Understanding Watchman Nee : Spirituality, Knowledge, and Formation

by Wu, Dongsheng John; Holder, Arthur

• ISBN13: 9781610975322
• ISBN10: 1610975324
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-04-01
• Publisher: Wipf & Stock Pub

Summary

In this book Dongsheng John Wu examines Watchman Nee's thought on the spiritual life, focusing on the relationship between spiritual knowledge and spiritual formation. Different ways of acquiring spiritual understanding are explored, including the respective roles of divine illumination, intellectual studies, and life circumstances. Understanding Watchman Nee begins by synthesizing strategic aspects of Nee's teachings as well as formative events and sources in the development of Nee's own spirituality and theology. It then utilizes the critical work of contemporary theologian Mark McIntosh to bring Nee's voice into dialogue with some important figures in the history of Christian spirituality. Such interactions reveal that Nee's crucial theological convictions exhibit strong parallels with related themes found in the church's spiritual or mystical treasures. This book situates Nee's view within the rich heritage of the Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox spiritual traditions, and thus renders Nee's thought more intelligible to Christians of both evangelical and more liberal persuasions. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Dongsheng John Wu (PhD, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley) has taught spiritual formation classes at Regent College in Vancouver, Canada. He is an ordained pastor in the Free Church tradition.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xiii
Note on Names and Terms	p. xv
Introduction	p. 1
Nature, Scope, and Thesis
Methodology, Structure, and Significance
Background
Turbulence and Emergence: The Context and Life of Watchman Nee	p. 13
Nee's Historical Context
Christianity in China and China in Its Modern Age
The Anti-Christian Movement and the Chinese Church's Indigenous Effort
Nee's Life and Work
Family and Schooling
Conversion and Character Formation
Early Work, Sickness, Writing The Spiritual Man, and Healing
The Local Church Movement
Publications, Conferences, and Trainings
Arrest, Imprisonment, and Death
Influence and Adaptation: The Theological Sources of Watchman Nee	p. 51
Nee's Sources of Influence
Brethren Theology: Apostolic Ecclesiology and Dispensational Eschatology
Revivalism: Holiness and Keswick Movements
From Revivalism to Mysticism: Jessie Penn-Lewis
Quietist Mysticism: Miguel de Molinos, Jeanne Guyon, and François Fénelon
Nee's Adaptation of Sources
Holiness and Brethren Outlook
Theology of Suffering
Patristic Sources and Allegorical Interpretation of Scripture
A Question about Plagiarism
Analysis and Interpretation
Revelation and Illumination: The Mystery of Hearing God	p. 83
Nee on Revelation and Illumination
Tripartite Theological Anthropology: Spirit, Soul, Body
Revelation: Key for the Faith Journey
Revelation and Faith: Liberation from the Power of Sin
Denial of Self: Dying to the Natural Life of the Soul
Dividing the Soul from the Spirit: Walking after the Spirit
McIntosh on Divine Illumination
Wisdom and Knowledge: Contemplation and Conceptualization
Illumination and Reason: Uncreated Light and Created Light
Trinitarian Structure of Truth: Reality as Word-Like and Relational
Christological Grounding of Knowing: Participating in the Paschal Mystery
Divine Illumination: Knowing Truth through Loving Communion
Nee and McIntosh in Dialogue
Body, Soul, and Spirit: Scriptural Views
Transrational Knowing: Reformed Theology and Pentecostal Thought
Hearing God and Spiritual Knowledge: Encountering the Living Word
Revelation and Illumination: Gnosticism or Christian Mysticism?
Knowledge and Spirituality: The Mind's Role in the Spiritual Journey	p. 138
Nee on Knowledge and Spirituality
Dangers of Independent Pursuit of Knowledge
Need for a Broken Mind
Battlefield of the Mind
Renewal of the Mind (Nous)
The Mind's Role in Receiving Revelation
The Mind Assisting the Spirit
McIntosh on Knowledge and Spirituality
Weakness of the Mind: Susceptibility to Impulses and Biases
Soulish vs. Spiritual: Prideful Self-Conceit vs. the Crucified Christ
Noetic Pathology: Distortion through Fear of Lack
Revelation of the Cross: Infinite Love and Unbounded Abundance
Spirituality and Theology: Two Elements for Encountering the Living God
To Know and to be Known: Loving Surrender to God's Loving and Knowing
Nee and McIntosh in Dialogue
Knowing and Loving: Relative Roles in the Spiritual Journey
The Mind and the Spirit: Anti-Intellectualism or Pastoral Sensitivity?
Discernment and Formation: The Transformation of Spiritual Perception	p. 180
Nee on Revelation and Spiritual Formation
Breaking of the Outer Person: The Way of the Cross
Submitting to the Spirit's Discipline: Cooperating with Divine Grace
God's Eternal Purpose: The Church as the Son's Bride of Love
Bread-Breaking: Corporate Communion and Personal Sanctification
Dying to Self-Will: Union with Christ and with Christ's Body
McIntosh on Discernment and Transformation
Transformation in Love: The Great Prerequisite for Discernment of Truth
Loving Communion and Truthful Perception: Biblical Grounding
Participating in the Paschal Mystery: Ascetical Noetic Transformation
The Mind of Christ: Noetic Significance of Relational Love
The Life of the Church: The Communal Structure for Knowing Truth
Fulfilling Destiny: Humanity's Call for Assisting All Things in the Journey of Truth
The Holy Spirit: Divine Love for Transformation
Nee and McIntosh in Dialogue
Submitting to Circumstances: "New Asceticism" of Ordinary Living
Self-Will and Divine Will: Irresolvable Tension or Relational Identity?
The Body of Christ: Communal Practices of Obedience and Love
Conclusion	p. 241
Glossary	p. 249
Bibliography	p. 251
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