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A Stone Made Smooth
No Christian Chinese leaders in the twentieth century has more clearly articulated the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or more poignantly experienced what the Apostle Paul described as "the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings". Released after twenty-three years of imprisonment, he told how the words of the prophet Michah had sustained him. But as for me, I keep watch for the Lord, I wait in hope for God my Savior; My God will hear me.
245 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1982
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 7, 2026
“An indictment of the Churches
Those who are unbelievers in the world of today need to listen to God's warning and call; the church of today has a similar need. Part of the commission that God has given me is to preach the Gospel to those who are outside the church so that they repent and believe. It is also part of my commission to call upon people in the churches to repent and forsake sins. The condition of many churches today is eplorable. The buildings they have erected are tious and elegant. Inside you will find splendid ture and fittings and also comfortable seats.
Music and singing and a sermon made up of beautiful phrases all have their place. But in many places they are, in the eyes of God, like the empty shell of an egg.
Only the eyes of God and the eyes of those who know he mind of God can discern the emptiness of many hurches today. Such a church has only the outward rappings but the holiness, justice, sincerity, compassion faith and hope required by God have long ago declared bankruptcy.”
Wong Ming Dao
A stone made smooth 92
If preachers cannot make a real contribution to mankind and to the church, and if they merely depend on preaching as a means of livelihood, they cannot be called the servants of God. It would be more appropriate to call them the parasites of society.
To be called by unbelievers a 'foreign priest' is a small matter; but to be rebuked by God is a most serious matter indeed.
95
I have always been extremely busy but I have also been extremely happy. Each day I live I do one day's work. If God gets glory through the work I do, if people can derive benefit through the work I do, and if, in the future when I see the Lord, I can be described as His good and faithful servant, what reward can be possibly greater than that!”
153
Those who are unbelievers in the world of today need to listen to God's warning and call; the church of today has a similar need. Part of the commission that God has given me is to preach the Gospel to those who are outside the church so that they repent and believe. It is also part of my commission to call upon people in the churches to repent and forsake sins. The condition of many churches today is eplorable. The buildings they have erected are tious and elegant. Inside you will find splendid ture and fittings and also comfortable seats.
Music and singing and a sermon made up of beautiful phrases all have their place. But in many places they are, in the eyes of God, like the empty shell of an egg.
Only the eyes of God and the eyes of those who know he mind of God can discern the emptiness of many hurches today. Such a church has only the outward rappings but the holiness, justice, sincerity, compassion faith and hope required by God have long ago declared bankruptcy.”
Wong Ming Dao
A stone made smooth 92
If preachers cannot make a real contribution to mankind and to the church, and if they merely depend on preaching as a means of livelihood, they cannot be called the servants of God. It would be more appropriate to call them the parasites of society.
To be called by unbelievers a 'foreign priest' is a small matter; but to be rebuked by God is a most serious matter indeed.
95
I have always been extremely busy but I have also been extremely happy. Each day I live I do one day's work. If God gets glory through the work I do, if people can derive benefit through the work I do, and if, in the future when I see the Lord, I can be described as His good and faithful servant, what reward can be possibly greater than that!”
153
September 19, 2018
A memorable story of a Chinese, under-ground church leader, also know as Wang Ming Tao. His story is so real that one relates and is encouraged by his faith and life struggles. Another book written later about Ming-Dao is entitled Walking the Hard Road. Both are very inspiring, highly recommended books.
June 18, 2019
Wong (or more typically, Wang) Mingdao (1900-1991) was a prominent Chinese pastor and evangelist from Beijing who successfully defied Japanese attempts to force him into an ecumenical Protestant organization during World War II and who was subsequently imprisoned by the Communist government for 22 years.
This compilation of Wang's autobiographical writings, written between the late 1930s and the early 1950s, was cobbled together and translated by Arthur Reynolds (1909-2001), a retired English missionary. (None of the material covers Wang's imprisonment under the Communists.) Reynolds’ translation is marginally adequate if unexciting; but disconcertingly, Reynolds sometimes interpolates his own comments without bothering with brackets, parentheses, or footnotes.
In a way, the artless translation works well because the mature Wang seems to have been a guileless fellow, a humble pastor, who though determined and courageous when backed into a corner, had less interest in self-aggrandizement than do the vast majority of mortals. For instance, the chapter on his successful semi-arranged marriage does not try to disguise the significant difference in temperament between Wang and his wife (Wang tended to be insensitive and a stickler for detail while his wife was a forgetful and incompetent housewife) or the continual tension between him and his beloved mother, who on her deathbed still wished he had become a businessman.
This compilation of Wang's autobiographical writings, written between the late 1930s and the early 1950s, was cobbled together and translated by Arthur Reynolds (1909-2001), a retired English missionary. (None of the material covers Wang's imprisonment under the Communists.) Reynolds’ translation is marginally adequate if unexciting; but disconcertingly, Reynolds sometimes interpolates his own comments without bothering with brackets, parentheses, or footnotes.
In a way, the artless translation works well because the mature Wang seems to have been a guileless fellow, a humble pastor, who though determined and courageous when backed into a corner, had less interest in self-aggrandizement than do the vast majority of mortals. For instance, the chapter on his successful semi-arranged marriage does not try to disguise the significant difference in temperament between Wang and his wife (Wang tended to be insensitive and a stickler for detail while his wife was a forgetful and incompetent housewife) or the continual tension between him and his beloved mother, who on her deathbed still wished he had become a businessman.
March 12, 2019
I was very struck by this man's very honest account of his life as a Christian and all the lessons God taught him along the way
May 1, 2019
This is a very good Christian autobiography with very keen insights of a true Christian Chinese leader in China before Communism. I highly recommend it. There are social, church, believer and theology problems that are tackled and fear and confidence issues with Japanese occupation and standing up for what he believed was true. It is an incredible story, a gem. I am sorry I took 36 years to get round to reading it after I bought the book!
March 10, 2025
This book was eye opening to the realities for believers in countries where they face real persecution. The way he talked about suffering and his view of God humbled me. I like to carry a smooth stone around now as a reminder of this book and what God is doing in my life.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews