The Normal Christian Church Life and Locality

Watchman Nee, The Normal Christian Church Life, pp.97-111 This work was originally published under the title "On the State of Our Missions" in Chinese. Nee wrote a preface to the book expressing his reluctance to issue an English translation. He said that he would prefer having a book published which "better represents my ministry". He added that he dreaded "those who agree and would use it as a manual for service" far more than "those who oppose and would use it as a chart for attack," p. 6. Ironically, just as he feared, this book has been used by Witness Lee to substantiate his doctrine of "Locality". Although the book contains much that is useful, the reader must remember that Nee was struggling with how to set up the church in China (which often had no existing churches in a given locality), not with how to reorganize American Christianity.

Dennis McCallum

Watchman Nee had a burden from God.  The church is never to exceed the boundaries of Biblical locality which is a Biblical city. Anything larger than a locality constitutes a denomination. There were no denominations in the Bible. Anything smaller is focused not on the unit of the church, but on congregationalism, i.e., the meeting place. Hence, you see Mega-Churches working against God's will in a party spirit.

The cult of The Local Church made a denomination by altering Biblical locality. First, Biblical locality has no central hub called The Local Church and the Living Stream Ministry. Second, they have no Apostles to appoint Elders of a locality. Third, generic product sales to all its outlets from that central-hub is aggressively cultic. Fourth, there was no formalized agreement of apostles, because there were no apostles and orders came from one man, like a pope, Witness Lee.

Biblical locality requires no central-hub, there must be Apostles directly commissioned by God, the Apostles must be in agreement, no product sales from the Apostles (all must be freely given as was freely received), Apostles must not exceed their regional jurisdiction, Elders of a locality must not exceed the boundary of a locality, and the body of Christ must learn to respect this authority and submission because it flows beautifully and glorifies God.

Troy