Sit, Walk, Stand - Watchman Nee
First published in 1957.
Wow, it's been five years since the last time I read a book by Watchman Nee! Time flies!
I got this book from a box gifted to me by my late grandpa's wife, Leone - very generously. I think I have another copy of it somewhere, by it jumped out at me, and I decided to have a browse. A browse turned to a read quite quickly.
Sit, Walk, Stand is based on a series of sermons that Watchman Nee did, which were inspired by the book of Ephesians. From that book, Nee draws the titular words out as key: "1. Our position in Christ - 'Sit' (2.6) 2. Our Life in the World - 'Walk' (4.1) 3. Our Attitude to the Enemy - 'Stand' (6.11)" (page ix). The rest of the book is broken into three chapters (sermons?), each of which focuses on one of those keys, unpacking them in the insightful and slightly foreign (culture) style that I have come to recognise as Nee's signature.
As examples...
In the 'sit in Christ' section, Nee reminds us that Adam was made at the end of the sixth day of creation, and then says: "God's seventh day was, in fact, Adam's first. Whereas God worked six days and then enjoyed His sabbath rest, Adam began his life with the sabbath; for God works before He rests, while man must first enter into God's rest, and then alone can he work" (page 13).
In the 'walk in the world' section Nee challenges our sense of justice by stating: "You ask me, 'Is it right for someone to strike my cheek?' I reply, 'Of course not! But the question is, do you only want to be right?" (page 25-26). He follows this by sharing a story of a Christian in rural China who began pumping water for his rice fields, only for a neighbour to keep stealing the water. After talking with his fellow believers about what the right response would be, he began pumping water first for his neighbour's fields and then his own. This selfless response was enough to convict the neighbour and in turn lead him to the faith! Challenging!
In the 'stand against the enemy' section, Nee emphasises the word 'stand', pointing out: "There is a precious truth hidden in that command...the ground disputed by the enemy is really His [God's], and therefore ours. We need not struggle to gain a foothold on it." (page 43). He also ends the 'stand' section by sharing an extended anecdote about a group evangelising on a small island and feeling stirred to call upon the 'God of Elijah' in a spiritual battle for supremacy with a local idol.
This is a very short book - 64 pages (plus the introduction) - but is well worth taking your time on.
Challenging, thought-provoking, and deep.
Completed 17 August 2025.
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