Sagely's Reviews > The Spiritual Man

Watchman Nee writes in the Second Preface,

I desire my readers to understand thoroughly that this work is in now way to be considered on the theory of spiritual life and warfare. I myself can testify that I have learned these truths through much suffering, trial and failure.

He goes on later to say,

I deeply sense that only one class of people will actually understand this book. My original purpose was to supply the need of many believers; obviously only those who have need will be able to appreciate the book. Such ones will find here a guidebook. Others will either look upon these truths as ideals or criticize them as inappropriate. According to the measure of his need shall be the believer's understanding of what is written here. Unless the reader has personal need he will not find any problem solved through the reading of these pages.

These are important, orienting statements, convictions repeated throughout The Spiritual Man. This is a text that, though often quite reflective, makes sense only as informing a lived Christian faith.

Read as a work of theology or philosophical/theological/biblical anthropology, I find plenty of points of disagreement with Watchman Nee's book. But if I read it devotionally, conversationally, as I would talk with a fellow traveller or co-worker, then I found something different. I'm thankful for what I found.

The Spiritual Man voices one perspective--impinged by history and place, prejudice and culture--on how we cooperate with the Spirit's work of transformation in our lives. And though I live in a different place and have different assumptions, bear different prejudices, something in what he expresses rings true of my experience. He even points out paths I may have overlooked or snares I would have walked into. I am thankful for his perspective and this book.