The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Watchman Nee

Troy,<br><br>I must say that you have spent more time deifying Watchman Nee than Christ. You have offered many disjuncted statements yet extremely few passages from God's inspired, infallible and inerrant Word to show that what you say and believe actually is what God has taught in His Word. You refuse to read any article offered to you yet you want everyone to read Watchman Nee. Those who have read Watchman Nee, and I am one, you say don't understand what he has written, and only YOU are able to correctly understand him. (we have another individual here who makes the same claim about his erroneous doctrines too!) If it is true that none here are able to correctly understand Nee, then he has failed miserably with his "genius" to communicate what he believed.<br><br>You also claim that the reason you reject the biblical doctrine of "Total Depravity" because, in your own words, "It doesn't seem right to me". Thus your preference is to reject the clear teaching of God's inspired, infallible and inerrant Word for the doctrines of men, which Christ warned about would happen as did Paul and Peter.<blockquote>2 Timothy 4:3-4 (ASV) "For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables."<br><br>2 Peter 2:1-2 (ASV) "But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of."</blockquote>And, for your information, Calvinism has never taught that man's will is not "free". In fact Calvinism has stressed the biblical truth that man is indeed a "free agent". No man is forced to do anything against his will. God never violates the will of man in any situation. However, what you have failed to learn from the Spirit of the Word of God is that when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, he DIED!. The image of God with which man was first created did not die...... but it was grossly distorted. Sin permeated all of man's being because his spiritual nature died. No longer did man have any interest or love for God. No longer did man have a desire to do that which was right in the eyes of God. But mankind was controlled by his sin nature, which was God's punishment upon him for Adam's disobedience, which He had promised would happen should Adam eat of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.<br><br>Man freely chooses that and ONLY that which he desires, as is the case with every creature of God. No unregenerate man will ever seek after God because he innately hates God. Isn't this what Paul clearly says:<blockquote>Romans 3:10-18 (ASV) " . . . as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God; They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not, so much as one: Their throat is an open sepulchre; With their tongues they have used deceit: The poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes."</blockquote>Again, Paul makes it crystal clear that it is God's sovereign and INITIAL work of grace in transforming, enlivening, resurrecting, creating anew the depraved nature of man which enables a sinner to even perceive his need of reconciliation because of his sinfulness. Thus, speaking to those who had been engrafted into Christ, Paul reminds them from whence they came:<blockquote>Ephesians 2:1-10 (ASV) "And you [did he make alive,] when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins, wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:-- but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly [places], in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus: for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them."</blockquote>Can you from the Scriptures.... God's inspired, infallible and inerrant Word show me where Paul erred in his understanding and thus believe what Arminianism teaches?<br><br>These things the Spirit of God has taught me and ingrained in my mind and heart. The Spirit also has shown me that Watchman Nee did not teach what He once delivered unto the Saints. He has impressed this upon my soul and taken me to the Bible, of which He Himself was the Author, and shown me the truth of God. Can you SHOW ME where in God's holy Word that what you believe is taught? Please don't direct me to your website or another website to read something of Watchman Nee. The Bible is the final and sole authority in all matters of faith and practice. Thus, as Christ did, so you also should do and open the Scriptures and show me/us where these things are taught. If you care at all about us as those created in the image of God, you will fulfill this request, as it is God's will that you do so.<blockquote>2 Timothy 2:2 (KJV) "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."</blockquote>But be forewarned that Paul also exhorted the churches and all true believers:<blockquote>1 Timothy 6:3-5 (ASV) "If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, [even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, wranglings of men corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, supposing that godliness is a way of gain."</blockquote>I await your "sound words" which come directly from the Scriptures concerning the doctrine you believe.<br><br>In His Grace,