Dr. Charles W. Ferguson

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had an Egyptian slave-girl whose name was Hagar, and Sarai said to Abram, “You see that the Lord has prevented me from bearing children; go in to my slave-girl; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her slave-girl, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife. He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my slave-girl to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” But Abram said to Sarai, “Your slave-girl is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she ran away from her. -Genesis 16:1-6, NRSV

Our world has developed a sense of confusion. We celebrate backwards thinking, illegitimate action, and, God help me, alternative facts. We are currently in a society that welcomes at every turn the opportunity to inform people that ethics, morals thinking, and deep faith are the exception not the rule.

Over the past year, we have watched as our current commander in chief has done everything within his power to demonstrate divisive thinking, lack of unity, devoid of compassion, and lack of righteousness. Many people have stated that they have been shocked and dismayed by the actions of those who find themselves in positions of power, wealth, and authority. Nevertheless, I confess that I am not shocked nor am I surprised by the actions of activity of those who find themselves on platforms of influence.

It is within this framework that God is challenged me to think and consider what might be the reality of the world that we live in an occupied today. 500 years after the reformation ignited by Martin Luther, we now engage in dialogue between our theology and our reality. We are now attempting to find a solid ground, a common ground that will aid us in seeing clearly The mission and purpose of those of us who claim kingdom citizenship.

Consider this for a moment. We now occupy a portion of time on the continuum of history where people say with their mouths and actions that all bets are off about living the best life possible. People have decided to turn their back on God. Individuals have decided not to engage in honest, introspective discourse.

Yet, people are more concerned about situations and circumstances that are irrelevant to the advancement of God‘s kingdom. We have invested more time, energy, and thought into the illegitimacy of what has been presented as faith in God then really attempting to understand and comprehend when it comes to faith and discipleship increased. Brothers and sisters, this has become the status quo. We are now fully engaged with people who celebrate a view of the faith that it’s not only illegitimate, but has done more damage over time than anything else in history.

I’ve learned now how important the story of Ishmael really is. Most people decide that they want to label Ishmael existence as being illegitimate. The fact remains that his parents were caught up in the midst of backwards thought, processing, and ideology. How can I say such a thing? Well, Read the story. When you examine the entire situation there was no way in the world that anything was going to work out well.

Sarah took it upon herself to encourage Abraham to sleep with a slave girl, and procreate in order to fulfill the promise of God. Now how crazy is that? Consider for minute that you are a man or woman in a relationship. Your spouse comes up to you and says, “go ahead and sleep with this person”.

Your spouse/significant other is giving you a pass to be with somebody other than them? In some circles that is the perfect scenario. You mean to tell me that I can fulfill and carnal desire I want no questions asked? That’s the situation. And now the young lady that was nothing more than a slave girl is now the bearer of the first son of Abraham. What is her reward? She gains the ridicule and ire of a woman that set things in motion. She also receives the disconnection from the man that sired the child.

Ishmael constitutes what dictionary call a bastard. He is now in illegitimate child that came from a legitimately insane plan attempting to mirror the plan of God. Look who gets hurt in the process. A young man is now disconnected from his father. A young woman who wanted nothing to do with the situation is maligned for running because of a forced sexual issue the severity of human trafficking. And yet somehow, we praise Sarah for being strong enough to stand up to the other woman. But that revisionist history attempts to negate the reality that Sarah is the one that started the whole mess.

From this nonsense, we have now created a world that loves insanity rather than rational ideas and concepts. We live in a reality world age sprinkled with social media, Snapchat likes, and Instagram followers. More people are consumed with their own uninformed ideas than digging toward real results. This culture has now produced for-profit preachers, unapologetic bigots, and sheep without the True Shepherd.

Many people that might read my thoughts will probably look at my background and wonder how can I arrive at these conclusions. “You were born in the denominational structure. Why would you bash it?”

Brothers and sisters, I am not coming for denominations or traditions. I believe I have reached the point in my life where methodology is always going to be in question. However, I am call to speak truth to power. So here we go….

I can not stomach how anyone can justify plain evil as a theological mandate from God. Some religious leaders have sold their principles and faith in order to defend rape culture, racism, unchecked nationalism, and beyond. It is grown beyond my realm of understanding that people who claim Christ are willing to support and promote individuals who have no remorse for perpetuating the sexual assault of women and children.

I am convinced that people who attempt to fuse these elements via justification fueled by selfish gain are the most dangerous people in our society. What makes it worse is that those who have constantly spoken out against such abhorrent behavior for years have been demonized as troublemakers.

Yet, these have been the prophets that warned us that these days were coming. They said not to relinquish your faith and relationship with God for the temporary. But here we are. We are fighting to have any credibility with anyone in society due to “oil-less” representatives that have taken the Gospel and have fashioned it in their image.

I have not lost hope in the power of the Gospel. I know that the pure faith, preached and taught, still saves, redeems, and liberates. However, I must admit that it might be time for a new strategy. We must reclaim the foundation and power of the Gospel, so that we might fulfill our mission and purpose as the people of God. I don’t want us to have a Samson-like final push (reference: Judges 16:23-31). We must be destined to finish our course with a Paul-like resolution (reference: 2 Timothy 4:6-8). How do we begin to accomplish this?

1. Go Back to Truth and Foundation

Our society has devolved into an environment focused extreme amounts of information. We consume anything that comes over our phones, computers, tablets, TVs, etc. In many instances, people do not take the time to investigate or review if something is true or false.

The lack of pursuit for the truth has created a space for truth to be subjective rather than foundation. Having a foundation is not the absence of questioning. As a matter of fact, it is intelligence to raise interrogatives. Questions are a tool of digging. After a while, we ought to reach a place of depth where the foundation can be laid.

However, majoring in trivial matters takes away from the opportunity to find what our hearts and spirit seek. Consider the willingness of people to openly support sexual predators for public office. Think about people individuals in leadership who continue to name their price for their soul. The person that digs will have an informative faith that tells him or her that no temporary platform can overshadow the willing intent to hurt and scar.

2. Be Different

It is absolutely ok not to follow the crowd. Ultimately, you must give an account for the manner you have lived your life. You do not have to hold the line that groups hold if they totally reject the premise of Christ and the Word of God.

I know this next statement will take some people over, but so be it. If your salvation and commitment to God is fashioned by anything else but God, you need to reassess everything in your life. It is impossible for you to care about the poor and find new to keep them disenfranchised. It is unreasonable to say you love Jesus and continue to intentionally keep people from a genuine encounter with the Almighty. It crazy to believe that you can reject the outsider when God has welcomed you with grace.

3. Don’t Attempt to Do God’s Job

My favorite statement to make about our relationship with God: We are the created; God is the Creator. We are the saved; Christ is the Savior. We have the capacity to be creative, caring, and compassionate. We have the capacity to reflect certain aspects of the Holy One. Yet, we are not authorized to function as judge, jury, and executioner.

Whenever we function outside of the grace and mercy of God, we play the dangerous game of place ourselves on the Throne of God. We are the most unqualified creation to place judgement only anyone. Anytime we think we can do God’s job better, we take away any credence to the value and power of the Word of God.

Why do you think true believers are working overtime? People are questioning if God is truly real. Why do people back away from the church? They see the corruption in the institution and not the power of the organism. We must become representatives of Christ. Otherwise, we will continue to support the culture of the illegitimate.

I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

For the past three or four years, I have been in the unique position to watch our collective environment go through an unbelievable shifting in a day that is supposed to reflect progression for all people. I was never under the impression that my family would have to live in a period that is attempting to roll back laws, attitudes, and perspectives that would do harm to anyone that is committed to wholistic advancement. 

Racism, sexism, and many other disenfranchising projects are not new to the democratic experiment known as the United States. These separating elements are not a new idea created by evil people of today. They are the result of depraved lives who desire to rule a place as an entity attempting to be greater than God. Sound familiar? It is down right demonic. Yet as I write, I must admit that nothing truly shocks me any more. 

I have shared on this platform my issues with institutional racism. I have shared encounters with the police that could have gone differently. I have even taken the time to open my social media space to individuals with the hope of gaining a pragmatic understanding as to why people feel passionately about issues that are seen in the wrong light. Not too many people have taken me up on my offers. Many people are still confused by what is happening. So, I want to take a moment not to explain but enlighten and possibly agitate the sensibilities of many people. 

I am follower of the religion of Jesus (quoting Howard Thurman). I am a Black man and unapologetic with that statement. I am a husband of a Black woman. I am the father of a young Black man. I am the son of a Black woman. I am the grandson of a Black couple married for 65 years. I have lived in melainized skin for 36 years and counting. I have listened and watched as people have attempted to make me and others feel shame and guilt for have pride and identity. I have endured countless conversations where people continue to tell me and others to forget about the history that is recorded. 

The dissmive nature of those people (who embody many different hues unfortunately) have caused great strife, anguish, decension in the body politic. People have claimed a great love for God have forgotten very quickly that God cares about the entire state of men and women. People who occupy credentials like mine in ministry have risen to positions of influence only to become a part of a fusion machine similar to the rise of Hitler and a bastardized, Nazi-filled theology. 

Oh, you do realize that the many people that live under the improperly named banner of Evangelical Christian walk out the same methodology that led to the intentional destruction of Jews. How can you care about the abortion of children and not the needs of the living poor? How can you make helping people a judgement call? How do you permit anyone who is self-admitted fondler, misogynist, and perpetuator of nationalistic ideas the beacon voice of your faith? How do you justify to God that you care more about the maintenance of your lifestyle of the improvement of the least of these?

I want you to know from me, that each and every one of you who have stated to the devil in your wilderness that you will take the kingdoms over your commitment to God, make me sick. You are the very reason that people refuse to be truly free in Christ. You are the reason people do not take the commitment or relationship with God seriously. With so many people of the faith fighting daily to demonstrate the most genuine and unfiltered view of God, my soul has grown weary of navigating through your mess to tell others about the true reality when it comes to serving God truly. 

You have demonstrated to me in a very clear way that you have set a price for your soul. What shall a man (woman) give in exchange for his (her) soul? Integrity, faith, righteousness—that is the price for maintaining an atmosphere of benefit for one and not the whole. Courage is not about performing a heroic, reactionary act. Courage is the ability to stand for truth when it hurts. Unfortunately, too many people, who claim to follow the same Christ I do, have decided to be the merchants and money changers  in the temple. You got to pay a price to worship with us. Give up the identity. Give up the fight. Give up the righteousness. No. 

Here is where the rest of us come in. I know you have grown weary. You continue to talk and act to such an extent that you feel like you are working in circles. You are tired of telling people things that just make sense to you. You are tired of saying, Don’t you see that right there? Can’t you see that people being unjustly killed is wrong? Don’t you know that Jesus is not about harming anyone? Why are you still supporting the values of someone who does not support you?

I get it. It is an exhausting thing that people will never understand. However, I want to stand as a Paul to you today and remind you. Don’t give up. The world needs us. I know they don’t think so. But, souls are on the line. We can not perpetuate another generation of people who believe that black and brown lives are expendable. We can not have another generation where women are perceived only as good for being objects. We can not permit another day to go by without agitating the status quo. We can not continue to be content with below average living. 

Our commitment must be to not live as people without confidence. We must be bold and declare that we are created, loved, and embraced in the image and likeness of Almighty God, and we will not accept a lesser response or attitude from anyone. We must mobilize in such a manner that we stop the infighting and lift our voices and ideas high to finally eliminate the label and mentality of disenfranchisement. We must correct people when they attempt to change the narrative. We must make individual content with current condition of the world uncomfortable until they are willing to encounter and confront the necessity for change. 

The time has come for us to make our voices heard, our actions meaningful, and our mandate clear. The world needs us…..

We have now arrived at a critical moment in our society. With all of the protesting, differing opinions, and uncovering of secret thoughts, we are now facing a moral crisis the likes of which have never seen before. Our society has spoken with clarity and has suggested to all of us that the value of life has reached an all time low. Though I am an advocate of equality and equity, it would be dishonest and pretentious for me to think that the particular struggle that has come to the forefront does not have roots in the general cause of misapporiating value on human life. 

Let me be perfectly clear. The ongoing tragedy in Las Vegas will leave significant impact on the lives of people for many years beyond this day. Individuals enjoying the sound of Country music, the community of assembly, and the joy of entertainment will have to replay in their memory the sounds of artilery, screams, and panic cascading over the sound of a guitar. Nothing in this life can dismiss the visual or audible experience that continues to played and posted in social media. 

Yet, my concern going forward is how did we arrive at this moment? I have many theories and ideas. However, they all boil down to one overarching reality. The “Me’ mentality overshadows the need to better the body politic of society. I am convinced more than ever that people have chosen “number one” over common decency. I believe that the isms and schisms of life do not play any significant role in how we approach one another. The spiritual rooting that was common in generations past has been replaced with the self-serving ideology to preserve me at all cost. 

What makes a leader decide to negate his or her responsibility to the great whole by creating a narrative not rooted in reality? What makes a person travel and perch above a gather just to rain down gunfire? What makes people choose cloth over justice? Why must patriotism yield to nationalism? How can places open in the name of Jesus decide that doing good is optional? When “me” interferes with “we”, we have to acknowledge the aspects of life that become damaged. 

1. Our capacity for caring (empathy) grows thin
2. Our willingness to fix broken issues becomes distracted by the preservation of our own interest
3. Doing the right thing becomes an inconvenience not the rule
4. Right is measured individual interests
5. Equality is maniputed 
6. Equity is demonized
7. People are harmed 
8. Lives are damaged

For everything that I have listed, I wonder how many people will have the resolve to become counter-cultural to the indignity of “me”. In order for the future to become hopeful, we must position ourselves not only to be “woke”, but we must be determined to reclaim the value of human dignity and life. Otherwise, our future will be dashed. Our lives will lack substance. Our hope will be gone.