Love Not the World

by Watchman Nee

Book Overview

In this hard-hitting and controversial book, the great Chinese writer and preacher Watchman nee states that there is a Satanic power behind every worldly thing and that the natural tendency of every worldly system such as politics, education, literature, science, art and music is to move away from God and Towards Satan. How can the Christian live and work in these systems, but not be "of the world"?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0842338500
• ISBN13: 9780842338509
• Release Date: January 1978
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
• Length: 125 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 4.2" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Of Whom the World Was Not Worthy...

I don't know what Bro. Nee intended for this work to be called, but whether he or another titled this book "A Prophetic Call to Holy Living..." could not have been more on the mark. Watchman Nee is one of those figures in Christendom who did not enjoy a great deal of fame and fortune during his time on earth. He was a simple man, broken in health, this world's goods, and spirit, who spent his life in the serivce of the Kingdom of God. He enjoined his disciples to be a disciple of One and only one; Jesus Christ. He inveighed against having a relationship with the "church," as opposed to having a saving relatinship by knowing Him in the power of His resurrection, and in the fellowhship of His sufferings. Needless to say, Watchman Nee was not popular for his exhortations to the crucified life. Nevertheless, he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. This work is a simple, yet profound illustration of how the believer, the true believer "is in the world, but not of the world." Of all of the books I have had the privilage to read on holiness, none has given me more conviction of my need for sanctifying grace as this one has. You cannot read this book and remain the same; you will be shoved off the fence, onto one side or another, if you honestly look at this book. You will either beg the Holy Spirit to do a greater work in your life, or you will find some self-justification for remaining as you are. Read this book as if you were at the Burning Bush, because you are!

How to be in the world but not of the world

This book is based on a series of lessons Watchman Nee gave on the subject of the Christian and the world system from 1938-1941. Nee points out that it is easy for the Christian to look at such world entities as night clubs as things that are of the world, but he points out that such entities as education, commerce, and science are also part of this same world system. Since we must touch these three things as part of our daily living, unlike the night clubs, then what is a Christian to do? Nee points out that we must walk amongst these things without letting them capture our hearts. Ultimately, when we touch the things of the world, Nee states that the question we must ask ourselves always is: "How is this thing affecting my relationship with the Father?" Nee states that our deliverance from the world begins, not with our giving up this or that but with our seeing, as with God's eyes, that this is a world under sentence of death. He points out that if you knew a certain bank or school was to soon be closed, you wouldn't go and deposit more money into that bank or, if you were in a teacher in the condemned school, you might go on working in the school but you wouldn't bother with building up a future for yourself there. Thus, we may likewise say of the world that it is under a decree of closure, and not put our hopes there. "Children of God," Paul calls us, "in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world" (Phil. 2:15). Nee points out that God has deliberately placed us in the world to show it up for what it is. We are to expose the world system to the divine light, for all men to see the world's God-defying rebelliousness on the one hand and its hollowness and emptiness on the other. My favorite chapter is on "Mutual Refreshing". Here Nee quotes John 13:14-17: "Ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should also do as I have done to you.... If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them". Nee points out that in the Christian life, to stumble and fall and then to flounder in the dust that is the world is sin which calls for repentance and needs God's forgiveness. However, walking through the world, no matter who we are or how careful we may be, it is inevitable that our feet will collect the dust of the world. Of course if we do not touch the earth at all, we certainly pick up nothing, but to achieve this we should have to be carried around by someone else who collects this same dust. It is at this point that we need to be refreshed by other Christians through fellowship and prayer - to have the dust wiped from our feet. This book is very good, and will probably require repeated readings to really "get" everything Nee is saying. It is the best book I've found that is dedicated to clarifying what the Christian's attitude and relationship to the world system in which we live should be.

What a liberating and great book!!!

I minister to a lot of people in the world, and when I say the world I mean in a system of thinking contrary to God/Jesus. So at times I feel almost the stench of more than the smell of smoke. Yet, I care about people and I love Jesus and want them to know Him. This book will give you a clear view of the world and what it means to "love not the world". It will also keep you alert to the world around us. I found this a great and liberating book when ministering to those who do not know Jesus. I feel like I minister to those in this world with my eyes open to what is going on around me. Got you a little curious, good get the book! Read it atleast a couple times.

Well titled.

This book does a great job of looking at how as Christians we are "in the world". His remedy isn't what first comes to mind but it is so true. This really is a great book. So much is packed into so little a space.

Totally life changing view of what christians are up against

One of the most enlightening books I have ever read...3 times. Very deep insights, tough to grasp at first, but worth the effort. If you're a bible believing Christian, this book is a must. Only the bible itself gave me more spiritual insight of what life is about.