The Spiritual Person

Watchman Nee (1903-1972) was a Chinese minister who promoted a unique set of Christian teachings. They included the idea that people were created with a human spirit, distinct from the human soul, and that in this spirit, people could enjoy a dynamic, transcendent oneness with God. Nee also taught that such divine-human unity was best practiced in local congregations, where believers' testimony would bring an end to history, fulfilling God's ultimate purpose in creation. These teachings have captivated millions, attracting followers in dozens of languages across the globe. This book traces the unique lineage of Christian thought and the tumultuous context of 20th-century China from which Nee drew. Paul Chang shows how a young man with no formal theological training developed a set of beliefs that has persisted for over a century. The Spiritual Person grounds Nee's teachings in his biography, from his background as a third-generation Christian, to his first encounters with the evangelical tradition, to his leadership of an international fellowship of churches, to his dramatic imprisonment and death. This book will elucidate Nee's core set of concepts and practices that has drawn adherents from rock stars to politicians, showing why Nee remains both popular and controversial today.