Witness Lee Altered Spiritual Authority by Watchman Nee

Spiritual Authority, the original, was preserved at Christian Fellowship Publishers.

Remember how Pat Knapp misread Spiritual Authority?

In 1988, the Living Stream Ministry published a book entitled Authority and Submission, which contained messages given by Watchman Nee. This book contains chapters with such titles as "The Importance of Authority", "Examples of Rebellion in the Old Testament"... "God Intends That Man Submit to Representative Authority," and "The Manifestation of Man's Rebellion...." This book was published after Witness Lee had identified a rebellion that was occurring in the Local Church. Eventually, to expose and put down the "rebellion," the Living Stream Ministry published Witness Lee's book, The Fermentation of the Present Rebellion.

An excerpt from The Thread of Gold page 350: "In 1988, the Living Stream Ministry published a book entitled Authority and Submission, which contained messages given by Watchman Nee...

What the Living Stream Ministry did not include in Authority and Submission is telling. They omitted almost half the messages that Watchman Nee gave in the series."

These can be seen in the second half of Spiritual Authority, published by Christian Fellowship Publishers. The omitted messages have chapter titles like these: "The Character of Delegated Authorities: Graciousness", "The Misuse of Authority and God's Governmental Discipline", "Delegated Authorities Must Be Under Authority", "The Daily Life and Inward Motivation of Delegated Authorities," and "The Conditions for Being Delegated Authorities."

First of all while I was meeting in a locality, I had the impression "Authority and Submission" was complete and distinct. That it wasn't a cut and paste job to suit one's needs as it now seems. I know quite a few elders that should read and apply Spiritual Authority. I've never read it myself and indeed I want to know. Perhaps Watchman Nee's messages spoke according to my leading as to Delegated Authority matching a particular character. To me that says there's no room for politics and as I have said before to be a delegated authority or deputy authority [that] comes with accountability, responsibility, and integrity.

Having read The Thread of Gold, I can see why "Authority and Submission" was produced the way it was, and void of what is available in "Spiritual Authority". I can see why college age brothers and sisters are "recommended" to read "Authority and Submission". Based on that book, each responsible brother has a blank check on each brother and sister without accountability. If a brother is one of capacity, integrity, and compassion, that blank check won't be used.

Mr. Smith