Wang Ming-Dao
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Wang Mingdao (traditional Chinese: 王明道; simplified Chinese: 王明道; pinyin: Wàng Míngdào; Wade-Giles: Wang4 Ming2-Tao4) (1900-1991)
Wang was born in Beijing in 1900, the year of the Boxer Rebellion. A Chinese Christian evangelist, he was the founder (1925) of the Christian Tabernacle in Bejing, which was one of the largest evangelical churches in China at that time, and he was considered one of the most respected Christian leaders in China. He served as the church's pastor until his arrest in 1955 for refusing to join the Three-Self Patriotic Movement. In August of that year, Wang, along with his wife and eighteen church members, were imprisoned. Shortly thereafter, under coercion, Wang signed a confession statement and was released from prison.[citation needed] However, he soon after recanted and spent 22 years in a prison labour camp.
Upon his release, he became involved in the house church movement in Beijing until his death in 1991, and has been popularly referred to as the "Dean of the House Churches" in China.[citation needed]
Wang Mingdao is considered an outspoken fundamentalist in Chinese Christian church theology. He always took the opportunity to point out or criticize any shortcomings of the Chinese church and society. He strongly opposed any evils or injustices that occurred in Chinese society and he strongly emphasized that Chinese Christians should live a holy life. He also believed that, other than reading the Bible, Christians should also “Study texts, study events and study characters” which means that people should also have good knowledge of books including both past and present events. He emphasised that the characteristics of prominent governing leaders be examined carefully to see if they are good role models worthy of the people’s respect and following.[citation needed]
Although Wang Mingdao was not a major contributor to the growth and development of the Chinese Churches[citation needed] (since his church was not large), nevertheless he was an outspoken preacher and advocate for the Chinese society to make reforms. Initially he just held family services but later on he travelled to many different regions to hold sermons. He likened himself to the prophet Jeremiah since Jeremiah attacked the corruptions of society and all the false prophets during his time. Wang mainly opposed the Liberal Theologians who believed neither in Jesus’ resurrection nor in any supernatural miraculous events that might occur.
Wang founded the Christian Church in Christ (CCiC) which was based on “self preaching, self sufficiency and self dependency” in which he strongly emphasized that church should be able to stand on its own feet and administer its own affairs. He also said that “Since the Church is a special group, the lives of its members must change before they can receive baptism”[citation needed]. He also placed emphasized that the church should be as simplified as possible. Therefore, his church did not permit choirs, the leaders of the church were not called “Pastors”, and that “tithe sermons” should not be preached in the pulpit.[citation needed] Wang also said that Christmas was not to be celebrated because it ‘had no meaning’. His church did not contribute in any charity works for society and he refused to join in any ecumenical church movements. Wang kept a distance from international organizations so that the government could not accuse him of not obeying their decree that religious organizations not have contact with groups outside of China. Wang justified his obedience to the authority based on Romans chapter 13 which calls Christians to obey their governing authorities as God has placed them in power. Furthermore Wang did not see that this prohibition by the government infringed upon the churches duty to obey God first. In contrast to this Wang would not join the Three Self Patriotic Movement because he felt the limitations that the government established church placed on member congregations violated the command of God, namely, the command to preach the Gospel. The Three-Self Church prevented their associated churches from preaching on the second coming of Christ, they were not to preach from Revelation, nor were they to preach absolute obedience to Christ when it conflicted with Governmental Policy. Following this He is considered by many to be quite a unique character who had a strong will and led a very sanctified or holy life.[citation needed]
He also advocated that the affairs between Church and Government be separate. He neither joined the anti-Japanese movement during World War II nor the Three-Self Patriotic Movement formed during the 1950s. So as a result, Wang received some threats and attacks during that period.[citation needed]
As early as 1952, he was criticised by many people during a large meeting, these were called criticism sessions organized by the government to try and bully people in to agreement with their hard line. By 1955, Wang was sentenced to jail by the Communist government for opposition and defiance to the newly created Three-Self Patriotic Movement law. After being confined in a prison cell for a period of time, he grew weak and wrote an article of confession in which he repented of his past sins and asked God for forgiveness.[citation needed] Once the authorities noticed his written apology, they set him free.
However, not long after being set free, Wang had a guilty and grieved conscience and likened himself to the Apostle Peter who had denied Christ three times.[citation needed] Therefore Wang once again openly opposed the Three-Self Patriotic Movement and refused to comply with that law. Subsequently, he was re-arrested and imprisoned again in 1958. This time he remained in jail until his release in 1980. He had been in jail for twenty three years.
[edit] Bibliography
WONG, Ming-Dao (1981), A Stone Made Smooth, Southampton, Mayflower Christian Books, ISBN 0907821006
WONG, Ming-Dao (1983), Spiritual Food, Southampton, Mayflower Christian Books, ISBN 0907821014
REYNOLDS, ATF, tr. (1988), Strength for the Storm, Singapore, OMF, ISBN 997197262X
WONG, Ming-Dao (1989), Day by Day, Crowborough, Highland Books, ISBN 0946616434
WONG, Ming-Dao (1990), The Spiritual Gifts Movement, Southampton, Mayflower Christian Books
[edit] References
LYALL, LT (1954), A Biography of John Sung, London, China Inland Mission (pp164, 185, 187 & 189)
[edit] See also
Well-known early Chinese Christian Evangelists:
- Watchman Nee
- Song Shang-Jie (John Sung)
- Chinese Independent Churches
- Samuel Lambsv:Wang Mingdao
zh:王明道
