Dr. Charles W. Ferguson

I was on Facebook this weekend when one of my brothers in ministry posted a 57 second clip (which is almost viral) from graduation from our alma mater, Kentucky State University. It was amazing to watch for several reasons. One, it reminded me why I decided to go to an HBCU (Historically Black College or University). The African American experience is not monolithic. It is a vast diaspora of experiences from the totality of the Black experience. Two, it demonstrated the power of celebration on every level. Graduates have a common experience when they reach the pinnacle of academic success–struggle. Three, it showed that celebration is always in order on the other side of struggle.

So what is my problem this morning? My problem is with people that missed the totality of what was taking place. A read on the time line of another alumnus of K-State the disagreement with the “praise break” that took place. As a Christian, I would have taken offense years ago. However, God also gave me perspective as a scholar and social theologian. So allow me a moment to use every aspect of my being to explain the nature of the disconnect.

Much of the offensive nature of the moment in the midst of the larger graduation context was rooted in the idea of distraction. Yes, commencement exercises are these static events that are usually the epitome of an educational institution’s piety. With all of the regalia on display, we are conditioned to be well behaved individuals, though we have much to celebrate. That is why it is inevitable that celebration and shouting will eventually breakout. The generations of family members that never thought this day would come break out in a shout because their baby made it over. Notice that I have not mentioned the strumming of organ chords yet.

Consider the people that may serve as faculty and staff that have watched students labor in the library, classroom, student center, or residence halls trying to grasp concepts and finish projects to demonstrate their competence in an area study. Smiles come across the face and celebration rest in the hearts of people who watch these scholars cross over into the promised land.

The very nature of graduation is celebration. It is no longer about assignments and classwork. It is not about the grind that produced stress and sleep deprivation for everyone in involved in the process (students, professors, support staff, student life, administration, etc). It is the one moment where the entire campus ought to breathe a collective sigh of relief and celebrate accomplishment. But, here comes the deeper issue.

When 60 seconds of a celebration is singled out as a distraction, it lets me know that you are deprived not only of historical context but of the source of celebration. Psalm 150 is the end of a book of songs that signify a crescendo of an attitude of gratitude.

It was 6:36 this morning, and I found myself in my bed staring at my pillow with a thought running rampant in my mind. Am I a better person today? I know some people are not going to have the desire to engage in some introspective look in the soul at this very moment. However, it is a question that I personally wrestle with daily.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to see progress when you are looking at a to-do list for your life. You and I can be living in the deep waters of preoccupation with so many distractions. Most people just want to live with a certain level of comfort and ease that makes the journey more bearable. Yet, we question whether or not we deserve that type of existence. We interrogate our motives for being better people. We agitate future by superimposing our present as the only outcome of our lives.

Brothers and sisters, we must live in the realities of this moment, but we must not diminish the opportunity for better. Every day is an opportunity to become a better person. We must take the lessons of the past and use the information for the future. We must become individuals who strive for become our best selves on each day. I don’t want to be father of the year for 20 minutes. I want my son to see me as “the man” every chance I get. I don’t want to be a great spouse on Valentine’s Day. I want to be a lover, partner, and friend everyday.

All those statements above mean I must give effort to those areas of my life. Nobody is going to obtain the object of their faith constantly telling themselves and others that they claim it, but do absolutely nothing. The Bible is clear that “faith without works is incomplete”. Your better days are not all on God. You have a part in seeing the manifestation. In order to “get better”, I must “get up and do something”.

Do not overlook the opportunity that God presents for you and I to become everything God intended. Do not lose the chance to make certain that your inner being is strengthened daily. To repeat myself from yesterday on Facebook: “If your superficial appearance is stronger than your character, you possess a hollow existence.” Make today a better day…

I have been grieved for a long time about the direction of Christianity. At the core, the faith provides a message of love, justice, and equity that can be extremely transformative to the nature of humanity. Yet like many faith traditions, it is found to be misused in the name of maintaining status quo bigotry, injustice, and inequality alive. The expression of the message of the Gospel has taken a back seat to the rise of platform religion. What am I talking about?

Consider for a moment the climate of our society today. Most people today are being pushed to take sides in arguments that have existed for ages. It appears that more causes have risen due to the nature of social media and extended platforms of media. People are taking the opportunity to speak on more subject matter than ever before. The Internet has become the hub for an overabundance of information and a suffocating place for truth. More individuals fuss and fight to prove that a certain idea is right at the risk of denying the sanctity of thought and process.

What has know become more evident in church life is the desire to reflect society through setting up platforms rather than speak truth to power. As a young man who grew up in the prophetic preaching tradition of the African American church, it bothers me to see individuals take liberty to preach platform over truth. Yes, a person should question the nature of their national leaders. The Office of the President is always going to be seen as the office of Pharaoh by me as long as the suffering of maligned is monetized and profitable to the greedy. We ought to be able to speak truth to power regardless of who is in position.

At the same time, we must stop taking on the characteristics of institutions that we can not stand always. At some point, living out our most holy faith must begin with real engagement with the Word we declare to follow. It should never take a vote for me to love my neighbor. It should never take an act to demonstrate the love of God to anyone that comes my way. I should never worry about my reputation if my witness is help the least of these. My preoccupation in life should not be governed by a platform, but by God Almighty.

When my faith can be reduced to the argument over gun owner, I have chosen to serve the platform. When you can judgmental about people still eating meat while you have chosen to be vegan, your commitment is to the platform. When you political affiliation covers your ability to see the hurting, you serve at the will of the platform. No one can serve two masters. No one can serve at the pleasure of more than one entity without neglecting the other.

The introspective, contemplative believer will always be challenged to live openly regarding the message of Christ. The same believer is being pressed on every side to choose a platform ultimately reducing their faith to one idea. Chris Rock stated in a stand-up special that nobody is one thing. The faith of a Christian has many elements that when rooted in God gives a unique perspective to the movement of the Kingdom of God within the earth.

Until we return to a genuine engagement with God, we can’t stand to show the world the power of an ignited witness. The debates will remain. The love will not be present. Our witness will not bear under the weight of discord. We must be determined to fight for a day where our relationship with God will dictate how we truly engage the world and transform lives.