Wang Ming-Dao

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Ming-Dao Wang (or Wang Ming-Dao as spoken in Chinese) (Chinese: 王明道)(1900-1991) was born in Beijing. A Chinese Christian evangelist, he was the founder (1925) of the Christian Tabernacle in Peking, 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 Mingdao 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 Ming-Dao 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 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. 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 Theologians 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.^{[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, Ming-Dao received a fair share of threats and disasters during that period.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]} 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.