In the Preface to The Spiritual Man
Recently, due to the special experience which my physical body has undergone, I have come to realize, on the one hand, the reality of eternity, and on the other hand, my indebtedness to the church of God. Therefore, I began to wish that I could finish this book within the shortest possible time. I thank God the Father, and I also thank a few of my friends in the Lord, who have prepared a quiet place for me according to the need of my body. This allowed me to finish Sections One through Four within a few months. Although I have not yet started on the remaining sections, God the Father is always waiting for me when I need the grace. Now that this book is about to be published, I would say a few honest words: it was not an easy matter to learn the truths of this book, and it was more difficult to write about the truths of this book. During those two months, I can say that I was living between Satan's jaws. What a conflict that was! How much there was to withstand! All the strength of the spirit, the soul, and the body were hurled against Hades. Such warfare has temporarily ceased now. However, the remaining sections are not finished. May those who stood with Moses on the mount not forget Joshua on the plain. I know that the enemy deeply hates this book. He will try all he can to obstruct it and to stop people from getting it. Even when they get it, he will stop them from reading it. May the enemy not prevail in this matter. (LSM collected works)
Due to my special
experience in the physical body during these few years, it has been given me to
know more of the reality of eternity and, likewise, the great debt I owe the
church of God. Thus I hoped I would be able to finish this book within a short
period. Thanks to God the Father and to some of my friends in the Lord, I was
provided with a quiet place for resting and writing. Within a few months
I had finished Parts I through IV. Although I have not yet begun the other
parts, I am sure God the Father will supply the necessary grace at the needed
time.
Now that this volume is shortly to be published and the other volumes will soon
follow, let me speak frankly: learning the truths in this book was not easy;
writing them down was even harder. I may say that for two months I lived daily
in the jaws of Satan. What battling! What withstanding! All my powers of
spirit, soul and body were summoned to contend with hell. Such battles
are now temporarily suspended, but more parts must be written. You who are Moses
on the hill, please do not forget Joshua in the plain. I know the enemy hates
this work deeply. He will try every means to prevent it from reaching people’s
hands and to hinder them from reading it. Oh, that you would not allow the enemy
to succeed here. (CFP white covers from the original Complete Works of
Watchman Nee)
Findings:
- In the lsm/lc version, we read that the purpose is for "my body", that is, his physical outer man. In the original, we read the purpose is for the Church "for writing".
- In the lsm/lc version, "all the strength" of Nee's tripartite being was "hurled against Hades". In the original, we read "all my powers" were "summoned to contend with hell". In the former, "strength" is used instead of "power". Yet, we are made in God's image with such powers of spirit, soul and body! Calvinists will say the image of God has been damaged (which requires passivity to being premade for salvation). Of course, their view is wrong. Man is still made in God's image and though man is fallen, the image of God has not been. The petty self of leeists say power is giving glory to Nee. If that were the case, so would strength, since strength is Nee's strength. Leeists need to be careful not to excite their petty self, because they are reacting to the major alterations. For example, a substantive alteration by the lsm/lc cult is seen when we can find no hate chapters that is required in their version.
"For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, [they gave] of their own accord" (2 Cor. 8.3).
- Do you think Nee is saying that his being is being hurled to death (hades is the grave)? Or do you think Nee is saying more positively, he is contending with hell itself? The former seems passive, whether the latter is active in warfare, more representative of Nee's work.
Conclusion:
- In these two paragraphs and comments by leeists, we discover three serious errors: (1) a specific detail left out about writing, (2) passivity of being hurled rather than contending, and (3) the petty self in leeists, when they write, "he's giving himself glory it is wrong" (Kerry S. Robichaux), which is sinning bearing false witness against Watchman Nee. Incidentally, she (he) also calls herself God or that she "became God," and also made these statements: "makes human beings God" or "to make human beings God," etc. Be careful of false teachers!
Troy