Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
To the extent that Nee's inner-life teachings help you in your overall walk in life, that is fine. But he is no theologian of true consequence. He is a spinner of tales and overlays. And he did think that God was speaking specially to him and it made his words important because no one else could come up with them.
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http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=theology
Theology: "the rational and systematic study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truth."
Rational? Systematic? A study of religion and its influences?
Where is Christ and His life in that? Where in the doctrine and dogma can He be found? Are you certain He is there, because I've spoken with a number of pastors and priests who faithfully attended and even taught seminaries, and of His living, they knew nothing. Their understanding of scripture was very rational. They were, as Pastor Perry Rockwood would call them, "religious but lost". Pharisees could also recite scripture backwards and forwards, and could give you endless interpretations; but when they looked God Himself in the face they didn't even know Him; and they
hated what they saw.
Nee would never have wanted to be called a theologian, I am certain of that.
As for God speaking specially to him, doesn't God speak specially to each one of us? Christ said:
John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me"
Nee taught this truth as well... and Nee also revealed which brothers and sisters he learned from in his books - and he both commends and recommends them... and he goes further to teach us also to value ALL of our brothers and sisters in Christ, even to the very least of the least of all the saints. He said "
God did not give us all the light. If somebody gives us more light, we should be very glad to receive it!”
Brother, I have struggled a great deal with the lack of evangelization, the outward display of our faith for the furtherance of the Kingdom by the preaching of the gospel... But our Lord Jesus Christ said:
John 15:4b "...the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me."
Inner-life teachings are not untrue, brother. Unless we abide in Him, and He in us, we
cannot bear fruit. We can rationally apply scripture all we want, there will be no blessing.... But if we abide in Him, and He in us, we will bear fruit. A tree is known by it's fruit. We don't need to know
about Christ, brother. We need to know Him.
Nee knew Him.