Additional Quotes about the Local Church by Witness Lee and Watchman Nee

On the one hand, the elders of the churches have the right and the position to carry out the local administration of the churches independently. On the other hand, all the churches should listen to the word that the apostles have received of God, which is the teaching of the New Testament. On the one hand, the churches are local separately. On the other hand, all the local churches are still the one Body of Christ which is an organism, not a federation which is an organization. We need to meet as local churches separately according to what the New Testament says, but all the local churches are still the one Body of Christ.

(Witness Lee, Leadership, 36)

On the one hand, the elders of the churches have the right and the position to carry out the local administration of the churches independently. On the other hand, all the churches should listen to the word that the apostles have received of God, which is the teaching of the New Testament. On the one hand, the churches are local separately. On the other hand, all the local churches are still the one Body of Christ which is an organism, not a federation which is an organization. We need to meet as local churches separately according to what the New Testament says, but all the local churches are still the one Body of Christ.

(Witness Lee, Eldership (1), 52)

Among the local churches, there is no absolute autonomy in the administration of any local church, nor is there any federation among the churches. The business affairs of a local church are absolutely local, but all the other matters, especially its testimony for Christ and its fellowship, should be both local and universal, and should be the same and common among all the local churches. This is strongly proven by the seven local churches in Asia (Rev. 2—3). Although they differed from each other in their localities, in their situations, and in negative things, they, as the seven golden lampstands, were absolutely identical for the testimony of Christ. The seven lampstands are absolutely identical in nature, in shape, in appearance, and in function (Rev. 1:12-13). Thus on the one hand, the Lord treated them separately by writing an epistle to each one, respectively; on the other hand, He treated them corporately by addressing the seven epistles as one epistle to them all, and charging each one of them to hear what the Spirit said in all the seven epistles.

(Witness Lee, Brief Presentation, 32)

Could any member of a person’s physical body be autonomous in relation to the other members? If one member is in pain, the entire body suffers. Likewise, each member of the Body of Christ is dependent on the other members. Concerning the Body of Christ, Paul tells us, “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if a member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (1 Cor. 12:26-27). The church is the Body of Christ, and as the Body of Christ, no part of the church can be autonomous.

(Witness Lee, Body of Christ, 18-19)

Verse 19 of this same chapter says that this brother was chosen by the churches. It is easy to be chosen by the Lord, for the Lord is the only one. But it is rather difficult to be chosen by the churches. Some church may like you, but some may not. Some may say amen to you, but some may not. Yet here it says that this brother was chosen by the churches. It is really a Body matter.

Brothers and sisters, have you seen such a thing on the earth today? Here is the improvement from the church to the churches. Yes, every local church has its own administration, but still the churches are one. What a beautiful and marvelous sight! This is a real improvement.

Some may say, “We are the church in Los Angeles. Let us alone. You are the church in San Francisco. Don’t interfere with us; don’t bother us.” In a sense, each of the churches is local in its administration, but we need to realize that all the churches should be one. We are not unified or organized to be one, but if we mean business to practice the real church life, all the local churches will be one. There is no organization, no control, no center, yet the many local churches are one. This is indeed marvelous!

(Witness Lee, Christ as Life, 119-120)

Brothers, whenever you propose democracy or autocracy in the church, you are denying God’s authority. In the church there is no democracy, and there is likewise no autocracy. In the church, there should only be God’s presence and God’s delegated authority. The elders need to learn to touch authority, to submit to authority, and to be the authority. The church is not a place where people express their opinion or where they debate. It is a place where God is feared, His lordship is honored, and His presence rests and is represented. Only when such is found is there the church.

(Witness Lee, Elders’ Management, 82-83)

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