WATCHMAN NEE - A Seer of the Divine Revelation in the Present Age.
Nakumbuka mara ya kwanza kabisa kusoma hii historia ya huyu mtumishi wa Mungu WATCHMAN NEE ilikuwa ni mwaka 2002, Nililia sana, kila nilipokuwa narudia kusoma macho hayakuacha kugubikwa na machozi. Ni neema ya kipekee aliyokuwa nayo mtu huyu na kila nikijaribu kujitathmini na mimi mwenyewe honestly speeking nisingaliweza isipokuwa kwa NEEMA ya BWANA YESU pekee.
Historia hii imeandikwa kwa lugha ya kigeni, Lakini hata hivyo nataka nikushirikishe upate kuona nini kilitokea halafu linganisha na kizazi tulicho nacho sasa kama kanisa....
JE! WEWE UNGEWEZA? Hili ni swali ambalo natamani mwishoni kabisa baada ya kusoma historia hii ya kweli kabisa UJIHOJI, UWE NA WAKATI WA UKIMYA MBELE ZA BWANA(Quiet Time), kisha unijibu sawa sawa na vile ROHO MTAKATIFU atakavyokushuhudia ndani ya moyo wako kwa neema yake mwenyewe, NA NINI MTAZAMO WAKO KWA KANISA LA SASA?
NAOMBA TUFUATANE PAMOJA SASA.
THE SUFFERINGS OF WATCHMAN NEE.
Watchman Nee endured much suffering for the sake of his ministry. He was absolute in following the Lord and faithful in fulfilling his commission. Because of his faithfulness and absoluteness, he was continually mistreated and underwent many hardships. Because he continually fought the battle for the Lord's recovery, he was continually under attack from the enemy. At the same time, he was also under God's sovereign hand. The sovereign arrangements of God in his environment were also a source of trouble and a means by which God dealt with him. For these two reasons, he lived a life of suffering. For the most part his sufferings came from the following sources:
I. POVERTY
In the early years of Watchman Nee's ministry, the economic situation in China was very difficult. Still, he was enlightened to the extent that he was able to fulfill the Lord's calling by serving Him entirely by faith. The light he received made it impossible for him to work as an employee for anyone: not for a mission, denomination, so-called church, or individual. Because of what he saw, he was exercised to live purely and singly by faith in God. In those days, this was not an easy way. In that kind of financial situation, he came to learn what poverty was. In the early days of his ministry in Shanghai, there were times when he had nothing to eat but a little bread.
II. ILL HEALTH.
Brother Nee also suffered frequent ill health. He began his ministry before 1923 and was not married until 1934. There was a period of eleven years when he had no wife to help him. During those years he lived by himself. It was during this period that he became afflicted with tuberculosis of the lungs and suffered for several years from this desease.
He was also afflicted with a stomach illness and with a heart ailment called angina pectoris. He was never cured of the heart desease. He told me that a number of times before a conference meeting he was forced to lie on his bed until the time arrived to minister. Only then would he rise up. Immediately after speeking, he would return to bed.
Because of his ill health, Watchman learned how to be greatly dependent upon the Lord. He learned how to live by Resurrection life in order to meet his physical needs. Many times he ministered not by physical strength but by Resurrection life.
The following excerpts from his open letters in The Christian and in The Present Testimony give a picture of his ill health and the spiritual lessons he learned through it. The following letter is from the December 1927 issue of The Christian, Volume 2, Number 12:
When this issue reaches you, it will be the end of the year. Looking over the past year, we really thank
Him for the way He has blessed us, led us, taught us, supplied us, urged us, healed us, rebuked us,
chastened us, and disciplined us. Praise the Lord,
On my heart! Again considering ourselves in this past year as being so defiled, defeated, head-strong
(willful), rebelious, ungracious, unrighteous, lacking, and wrongful, we feel thoroughly discontented with
ourselves. How we wish that these dark spots were not part of the history of our life. But wishing is
wishing; still we are defeated. What a pity! Nevertheless, knowing our condition only convinces us more
that our flesh is incurable and causes us to loudly sing praises to the Lord, for in such defeat. He is still so
gracious to us. O Lord! How can we forget your grace?
It seems that my ill health during this past year was known far and wide. In three localities it was even
rumored that my earthly tabernacle had been destroyed. For this reason there were increased prayers for
me more than ever before. I greatly appreciate those who care for my physical welfare. In the past days
my natural strength has been much weakened. Even light activity causes my body to feel its burden. But
praise the Lord that this year was still filled with many days of work. Instead of resting and getting rusty,
why not labor and trust? The strength of promise in time of need is never decreased. For this fact I cannot
but praise the Lord.
The scarcity of fruit, the emptiness of life, the staleness of the spirit, and the weakness of the body are
each enough to make me feel ashamed. That all things work together for good to them that love God is
true and trustworthy. In my situation these words again have become so real.
III. DENOMINATIONS.
Opposition from the denominations was a third source of Watchman Nee's suffering. He was an anti-testimony against them, and because of this it caused him much suffering.
A. Despised.
The denominations thoroughly despised Watchman Nee, and this caused him a great deal of suffering. He began writing the three volumes of The Spiritual Man at the age of twenty-three. One top theologian in China reacted by saying, ''Watchman Nee is just a clever young man who has excelled in reading English books. He has gathered all these things from the books and translated them into Chinese.'' Sometimes being despised cuts more deeply than being criticized. At that time Hebrews 13:13 was very real and applicable to Watchman and to others as well: ''Let us therefore go forth unto Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.'' Watchman and those with him fully followed this word to bear the reproach of Christ outside the camp of organized Christianity. That reproach was actually the experience of the cross.
B. Criticized.
Along with being despised, Watchman was also severely criticized by the denominations. Even though they despised him, Watchman Nee was accomplishing something; when this became evident, they began to publicly criticize him. In his paper, The Christian, published from 1925 through 1927, he strongly exposed the deviation of the denominations from the pure truths of the Scriptures. They could do nothing but criticize him. They put out many writings criticizing his ministry.
C. Opposition
On the heels of the criticism came the opposition. Such a ministry to God's people as Watchman Nee's stirred up the opposition of the denominations, and they rose up to oppose him. They opposed him secretly and openly. Some preachers opposed him from their pulpit, publicly warning their congregations against him.
IV. OTHERS
A. False Condemnation and Imprisonment.
Watchman Nee was arrested in March 1952. He was judged, falsely condemned, and sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment in 1956. He died in confinement on May 30, 1972. There is no way to know what he experienced of the Lord during this long imprisonment. The following eight letters were written at the end of his confinement in his own hand writing and are the only means through which we can see a small glimpse of his suffering, feeling, and expectation during his confinement.
Letter One.
April 22, 1972
Eldest Sister Pin-cheng
I received your letter on April 7, and found that you had not received my letter. in which i notified you
that the things you sent me every time have been received. All the things you mentioned in your letter
I have received. I am very grateful to you.
You know my physical condition is chronic, an illness of the organ itself. When it is activated I suffer
much., but even when it is latent, it is still present with me. The difference is whether or not it is activated.
Summer is here, and although more exposure to the sun can alter a little the color of my skin, it can not
change the illness. However, I maintain my joy, so please do not worry. I hope you will also take care of
yourself and be filled with joy in your heart.
I wish you well.
Shu-shu
Watchman wrote this letter to his sister in law, who was his wife's oldest sister and whom he addressed in the letter as ''eldest sister.''
This sister lived in Peking and was away from Mrs. Nee for about twenty years. In 1971 Mrs Nee fell from a stool and broke two ribs. Because of this fall, Mrs. Nee's high blood pressure increased, and this caused her death. Due to this great loss, the eldest sister felt it necessary after Mrs. Nee's death to stay and take care of Watchman and to send him the things he needed. ''The things you sent me every time'' refer to this.
''When it(the chronic ailment') is activated i suffer much'' and ''it (more exposure to the sun'') cannot change the illness'' indicate that he was still suffering from his illness.
''However, I maintain my joy'' indicates that he was practicing the word of the apostle Paul in Philippians 4:4 ''Rejoice in the Lord always.'' ''Be filled with joy in your heart'' indicates that he not only rejoiced in the Lord Himself but also encouraged his sister-in-law to be filled with the joy of the Lord. Both of these words show us that while he was suffering his imprisonment, he trusted in the Lord and had much fellowship with the Lord. He was like the apostle, who while, suffering imprisonment, rejoiced in the Lord and encouraged his readers to also rejoiced in the Lord ( Phil. 2:17-18). In his letter he did not quote anything from Scriptures, indicating that he had no freedom to do so. This letter was dated April 22, 1972, thirty-eight days before he passed away. He signed this letter with his name Shu-tsu, which was commonly used among his relatives.
In all of the above letters, there is no mention of the name of the Lord or of God. This indicates that he did not have the freedom to do so.
Letter Eight
May 30, 1972
Eldest Sister Pin-cheng,
I have been reassigned to Shan-Shia-Pu Group No. 14. It is ten (Chinese) miles away from the station
and is separated from it by a mountain. It is very inconvenient for you to come. You do not need to come
anymore.
In my sickness, I still remain joyful at heart. Please do not worry. I am still doing my best to not allow
myself to be grieved by my own illness.
Pin-whei's(his wife's) ashes will be left to your care. I am trusting in you for everything. I give my consent
to everything.
This letter is short, yet my feelings run deep. I can only wish you well.
Shu-tsu
This was the last letter of Watchman Nee. It shows that the farm in which he died was quite remote, being ten Chinese miles from the station and separated from the station by a mountain. The fact that he had changed his mind and no longer wanted his sister-in-law to visit him and the fact that he had left the care of his wife's ashes to his sister-in-law, seem to indicate that he had sensed his imminent death. He died the same day.
B. Death and Humiliation.
There is no way to trace the cause of Watchman's death. However, at his departure not one relative, brother, or sister was with him. Humanly speaking, what a miserable and humiliating way to die. There was no proper notification of his death and no funeral. He was cremated on June 1, 1972. Only the eldest sister of Mrs. Nee was informed of his death and cremation on June 1, 1972. It was she who picked up the ashes and gave them to Watchman's nephew-in-law. He in turn buried the ashes with those of Mrs. Nee in his home town of Kwanchao in the country of Haining, Chekiang province.
The following is an account by Brother Nee's grandniece, who accompanied Mrs. Nee's eldest sister at the time when Brother Nee's ashes were picked up:
''In June 1972, we got a notice from the labor farm that my granduncle had passed away. My eldest grandaunt and I rushed to the labor farm. But when we got there, we learned that he had already been cremated. We could only see his ashes... Before his departure, he left a piece of paper under his pillow, which had several lines of big words written in a shaking hand. He wanted to testify to the truth which he had even until his death, with his lifelong experience. That truth is...'Christ is the Son of God who died for the redemption of sinners and resurrected after three days. This is the greatest truth in the universe. I die because of my belief in Christ. Watchman Nee.'' When the officer of the labor farm showed us this paper, I prayed that the Lord would let me quickly remember it by heart...''
''My granduncle had passed away, He was faithful until death. With a crown stained with blood, he went to be with the Lord. Although God did not fulfill his last wish, to come out alive to join his wife, the Lord prepared something even better--they were reunited before the Lord.''
Such is the way that Watchman Nee ended his time on this earth. In May 1989, after a period of seventeen years, his ashes and the ashes of Mrs. Nee were both transferred by his two nephews from Chekiang to a public cemetery in Shiangshan in the city of Soochow of Kiangsu province. They were both buried in ''The Christian Cemetery'' beside Watchman's brother, Nee Hwai-tsu, and the latter's wife.
Watchman Nee was a man of suffering. Along his pathway of following the Lamb, he suffered. Today as a result of his suffering, we have such a rich heritage in the Lord's recovery. The following two stanzas are the conclusion to Hymn #635 in our hymnal, which is on the suffering of the grapevine. These words, which he helped me arrange into singable verse in Hong Kong in 1950, summarized his entire life.
Not by gain our life is measured,
But by what we've lost 'ts scored;
'Ts not how much wine is drunken,
But how much has been outpoured.
For the strength of love e'er standeth
In the sacrifice we bear;
He who has the greatest suff'ring
Ever has the most to share.
He who treats himself severely
Is the best for God to gain;
He who hurts himself most dearly
Most can comfort those in pain.
He who suffering never beareth
Is but empty ''sounding brass'';
He who self-life never spareth
Has the joys which all surpass.
Watchman Nee realized that life is measured not by gain but by loss and that the one who has suffered the most has the most to share with others. For this reason, he never spared himself, but bore the cross and the fellowship of Christ's suffering, being conformed to His death, in order to live Christ out that others might be nourished and enriched with Him.
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