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

The Recovery of the Ground of Oneness—from Babylon to Jerusalem

Let us look at the situation. There was Jerusalem, Egypt, Syria, and Babylon. No doubt there was much work for God in Babylon. They built many synagogues, and they did much work to bring people to know God and the law of Moses. And I believe there were good works even in Syria and Egypt. Those who said, “We seek your God as you do,” had been brought from Syria to a place close to Jerusalem. I believe they were the ancestors of the Samaritans. In John 4 we see that the Samaritans spoke much about worshipping God.

Suppose you were an Israelite in Jerusalem. Those who were close by might say, “Why must you be so peculiar? So many here are devoted people of God, and they love you. Why would you not stay with them? You say that you must go to Jerusalem, but isn't this too narrow? You only have twelve meeting with you, and they have twelve thousand! Why don't you stay with the twelve thousand? Why go back to the twelve?” If you were not so clear, you would immediately be confused. You would even speak to others and ask, “What are we doing here when there are so many dear ones who are not in Jerusalem? Why don't we go and join them? Why should we keep our small group here?” If you were not clear, you would be brought away from Jerusalem.

There is much work for God here in this place, and there in that place. And it is very close to the recovery too. It is not something in Babylon, Syria, or Egypt, but near to Jerusalem. They even say that they are the same as you are. Then what will you say? I am afraid that you may think that the Lord has sent you some helpers. But these are not helpers, they are frustrators. One brother might say, “Praise the Lord, these people are not in Syria, or in Egypt, or Babylon, and they are so close to us. If we just help them a little, they will be brought in.” But they will help you a little to be brought out! Do not say that they are so close. Their subtlety is to come in to bring you out. You must build up the wall and close the door. I know the subtle one will say that this is narrow and sectarian. But we must know what it means to be sectarian. To be sectarian is absolutely a matter of the ground. If you are in Jerusalem you can never be sectarian. But if you are not on the proper ground, regardless of how broad and all-inclusive you are, you are still sectarian. As long as you are in Babylon, no matter how broad you are, you are divisive because you are standing on divisive ground. As long as we are on the proper ground, we are standing for the unique unity which is for all the children of God.

(Witness Lee, Recovery of God's House, 31-33)

The Spirit is for the Body. If we behave and work in the Spirit, the Spirit will direct us to the Body. The first thing we have to understand about the Body is the oneness. The Body is one (Eph. 4:4; Rom. 12:5). The people who are in denominations and divisions cannot realize and practice the real Body life because they are not on the genuine ground of oneness. The oneness of the Body can only be maintained on the unique ground of oneness. All the people who went back to Jerusalem under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah in the Old Testament were able to rebuild the temple. Those who remained in Babylon could not help with this rebuilding work because they were not on the proper ground. In the divisions, Christians may enjoy the Spirit a little, but there is no possibility of having the real Body life in any division. We must act, behave, and work in the Body and with the Body on the genuine ground of oneness.

(Witness Lee, Preaching the Gospel, 14-15)

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