Spiritual Authority by Watchman Nee

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Terry

Relating to the topic of deputy authority is Watchman Nee's book on spiritual authority.
Though scriptural in content, are Nee's conclusions sound?

Page 43, Spiritual Authority, WN
"It was right for Martin Luther to rise up to speak for the basic principle of justification by faith. It is also right for us to leave the denominations to stand as the testimony of oneness in the local church. Since we have seen
the glory of Christ and the Body of Christ, we cannot have any other name apart from the name of the Lord. The Lord’s name is of foremost importance. Why is salvation not only through the blood of Christ but also through
the name of the Lord? This is because the Lord’s name means resurrection and ascension. God has only one way of salvation, and He has placed this under the name of the Lord. In baptism we are baptized into the name
of the Lord, and our meeting together is in the name of the Lord. Therefore, the cross and the blood alone cannot solve the problem of denominations. If a man sees the glory of ascension, he cannot insist on any name other than that of the Lord’s. We can only exalt the Lord’s name. There cannot be any other name. Today’s denominational organizations are overthrowing the Lord’s glory. This is a blasphemy to the Lord."

So, according to WN it is right for us to stand against any group that lifts up any name other than Jesus.

I would argue that the LRC does this on several levels.

The teaching of the "ground of the church" is a violation of this principle. The ground of the church is the name of Jesus, which appears to be WN's meaning in this paragraph as well. To say that the boundaries of a city trump Jesus' name is outrageous. To say that you need to receive LSM ministry to be a church is no different from being "baptized into a denomination". I think this word by WN clearly convicts the LRC and LSM of the sin of rebellion.