The Normal Christian Life (1977) - Plot & Excerpts
This book is a pleasant surprise, a very interesting and edifying read. I was under the impression that Nee was an imbalanced Charismatic (he is in some cases) with not much to offer, but he does have some very good insights. This book in part is a fairly in-depth study of Romans, which I didn't expect. There are caveats, to be sure. Nee tends toward extremes when he derives his doctrine from isolated verses without considering the rest of Scripture. He has other tendencies that remind me of liberals like Tim Keller too.I listened to the audio book and it was hard for me to follow because Nee has quirky arguments I'd never heard before: He seems to argue that Romans 7 refers to both believers in the flesh and unbelievers; that during the supposed rapture, believers who "look back" like Lot's wife did will be left behind; etc. I'll have to review this book more carefully in print. Some of his statements are downright troubling:"We tried to point out that, just as he had done nothing for his justification, so he need do nothing for his sanctification" (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/nee/normal.v...). If that is so, and since our justification is instant, then why is our sanctification a life-long process? Because God alone accomplished the first without our help, but we have a part to play in the second. Why else does the Bible say to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling"? (Phil. 2:12) Because "it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (v. 13). Because we are sanctified by applying the Word of truth to our lives (John 17:17). "The Divine purpose in creation and redemption was that God should have many children. He wanted us, and could not be satisfied without us" (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/nee/normal.x...). If the latter is so, then why does the Bible say that "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things" (Acts 17:24-25) and "if these keep silent, the very stones will cry out"? (Luke 19:40) Because, as Matthew Henry points out, "Pharisees would silence the praises of Christ, but they cannot gain their point; for as God can out of stones raise up children unto Abraham, so he can out of the mouths of those children perfect praise."Your dog may be an intelligent dog, a well-behaved dog, and altogether a most remarkable dog; but the question is not, Is he a good or a bad dog? It is merely, Is he a dog? He does not need to be bad to be disqualified from being a member of your family; he only needs to be a dog. The same principle applies to you in your relationship to God. The question is not whether you are a bad man or a good man, more or less, but simply, Are you a man? If your life is on a lower plane than that of God’s life, then you cannot belong to the Divine family. Throughout your life your aim in preaching has been to turn bad men into good men; but men as such, whether good or bad, can have no vital relationship with God. (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/nee/normal.x...)The question is not whether we are human; Adam and Eve had a great relationship with God before the Fall. This completely distorts the biblical picture of God as a just and holy Judge and of man's universal problem--that all are vile, evil, wicked, rebellious sinners, for "There is none righteous, not even one" (Rom. 3:10).It's nevertheless a worthwhile read. One of Nee's fortes is his ability to use simple yet powerful illustrations. The last two chapters in particular are very good.
I would give this book ten stars if I could. I can't think of any book outside of the Bible that has so influenced the way I approach the Christian life. So many of the lessons Nee teaches in this book are lessons that I wish everyone could learn and that I had learned long ago. I can't express what this book has taught me and how it has helped me come to a better understanding of the true meaning of the Gospel and the Christian life.Nee illustrates his points so well with experiences from his own and other's walks with the Lord. He doesn't hesitate to give two or even three illustrations for a single point and takes his time making sure his meaning is fully comprehended. So often, I felt like I was reading a personal meditation on what the Lord has done in his life. I loved his sincere yet fervent treatment of what it truly means to be a Christian.I will be returning to this book often, I know. Each chapter could almost be seen as a book in itself. These are the lessons that every Christian need to be returning to over and over again because they're the lessons that we seem to forget most easily. Satan is a master of subtlety, and if we're not careful, he can lead us into leading a counterfeit Christian life that so often passes for the real thing. I've been learning recently, and this book wonderfully confirms that lesson, that the most important lessons of the Christian life are those we've already learned but that need to be learned ever anew and more deeply.
What do You think about The Normal Christian Life (1977)?
This book is a must read for Christians. I'm not that informed on the life of Watchman Nee and I hear that he had a problem with Protestants and Catholics in his time and a few other strange things about him. But I've heard similar things about the late writings of Martin Luther. I will say that this book is uplifting and Nee does an amazing job of describing simply the complex mysteries of our faith. There were a few things that I didn't completely agree with him on but that's pretty much every book I read these days anyway. I want to read this book again. Very encouraging.
—Steve
I read this many years ago and remember enjoying it. This time I have not only enjoyed it, but I have found it rather revolutionary.(view spoiler)[Each chapter is a pearl. For example, the last chapter is entitled, 'The Goal of the Gospel' and concentrates on the action of Mary who took the alabaster box of precious 'spikenard', broke it and anointed the Lord. To Judas and even the Disciples this was a terrible waste (should have been sold to help the poor, etc.), but Jesus rebuked them and said that wherever the Gospel is preached what she has done will be remembered.Why should this story be remembered whenever the Gospel is shared? Nee concentrates on this idea of 'waste'. Can anything given to the Lord be considered waste? We want to be seen to be useful, to be seen to be helping the poor/converting sinners. But for God, whilst He wants us to care for the poor and to change the lives of sinners, that mustn't be our singular aim. Our aim is to worship Him, to bring glory to Him, to bless Him - to waste our lives on Him. By doing so we will not only satisfy God, we will ourselves be satisfied and satisfy the needs of sinners.It is all part of the realisation that we can do nothing apart from God. We cannot DO anything, He does the work through us and by this He gets the glory. We can boast in nothing but Christ crucified, as Paul points out. Our only action is to pour out everything, the most precious things in our lives before Him and let Him do the rest.Nee doesn't teach inactivity, but reliance upon God. (hide spoiler)]
—Sarah
This is a great, fantastic book for Christians. "The Spirit who dwells within me is no mere influence, but a living Person; He is very God." There are truths that we have learned so well, mechanically, that pass us by without becoming real and alive, through meditation, in our hearts and souls. When one reads Mr. Nee one has the feeling that knowledge becomes revelation, and that the political map of our normal Christian life becomes suddenly a relief map. I believe that this precious book will do for you what it did for me. It will be a revelation for you in certain aspect of your life most needed.It is divided into 14 chapters that cover everything that a follower of Christ needs to know to help him enjoy a spiritually fulfilled Christian life. What I appreciated most of Mr. Nee is that not only he explains clearly his subjects, but he brings along examples of his life experiences that illustrate his points convincingly. If one image is worth a thousand words, then one illustration is worth many books. This is no ordinary Christian literature; it is really a treasure.
—JoséMaría BlancoWhite
