이 글에 대하여
위트니스 리가 쓴 『워치만 니: 금세기 신성한 계시의 선견자』의 짧은 서문입니다. 이 목록의 다른 글들과 달리 그를 이십오 년 동안 가까이서 본 동역자가 쓴 글입니다.
그는 성경이 아브라함·모세·다윗과 베드로·요한·바울의 생애를 전하듯 전기가 하나님과 그분의 경륜에 관한 계시를 많이 담아 전한다고 말하며, 워치만 니와 이십오 년을 친밀하게 접촉하고 주의 회복을 위한 같은 일에 함께 있었기에 그의 생애와 일이 뒤에 오는 이들에게서 사라지지 않도록 전기를 써야 한다는 부담을 느꼈다고 밝힙니다.
이어서 전기를 쓰는 일이 쉽지 않다고 말합니다. 쓴 것이 그 사람의 참된 모습인가, 동기는 합당한가, 내용은 정확한가, 영향과 결말은 어떠할 것인가를 스스로 묻고, 사분의 일 세기 동안 그의 가르침과 세워 주심 아래 있었고 그를 존경하며 지켜보고 달아 보았기에 정확성은 보장된다고 답합니다. 아첨과 과장과 사람을 높이는 것을 피하려 애썼다고 덧붙입니다.
이 책은 서른째 장을 뺀 나머지가 1977년에 출판 준비를 마쳤으나, 그는 영 안에서 내놓는 것이 마땅치 않게 느껴져 십사 년 동안 감추어 두었다가 뒤에 주님의 인도를 따라 펴냈다고 적습니다.
영문 원문
Watchman Nee: A Seer of the Divine Revelation
in the Present Age
by Witness Lee
A SHORT INTRODUCTION
The Bible contains many biographies. The Old Testament shows us the portraits of Abraham, Moses, David, and many others, and the New Testament presents to us the lives of Peter, John, Paul, and others. These biographies convey much of the divine revelation concerning God and His dispensations. As I had a close and spiritual contact with Brother Watchman Nee for twenty-five years, and as I was involved in the same unique work with him for the Lord's recovery for such a long time, I felt burdened to write a biography for him that the life and work of such a witness of the Lord might not disappear from those after him, but rather might be kept, as it should be, to minister Christ according to God's desire to the generations to come.
But to write a biography of a certain person is not an easy and simple matter. Could what is written about that person be a genuine picture of him? Is the motive for writing proper? Is the writing accurate? What will the influence be? What will the issue be? After much consideration, my solution to all these points is this: Since I have been under Brother Nee's teaching, edifying, and perfecting, and since he was a brother I respected, observed, and weighed for a quarter of a century, the accuracy of my writing about him should be guaranteed. As to the motive, the heart-searching God is the Judge! As to the influence and issue, the merciful Lord is the blessing. Much endeavor has been exercised to avoid flattery, exaggerations, and the exaltation of men, and the Holy Spirit has been the Guide and Controller of this writing. Thus, I desire to see this writing accomplished unto the good pleasure of the Triune God for His rich blessing.
This volume, except chapter thirty, was consummated for publishing in 1977. But at that time, though many were expecting to see a book concerning Brother Nee's life, within my spirit I did not feel pleasant to release it. So I concealed it for fourteen years. This corresponds with the apostle Paul's experience in 2 Corinthians 12:2. After such a long period of concealment, I now have the sensation—as many others do—that I should no longer conceal it, but publish it according to the Lord's leading. May such a slave and witness of Christ as Brother Nee, still speak and shine through the lines of this inadequate writing, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, for the edification of the saints and the building up of the Body of Christ, and for the glory of the One whom he loved and lived for his whole life.