Category: Teaching and Fellowship
No one likes to be misunderstood, much less to be the target of unfounded rumors and false accusations. Opposition to our gospel work may surprise us when we first encounter it, followed by … Continue reading Encountering Opposition
Sometimes we who meet in the local churches are asked why we read and promote the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee. The asker may imply that doing so is wrong. When … Continue reading Why We Read and Promote the Ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee
In recent years we have seen the growing influence of social media, an increasingly lawless arena in which false accusations are plentiful, rumors are abundant, and accountability is rare. It is a serious … Continue reading A Warning about Rumors and False Witness
Some saints—including full-time serving ones, students, and others—may have incorrect concepts concerning how those in the local churches should work on the college campuses. For that reason, it is good to review some … Continue reading Concerning Campus Work
1 Thes. 3:4 – For even when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to be afflicted, even as it also came to pass and you know. First Thessalonians … Continue reading Concerning Inoculation – “We Told You Beforehand”
As the day of the Lord’s second coming approaches, it is important to have a basic understanding of the place of Israel in God’s economy. Since the re-establishment of the nation of … Continue reading Israel in God’s Economy (1) – An Introduction
Understanding the role of the nation of Israel in God’s economy begins from knowing its origin. By the time of Genesis 11 the human race was in open rebellion against God. Then … Continue reading Israel in God’s Economy (2) – God’s Calling, His Promises, and His Faithfulness
The book of Isaiah contains a “divine philosophy”—God chastises in love His beloved Israel who turned away from Him, He exercises His righteous judgment upon the nations who desolated Israel, and Christ … Continue reading Israel in God’s Economy (3) – God’s Way of Dealing with Israel and the Nations and Its Issue
As believers in Christ who care for the working out of God’s plan, we should understand the role of Israel relative to God’s economy in the present age, the age of grace. … Continue reading Israel In God’s Economy (4) – Israel and God’s Economy in the Present Age
As those who eagerly await the coming of the Lord, we should know the three main prophecies concerning Israel that must be fulfilled before His return. The first two have already been … Continue reading Israel in God’s Economy (5) – The Main Prophecies concerning Israel before the Lord’s Coming
Because of the unique role that Israel occupies in God’s economy it will be the focus of events that take place on the earth at the end of this age[1], a period … Continue reading Israel in God’s Economy (6) – Israel in the End Times, the Millennium, and Eternity Future
Two of the three main prophecies concerning Israel leading up to the Lord’s return have been fulfilled. The nation of Israel was re-established in 1948 after nearly 1,900 years, something unprecedented in … Continue reading Israel in God’s Economy (7) – Our Attitude
Some saints, including some leading ones, may have a wrong concept concerning the exercise of authority based on cultural traditions and natural concepts, not the Word of God or the ministry in the … Continue reading Love—The Basis and Power of Authority
Acts 15 and Matthew 18 show us a critical point concerning authority, namely that authority derives from the Lord’s presence. This has great significance in our practice of fellowship and prayer. Acts 15 … Continue reading The Source of Authority—The Lord’s Presence
The Apostle Paul’s ministry shows us Christ as the center of God’s economy, the cross as the center of God’s operation in His economy, and the church, the Body of Christ, as the … Continue reading Christ, the Cross, and the Church
Marriage is a great matter in the Bible. The record of God’s restoration of His creation in Genesis 1 and 2 consummates with the marriage of one man, Adam, and one woman, Eve. … Continue reading Holding Marriage in Honor
The fellowship of life in the Body of Christ is a most precious and vital matter (1 Cor. 1:9; 2 Cor. 13:14; Acts 2:42; 1 John 1:1-7). We should grieve whenever a brother … Continue reading Restoring Fellowship in the Body of Christ
A central goal of the Lord’s move in His recovery is to produce overcomers so that He can return to end this age and establish His kingdom (Rev. 12:10-11). If we aspire to … Continue reading The Kind of Person the Lord Can Use to Turn the Age
Public discourse in our society today is often characterized by extreme incivility and intemperance. The advent of the Internet and particularly social media has reinforced this trend. As those who have been purchased … Continue reading “Let Your Speech Be Always with Grace, Seasoned with Salt”
How should a believer evaluate whether the ministry in the Lord’s recovery—that is, the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee and their co-workers who have continued to minister on the same line—or … Continue reading Genuine Ministers of the New Covenant
When problems arise in the local churches, there is a tendency among some to ask, “If this ministry and the local churches are really a recovery of the Lord, how could such things … Continue reading When Problems Arise in the Local Churches: Avoiding Two Errors
The sisters have a crucial role in the church life that is most highly valued. According to God’s arrangement, the sisters stand in a unique position to uphold God’s government as an anti-testimony … Continue reading The Crucial Role of the Sisters in the Church Life
God’s desire is to head up all things in Christ (Eph. 1:10). In His plan the church as the Body takes the lead to be headed up in Christ by its members holding … Continue reading Caring for Both the Headship of Christ and the Fellowship of the Body
Just as there is a definite distinction between Living Stream Ministry (LSM) and the local churches, there is also an important distinction between LSM and the ministry and the work in the recovery. … Continue reading The Relationship of Living Stream Ministry to the Ministry and the Work
Recently the promotion of the independence, or autonomy, of a local church’s administration has reemerged. This mistaken concept is not new. For example, in the late 1980s some brothers pointed to earlier published … Continue reading No Thought of Independence in the Bible
Some have taught that any fellowship or intervention by the apostles or any fellowship of concern from other local churches is improper interference in a church’s local administration; this has no basis in … Continue reading Genuine Local Churches, Part 1 – Neither Autonomous nor Independent
The teaching of the autonomy of the local churches claims that apostles who touch the affairs of a local church improperly interfere in that church’s local administration. This error, which was covered in … Continue reading Genuine Local Churches, Part 2 – Following the Teaching and Leading of the Apostles
Isaiah 28:13a contains an important principle in knowing the revelation of the Bible. It shows that any truth in the Bible cannot be understood from a single passage. As Witness Lee explained: It … Continue reading Being Faithful to Our Brothers’ Complete Ministry Concerning the Practice of the Church (1)
A different teaching has recently been circulated that says that those who function as apostles have no standing to touch the administration of a local church. To buttress that claim the following quote … Continue reading Being Faithful to Our Brothers’ Complete Ministry Concerning the Practice of the Church (2)
Words have power. On the one hand, they are the means by which God has chosen to communicate His self-revelation, the Bible, to man (Heb. 1:1, 3; 2 Pet. 1:21), the means by … Continue reading On ‘Independent’ Administration
The Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread, and having given thanks, He broke it and said, This is My body, which is given for you; this … Continue reading Coming to the Lord’s Table
There is much talk in modern society concerning gender identity and sexual orientation. If we are going to represent the Lord as luminaries shining in a dark world (Phil. 2:15), it is important … Continue reading Concerning Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
Whenever we seek to understand a truth from the Bible, we must take care of the principle of “here a little, there a little” (Isa. 28:10) and of caring for, but not being … Continue reading A Historical Sketch of the Ministry’s Teaching on the Practice of the Church and Its Administration
The Lord’s Concept of Leadership Versus Man’s Concept In this three-part series we will examine the matter of leadership among the local churches in the Lord’s recovery and how it conforms to … Continue reading Leadership in the Lord’s Recovery, Part 1: The Lord’s Concept of Leadership versus Man’s Concept
In the previous article we saw that man’s concept of leadership and authority is directly opposite to the Lord’s concept. For the natural man leadership is an organizational, hierarchical, and prestigious matter. … Continue reading Leadership in the Lord’s Recovery, Part 2: The Biblical Pattern of Leadership
As we have seen, God’s intention is that He, the unique source of authority, would lead His people directly. No person, organization, or system should usurp God’s leadership over His people, which … Continue reading Leadership in the Lord’s Recovery, Part 3: Applying the Biblical Pattern of Leadership
The boundary of a local church is one of the basic principles upon which the practice of the Lord’s recovery is based. From the beginnings of the Lord’s recovery in China, it has … Continue reading Concerning the Boundary of a Local Church
The elders in a local church must deal with all kinds of issues, including complicated situations involving the saints. A great temptation the elders face is becoming entangled in determinations of right and … Continue reading The Elders Avoiding Entanglement in Right and Wrong
Recently, a former co-worker accused the North American co-workers of drifting toward organization and hierarchy by allegedly giving serious consideration to centralizing ownership of the local churches’ meeting halls. This is a gross … Continue reading Serious Errors Made Concerning the Fellowship among the Co-workers
Concerning the practice of the church, certain basic principles need to be understood and kept in balance. Fundamentally, the church as the unique Body of Christ is one universally and includes every believer … Continue reading Receiving All Believers but Not Different Teachings
The Defense & Confirmation Project (DCP) was established to “defend and confirm the New Testament ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee and the practice of the local churches.” This mission statement is … Continue reading Defense & Confirmation Project (DCP)
The New Testament presents the church as universally one in its existence and locally one in its manifestation (Eph. 1:22-23; Acts 13:1). Yet Christians today are divided among a plethora of denominations and … Continue reading Assailing the Ground of Oneness (7): The Identifying Characteristics of a Genuine Local Church and the Forbidden Grounds of Division According to the Scriptures
If we want to be those who are practically part of God’s corporate warrior in Ephesians 6, we must learn how to quench the flaming darts of the enemy. Verse 16 speaks of … Continue reading Quenching the Flaming Darts of the Enemy
From time to time those who bear responsibility in the administration of a church must exercise a measure of discipline toward unruly members. The exercise of discipline takes as its goals restoring the … Continue reading Properly Representing the Lord in the Exercise of Discipline
God desires to establish His kingdom on the earth through a group of people who stand against all forms of rebellion and come absolutely under His authority. Establishing God’s authority over the earth … Continue reading Authority and Fellowship
Obsession In the 1930s Brother Watchman Nee gave a word concerning “Obsession and God’s Light” (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee [CWWN], Vol. 36: Central Messages, 257-271). His speaking should help us discern … Continue reading Obsession and Subjectivity
The book of Philippians shows us the great need that believers have in times of turmoil. The church in Philippi was a very good church that participated with the apostle Paul in the … Continue reading Magnifying Christ in the Midst of Turmoil
Every truth in the Bible has two sides that must be held in balance. This fact reflects the natural law in God’s creation, as Brother Witness Lee explained: According to the natural law … Continue reading A Balanced View of the Elders’ Authority
The apostle Paul told Timothy, “For the time will come when they will not tolerate the healthy teaching; but according to their own lusts they will heap up to themselves teachers, having itching … Continue reading Should We Not Warn One Another?
The story of Cain and Abel, the first two sons of Adam and Eve, establishes an important principle that the worship of God should not be according to man’s thought but according to … Continue reading Assailing the Ground of Oneness (5): God’s Choice versus Doing What Is Right in Our Own Eyes
Matthew 18:20 contains a wonderful promise: “For where two or three are gathered into My name, there am I in their midst.” However, some have misused this verse to discount the need for … Continue reading Assailing the Ground of Oneness (6): The Ground of the Church Being for the Building Up of the Body of Christ
Those who bear responsibility in the ministry, the work, and the churches in the Lord’s recovery have a biblically mandated responsibility to protect the flock (Acts 20:28-31; 1 Pet. 5:2; Titus 1:9). In … Continue reading Being Safeguarded by the Discernment in the Body
Because the Lord is continually advancing to carry out His economy, His people must advance with Him. Individuals are finite in terms of their lifespan and what experiences they can acquire of the … Continue reading A Harmonious Coordination between Generations to Advance God’s Move
After leading the children of Israel to the threshold of the good land, Moses recounted at length their history, including both negative and positive events, as well as God’s revelation of Himself through … Continue reading Our Basic Choice
The Bible says that we are to forgive one another as God in Christ forgave us (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13). This is a crucial factor in practicing the church life for the building … Continue reading Forgiveness and the Building Up of the Body of Christ
In 1 Timothy 1:3-4 the apostle Paul wrote to his young co-worker Timothy, saying, “Even as I exhorted you, when I was going into Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus in order that you … Continue reading God’s Economy, Different Teaching, and the Central Line of the Bible
Man is the pinnacle of God’s work in the old creation and as such is the most precious to God of all His creatures (Zech. 12:1). This is because God created man in … Continue reading Preserving Human Life
From time to time a brother will trumpet the misguided notion that saints should read only the Bible, the “pure Word”, “untainted” by anyone’s interpretation. Some have used this notion as a ploy … Continue reading Reading Only the “Pure Word” – A Dangerous and Unbiblical Notion
To say that once a church is established the apostles, that is, the leading co-workers, should never “interfere” in that church’s affairs is inconsistent with the Bible and with the whole body of … Continue reading The Ongoing Relationship between the Apostles and the Local Churches
The Collected Works of Watchman Nee [CWWN], vol. 22: The Assembly Life & The Prayer Ministry of the Church p. 30: The books of Timothy tell us, “Against an elder receive not an … Continue reading Selected Ministry on the Apostles’ Ongoing Role in Established Churches
Much confusion and debate exist among Christians surrounding the definition, formation, purpose, and function of the church. In fact, the pattern of Christians meeting together in local churches is entirely consistent throughout the … Continue reading Assailing the Ground of Oneness (1): The Genuine Ground of the Church According to the Teaching and Practice of the New Testament
In the New Testament the word for ministry means “service.” The unique New Testament ministry is a service in the form of a stewardship of grace that ministers Christ to people for the … Continue reading The Relationship between Living Stream Ministry and the Local Churches
For decades some have opposed the teaching of the ministry in the Lord’s recovery over three vital categories of truth—the Triune God, God’s salvation in life, and the ground of the church. Much … Continue reading Three Foundational Truths and Why They Matter
One defining characteristic of the ministry in the Lord’s recovery is an absoluteness for the truth. If we are faithful to the Lord, we cannot compromise the truth. For that reason we can … Continue reading Our Attitude toward Ecumenism
This three-part article will address the relationship between those who meet in the local churches and fellow believers, the denominations and free groups to which they may belong, and their work. If we … Continue reading Our Attitude toward Other Christians and Their Work, Part 1: Maintaining the Oneness with Fellow Believers
In the first article of this series we saw the imperative of preserving the oneness of the Body of Christ and avoiding divisiveness on our part at all costs. Our attitude toward other … Continue reading Our Attitude toward Other Christians and Their Work, Part 2: The Vision of the Lord’s Recovery Being Contrary to Today’s Christianity
In addition to our attitude toward other Christians and toward the denominations (parts 1 and 2 of this series), we need to consider our attitude toward others’ work, and more specifically, toward the … Continue reading Our Attitude toward Other Christians and Their Work, Part 3: Not Entangling the Work of the Lord’s Recovery with Others’ Work
Ephesians 4 speaks of one Spirit and one Body and of our need to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace (vv. 3-6). Some Christians ask whether the … Continue reading Assailing the Ground of Oneness (2): Diligently Keeping the Oneness Requiring a Local Ground
God has two complementary systems—a system of government and a system of grace— through which He accomplishes His eternal economy. A proper understanding of these two systems and how they interrelate yields great … Continue reading God’s Government and God’s Grace
From the beginning of the church age reputable Bible teachers have recognized that many portions of the Scriptures, in addition to their literal meaning, also symbolize spiritual truths. Extracting the spiritual meaning from … Continue reading Concerning Allegorizing the Bible
As the Lord’s lovers who seek to practice the church life according the way revealed by God in the New Testament, we should be people of vision, not idealists. The apostle Paul was … Continue reading Being Overcomers with a Vision, Not Idealists with a Dream
Dispensational discipline refers to God’s discipline of His children in the next age. The New Testament shows that God judges His own children (1 Pet. 1:17; 4:17), and the Lord Jesus makes it … Continue reading Dispensational Discipline
Some have accused Witness Lee of teaching that parts of the book of Psalms and the Epistle of James were not divinely inspired. This is a grievous accusation that, if true, constitutes a … Continue reading Psalms, James, and the Divine Inspiration of the Bible
In the Bible the words of three parties—God, Satan, and man—are very significant. As the Word of God, the Bible speaks forth God’s person, intent, and work. By His word He framed the … Continue reading Words That Spread Death and How to Stop Them
Some have claimed that questions are not allowed in the local churches. On the one hand, this should not be true in any local church. On the other hand, all the saints must … Continue reading Questions versus Questionings
Who has the authority to appoint and remove elders? According to the New Testament, apostles, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, have the authority to appoint elders in the churches (Acts 14:23; Titus … Continue reading Questions and Answers about Apostles and Co-workers
Context and balance are critical to evaluating words fairly. Recently, a short excerpt from a message given by Brother Ron Kangas was mischaracterized as his demeaning his wife in front of thousands of … Continue reading Twisting Ron Kangas’s Words
Some saints are troubled when turmoils happen. They feel that if the local churches are part of God’s move today and under His blessing, such things should not occur. This view, however, does … Continue reading Concerning Turmoils
“House churches,” in which believers meet in a house as a separate, independent unit of administration, are a popular means of circumventing the biblical pattern of keeping the oneness of the unique Body … Continue reading Assailing the Ground of Oneness (4): Are “House Churches” Biblical?
Some have argued that the church in Jerusalem was a regional church, that is, a single church that has jurisdiction over an area much broader than the boundary of a city. But how … Continue reading Assailing the Ground of Oneness (3): Was the Church in Jerusalem a “Regional” Church?
In 1950, in a time of great social upheaval in China, Watchman Nee, in a series of messages for new believers, said, “Today the world is full of all kinds of problems. How … Continue reading A Christian’s Attitude toward Reforming Society
In recent years many nations have been sharply divided over political controversies. As Christians, we should understand two key points related to government and politics. First, we should know what our attitude toward … Continue reading A Christian’s Attitude toward Government and Politics
Based on the New Testament, Witness Lee taught that there is only one unique ministry. Some have twisted his teaching to slanderously claim that Witness Lee was referring to his own ministry. This … Continue reading The One Unique New Testament Ministry
By misrepresenting Witness Lee’s teaching concerning Noah and his three sons, some have falsely claimed that he justified covering up gross sins, particularly if the sinning one occupies a position of authority. Any … Continue reading Covering, Not Covering Up
Developing, updating, and implementing policies to handle a variety of issues, including deterrence strategies and response practices related to physical, psychological, and sexual abuse or harassment, has been an ongoing process among the … Continue reading Handling Allegations of Abuse
Some falsely claim that the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee has replaced the Bible in the local churches. In making this claim, they set the ministry against the Bible, the Word … Continue reading Does the Ministry Replace the Bible?
Some have asserted that the saints in the Lord’s recovery merely follow men—Brothers Watchman Nee and Witness Lee—rather than God. This claim denigrates the saints, who are said to exalt Brother Lee above … Continue reading Following the Vision or Following a Man
The ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee focuses on God’s New Testament economy. This matches the focus of the apostles’ teaching in the New Testament (Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 1:3-4). God’s purpose … Continue reading Our Attitude toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help
Because the church is composed of redeemed sinners who are in the process of transformation, it is inevitable that there will be problems among the saints. No one can say that they no … Continue reading The Proper Way to Deal with Problems in the Church
The local churches in the Lord’s recovery function according to the principles of the Body of Christ as an organism, not as a hierarchical organization as some have mistakenly claimed. We should not … Continue reading Concerning Hierarchy and Organization
The church in Houston has issued a statement to correct factual errors and misrepresentations that have recently arisen concerning an event that occurred there: THE CHURCH IN HOUSTON September 10, 2019 On behalf … Continue reading A Response from the Church in Houston
Spiritual Authority, a book translated and published by Stephen Kaung, became popular among Western believers in the early 1970s. Since then it has been misused by some to assert themselves as authorities and … Continue reading Spiritual Authority and Its Misuse
On a couple of occasions spurious and egregious allegations surfaced tarring Witness Lee by associating him with racist justifications of slavery based on his interpretation of Noah’s cursing of the descendants of Ham … Continue reading A Specious Claim of Racism
Because the matter of deputy authority has been misrepresented and maligned, the following questions and answers seek to clarify what it is, what it is not, and the principles that govern it. Is … Continue reading Some Questions and Answers Regarding Deputy Authority
The churches in the New Testament were established by and continued in the apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42). The apostles’ teaching brought them into the apostles’ fellowship, which was the unique fellowship of the … Continue reading Concerning Having One Publication Work
Some on social media have used a short out-of-context excerpt from Witness Lee’s Life-study of First Peter, omitting both context and balance, to support a spurious claim that he denigrates women. These sources … Continue reading Concerning the Ministry’s Attitude toward Sisters
The term the minister of the age in reference to Brothers Watchman Nee and Witness Lee does not imply that we hold them to be infallible. Rather, it means that we acknowledge them … Continue reading The Minister of the Age, Not Infallibility