, in sin. 1 John teaches us that there is no fellowship with light and darkness, and if such persons have lost intimate fellowship with Christ, then we have no true fellowship with them should we be found living in the light. So it is only natural that if we have no fellowship with them in the heavenly realm, then we are not to pretend we have fellowship with them in this life. "Remove the wicked man from among you." (1 Cor 5) We ought not dare pretend to have a unity that does not exist. Also just a note, this is probably one of the better translations of Nee's works I've read to date. It is a lot more clear what he means in this book vs many others of his I've read. On a bad note, the book after the first couple of chapters becomes way too repetitive. You feel like you are reading the same thing over and over and over again...then you stop and realize you actually are. However, I encourage you to do as Nee said, and read all his book before you make any decisions about it. Sadly, as good as this book might be at times, I cannot recommend you read it or keep it on your shelf unless you are just doing research for apostles in China.
Rating:
Summary: Tough Truth For A Traditional Church
Review: This book is a classic by Nee that few Christians have ever read or heard of. I would no doubt believe that many have not heard of it because of the hard hitting truth that Nee brings forth in this book. For years I tried to reject what he teaches in this book but the more I have read my Bible and the more I have read books by house church leaders the more I have become convinced of its truth.
Nee writes about the normal Christian church life. He tears down many of the man-made traditions such as one pastor rule versus a plurality of elders leadership (Acts 11:30; 14:23; 15:6, 23; 20:17, 25-35; Titus 1:5). He tears down the walls of division among believers by pointing to the unity of the Body in Scripture (Eph. 4:4-6) and he forces us to wrestle with nearly every facet of the Church.
While I don't agree fully with Nee in all parts, he does force you to go the Bible for your doctrines and practices (1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 2:15; 3:6). A must read for every true disciple (John 8:31-32).
<< 1 >>
|
