Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio
I have also heard that WN shared some proper "checks and balances" to this teaching that LSM has conveniently left out. Without audiovisual records and the actual context of his messages, we are left with the biases of note takers, translators, and editors.
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Dear brother Ohio,
Yes, indeed. WN most definitely shared some very scriptural, very sobering, and very proper "checks and balances" to this whole "deputy authority" teaching that LSM conveniently left out. WN really captured the New Testament burden for crucified, broken, humble "servant-leaders". WN's requirements for a "deputy authority" are extremely high!
LSM's released their version of the messages WN spoke to his co-workers at Kuling in 1949 in a book entitled
Authority and Submission. This book was originally released in 1988, and we all know what was going on in 1988! WL was making very bold statements about his supreme importance to the LC and the elders and co-workers were pledging allegiance to WL and his ministry. This is so contrary to the whole spirit of WN's messages, it is appalling! It just grieves my spirit tremendously. I was shocked when I read in
The Thread of Gold that LSM had left out 9 chapters (when compared to the version put out by Stephen Kaung in 1972 entitled
Spiritual Authority.) As you might expect, these nine chapters that LSM left out are the ones where WN makes very high demands on anyone who would desire to be a "deputy authority". These 9 chapters are a scathing indictment of everything WL and the BB's were saying and doing in 1988. Interestingly enough, LSM actually had a change of heart and they included these 9 chapters when they published
The Collected Works of Watchman Nee.
What was missing in the LSM 1988 version are all the healthy "checks and balances" to the whole "deputy authority" teaching. Just look at some of the chapters LSM conveniently left out in 1988:
- The Character of God's Deputy Authority - Gracious to Others
- The Misuse of Deputy Authority and God's Governmental Judgment
- The Need for a Deputy Authority to Submit to Authority
- The Need of a Deputy Authority to Sanctify Himself
BTW - For all of you who prefer audio books over printed books, Hovell Audio has made available an unabridged audio book verison of
Spiritual Authority (all the chapters are there!).