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Additional Quotes about the Local Church by Witness Lee and Watchman Nee1. Eldersa. Experience and Maturity are Relative "Watchman Nee received the clear revelation from the Scriptures that the church should be governed by a presbytery of elders. Every local church needs a group of experienced brothers to take the lead and to exercise oversight over the church’s activities. In the Bible this group of men is called the presbyters, the elders, the bishops, the overseers” (Witness Lee, Seer of the Divine Revelation, 156). The experience and maturity of these men in a local church are relative, not absolute, a point which Witness Lee’s co-worker Watchman Nee makes very clear: The existence of an elder implies the existence of a junior. The word “elder” is relative, not absolute. Among a group of men in their seventy-ninth year it takes a man in his eightieth year to be their elder; but it only takes a child of eight to be “elder” to a company of children of seven. Even among the spiritually immature there are bound to be those who, in comparison with the others, are more mature and have spiritual possibilities, which is all the qualification they require to be their elders. (Watchman Nee, Collected Works, Set 2, Vol. 30, 42) We have seen that the apostles themselves could not remain with the new believers to shepherd them and to bear the responsibility of the work locally. How then were the new converts cared for, and how was the work carried on? The apostles did not request that men be sent from Antioch to shepherd the flocks, nor did one of them remain behind to bear the burden of the local churches. What they did was simply this: “When they had appointed elders for them in every church and had prayed with fastings, they committed them to the Lord into whom they had believed” (v. 23). Wherever a church had been founded on their outward journey, they appointed elders on their return journey. They did not wait until any arbitrary standard was reached before appointing elders in a church, but “in every church” they chose a few of the more mature members to care for their fellow believers. (Watchman Nee, Collected Works, Set 2, Vol. 30, 39-40) Church affairs are to be managed by local men who, on account of their comparative spiritual maturity, have been appointed to be elders. (Watchman Nee, Collected Works, Set 2, Vol. 30, 100) b. Elders are the Highest Authority in the Local Church The elders in a local church are the highest authority in that local church. In a local church the highest authority is the elders. All the matters are handled by the elders. (Watchman Nee, Collected Works, Set 3, Vol. 51, 141) c. The Local Church’s Condition Reflects the Elders’ Condition Both Watchman Nee and Witness Lee observed that elders represent the Body of Christ in their locality; therefore, the local church’s spiritual condition is a reflection of their own condition. The elders are appointed by God in a local church as representative members; they represent the Body of Christ in that locality. (Watchman Nee, Collected Works, Set 2, Vol. 36, 492) Wherever there are strong elders, there are strong churches. Wherever there are spiritual elders, there are spiritual churches. Whether a church is strong or weak, spiritual or fleshly, absolutely depends on the elders. Wherever you go, the condition of the elders in that place determines the condition of the church. This is something very real. (Witness Lee, Elders’ Management, 23) If a local church has no elders, strictly speaking, it is as if there were no church. This can be compared to a country in the world that cannot be considered a nation because there are citizens, but there is no government. In the same principle, it does not matter how many brothers and sisters there are in a locality; if no elders are raised up, they cannot be considered a church. As a nation must have a legitimate government in addition to having citizens, so a church must have elders appointed in addition to having a group of saved saints. (Witness Lee, Elders’ Management, 23) d. The Prophets Strengthen the Elders in the Local Church Witness Lee shows the relationship of the prophets—those who speak for God and minister Christ to others—to the elders in the local churches. There must be prophets in a local church to strengthen the elders’ understanding of God’s will. This theocratic government is also through the coordination of the New Testament prophets (Acts 13:1). In a local church there should always be some prophets to strengthen our inner feeling. This is the New Testament theocratic government for God’s administration in the church to carry out His New Testament economy. Now we need to consider the practical application of this fellowship in a local church. Whenever the elders of a local church come to the Lord, they come as priests. Because they bear the responsibility of the eldership, they want to know how to take the lead, how to teach, how to shepherd, how to oversee, and how to be patterns. Therefore, they have to pray together, to wait on the Lord. As they pray and fellowship, the indwelling Spirit will speak and enlighten them inwardly. In their regenerated spirit, they will receive something of the Lord. Then they will realize how the Lord wants them to take the lead, to shepherd, to oversee, and to be patterns. Because this may not be so adequate or strong, there are the prophets in the churches. The prophets’ speaking strengthens the elders’ understanding of the will of God. The functioning of the elders and the prophets in this way constitutes a kind of government for the administration of God in His church to fulfill His eternal purpose. (Witness Lee, Leadership, 52) | ||||