Doubting Roy Hershberger Thomas

Roy says The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee is "For anyone who is ready to press on into the deeper things of the spirit this is an excellent book to start with." To start with? This book is the foremost and well told book in the history of the church on the dividing of spirit, soul and body, the most important aspect of walking in the spirit and experiencing the work of the cross. In total, there is no book that compares, apart from the Scriptures, on the redemptive design, deliverance from sin, natural and supernatural; and spiritual life and warfare. It is comprehensively encompassing.

He further says about Nee, "I have heard that Nee himself was not very pleased with the book, and some have reported that he wished he had never written it." Watchman Nee never said he wished he never wrote it. He said it was a perfect work as any work could be. What Nee said was that he did not want to publish it for a time because he felt too many people were using it as merely a book of principles rather than what it was meant for, entering into deep spiritual life walking in Christ. On page 146-147 of The Spiritual Man (CFP), Nee writes, "If we hear the truth of the cross but do not allow Him to work this truth into our lives, then we know nothing but a theory and an ideal." Co-crucifixion is but a teaching to many saints who really lack clear understanding of the Holy Spirit in the scheme of salvation.

More mistakes made by Roy when he said, "It was penned at the tender age of 19 so it is understandable if there is some level of thinking contained within it that is out of balance. One should keep this in mind as well when reading it..." If Nee was born in 1903, and his first preface was written in 1927 after the first 3 parts, and his second preface was written in 1928 after he completed the last 7 parts of The Spiritual Man, wouldn't that make Nee about 24 or 25 years old, not 19 years of age? I have read this book many times, and I could not find a single thing out of balance, so a vague suggestion it is out of balance is out of balance itself.

What Roy is indicating by his words is that he did not read The Spiritual Man from CFP very carefully. A full read needs to be in the offering by Roy.

Troy Brooks