Wang Ming-Dao: Encyclopedia - Wang Ming-Dao

Wang Ming-Dao

Ming-Dao Wang (or Wang Ming-Dao as spoken in Chinese) (王明道, 1900-1991) was born in Beijing and 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.

• One of his personalities was that 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.

• 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. Ming-Dao mainly opposed the Liberal Theologists who believed neither in Jesus’ resurrection nor in any supernatural miraculous events that might occur.

• Ming-Dao 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”.
• He also placed special emphasis that the church should be as simplified as possible. In other words, his church did not permit choirs, the leaders of the church should not be called “Pastors”, and that “tithe sermons” should not be preached on the pulpit.

• Ming-Dao 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. He is considered quite a unique character in the fact that he had a strong will and led a very sanctified or holy life.

• He also advocated that the affairs between Church and Government be separate. He neither joined the anti-Japanese movement during World War Two nor the Three-Self Patriotic Movement formed during the 1950s. So as a result, Ming-Dao received a fair share of threats and disasters during that period.
• As early as 1952, he was criticised by many people during a large meeting.
• By 1955, Ming-Dao 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. Once the authorities noticed his written apology, they set him free.

• However, not long after being set free, Ming-Dao had a guilty and grieved conscience and likened himself to the Apostle Peter whom had denied Christ three times.
• Therefore Ming-Dao once again openly opposed the Three-Self Patriotic Movement and refused to comply with that law. Obviously, he was re-arrested and imprisoned again in 1958. This time he remained in jail until his subsequent release in 1980. He had been in jail for twenty three long years.

• Although Ming-Dao Wang was not a major contributor to the growth and development of the Chinese Churches (since his church was not large), nevertheless he was an outspoken preacher and advocate for the Chinese society to make reforms.

See also

Well-known early Chinese Christian Evangelists:

• Paul Wei
• Watchman Nee
• Shang-Jie Song
• John Sung
• Ming-Dao Wang
• Chinese Independent Churches

Categories: 1900 births | 1972 deaths | Christian leaders | Christian writers

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Wang Ming-Dao", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki