Examining "The Spiritual Man" - Watchman Nee Part 1

In this episode Bob DeWaay recounts his five-year experience in a Christian commune trying to be “the spiritual man” through the teachings of Watchman Nee. Nee was an early 20th-century Christian whose teachings remain popular today. His three-volume work is titled “The Spiritual Man.” Nee claimed he received this material through extra-biblical revelations from God. He believed these revelations from God were necessary in order for us to grow and prosper as Christians. Nee believed in the tripartite man (body, soul, and spirit) based on a misinterpretation of 1Thess 5:23. We discuss his “anatomical sanctification,” which requires one to determine the difference between the soul and spirit and to know what each is doing at any given moment in order to be sanctified. According to Nee, one must put aside rational thought and follow intuition to avoid being “soulish” (carnal). We show that the teachings of Watchman Nee are a rejection of Sola Scriptura and are powerless to sanctify. We close with an encouragement to trust the means that God has ordained in His Word for your sanctification.