Dr. Charles W. Ferguson

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. 

For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am of the flesh, sold into slavery under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin. -Romans 7:14-25, NRSV 

This week, I was blessed to have the opportunity to share in Chapel worship at Methodist Theological School in Ohio. This institution gave me the chance to earn my two Master’s Degrees. During my time spent, I was challenged in many areas of personal theology, critical thinking, and theoretical analysis. I learned that studying the various aspects of God open the doors to unlimited possibilities addressing perspective. 

As I shared with the assembled this week, I believe that we are in a great season to offer the world an answer for the challenges that are before us. With all the negative feelings, natural disasters, politicized anger, racism, and various other schisms, the people of God are in the right area to address all of these challenges spiritually, practically, and pragmatically. Yet, (generally speaking) we have not taken this great opportunity by the horns.

The apparent hiccup in our opportunity to be the people of God discussed in Scripture and life is division. The spirit of divisiveness is so prevalent in every space and on every level that we have not taken the time to address that this spirit is stripping away our focus on the mission of the Kingdom of God. Division does not develop over night. It is not something that just happens out of the clear blue sky. Through a simple revelation/reminder, I remember now that division begins with a divided individual. 

Let me go deeper. The human being has three major aspects–mind, body, and soul. These three attributes grant every persons a complete perspective on life. Things exist that are above my thinking. Encounters and experiences cause me to consider the world around me. Thoughts cause me to become introspective. Thinking, connecting, and experiencing life is more than enough in the course of a 24-hour period. 

Nevertheless, the individual can lean more on one aspect than another from time to time. The body works at it’s greatest and most optimal form when every part is on the same page. You know those days when you body gets plenty of rest; your mind is firing on all cylinders; and your spirit is not disturbed by anything. Your whole being is focused in the right direction. Everything about you is prepared to face any challenge. 

Look at the flip side. You don’t get enough sleep; your family is facing an unusual crisis; and your soul is disturbed by injustice or other “environmental circumstances”. Nothing within your being is prepared to face anything. Every part of the body is now out of sorts. That concept brings about a greater awareness to the challenge that we face right now. 

I can not expect anyone to move toward the goal if unity and progression if individuals are not successfully navigating the ebb and flow of life. Therefore, it is necessary to bring to the forefront the necessity for finding what brings the individual together. For me, I find peace and contentment when my whole being follows the will of God. 

Paul says that the conflict within is the right nature of the Spirit of God versus the repetition of the flesh. My body knows act to act out of impulse and memory. The spirit only knows satisfaction when God’s will is involved. The settling of the conflict is determined by a decision (mind/mental) to submit to one or the other. 

My humble suggestion is that we commission ourselves to become active negotiators of our being. We must bring every aspect to the table and remind each party of what matters most–God’s will. When the genuine desires of God are brought to the forefront, we position ourselves to think and consider God’s desires over our own. 

Is it easy? No. Is it necessary? Yes. Will it produce greater results in the long run? Absolutely. The moment I begin to actively pursue the things of God, my disposition towards united with others strengthens. My desire to understand different vantage points begins to shift. I become a more viable representative of the change I wish to see in the world. 

Unity must begin with forging agreement within our being. Otherwise, we will constantly show the our unwitting, unknowing, or unintentional hypocrisy to the world. Our challenge is to fight to constantly get right within. Know that it is not accomplished alone. But, the first step begins with the acknowledgement of the need to come together and be whole. 

Years ago, many Black men and women imagined a day when their humanity would experience the same equality and equity as others in this nation. People of right thinking marched, protested, and spoke truth to power regarding the basic civil and moral rights not exercised and granted. In 2008, people believed that the fight was finally over with the election of U.S. Senator, Barack H. Obama, to the office of President of the United States. People declared that we had fully entered into the season of the post-racial society. On August 12, 2017, post-racial thinkers were proven wrong. Post-racial ideology has finally met its final resting place. 

In my early days of seminary, I encountered many people who were determined to be so “heavenly minded, that they were no earthly good”. In the name of being progressive, they wanted to superimpose the idea that people had evolved into the place of being reasonable and intelligent. People were now more informed; therefore, they did not have the reason or premise to be racially bias toward anyone. On that premise and the marginal movement of people of color ascending to prominent places, my colleagues expoused the idea that we could finally move away from the conversations of past history. So wrong….

Here I am attempting to make sense of what my eyes have seen. The first question I wanted to ask: Now will they see it? I didn’t ask it. I realize that many people will do the same thing that they always do. We must find a way to united and move forward. Bigotry and hatred are unacceptable. I got to be honest with you. I am plenty tired of the talking points, conjecture, and sanctimonious opinions of race in this country. 

Let’s be clear. Racism is not going away. I know you don’t want to believe it. I know you will say to me, Charles, where is your hope? My hope is in God. I have no hope in frail humanity. I have hope in those driven by the Spirit of God. I have no faith in those who are unwilling to address what is in front of their face for what it is. Charlottesville was not an accident. It was a moment that was brewing for years. This time proved to be the moment that Goliath’s brothers would rise up. Let me explain. 

Remember when David killed Goliath in his earlier years? Everyone shouted and praise God for the exploits of the young man, David. As a matter of fact, David was bold enough to challenge the soldiers present about their commitment to God. David was pressed in his heart to face a giant that was twice his size because that giant mocked the God David loved. The imagery of David taking down Goliath with a rock is the sanitized perspective of what David did to Goliath. David not only took Goliath down with what he had in his hand, but David took Goliath’s sword and cut the giant’s head off also. David was violent with intent. 

Before you misinterpret where I am going, walk with me a moment. David was passionate, intense, and focused on eliminating the greatest threat to his people. He was not going to rest until the threat no longer existed. He didn’t just win a fight. David definitively showed his people how much standing for God meant. Some caught the clue over time. Others relaxed believing in the power of “let the other guy do it”. 

In my opinion, that mentality has permeated the psyche of many different entities of life–especially in the African American community. When Martin spoke truth to power about equality and equity, everyone was fine as long as it did not affect them or any interests. They wanted a mouthpiece for civil rights. Yet, Martin decided to speak out against the Vietnam War. You would have thought that he declared that people should return to slavery. The message was still the same. Injustice was not limited to the Black disenfranchaised. Injustice was must be addressed on every level. 

Consider this also. When Martin was assasinated, people began to scramble to see who could take on the mantle. Funny enough, nobody was ready to fight forward. In the following years, the momentum of the Civil Rights movement began slow down into mental museum of yesteryear. Yes, there were and are people still fighting for justice. But the magnitude of pressing the issues began retreating as advances took place. 

When Barack H. Obama was elected our 44th President, many people began to believe the rhetoric that our nation had entered into a post-racial society. Mr. Obama represented for many people David slaying Goliath. All was now over. We could all embrace equality and equity in this nation without exception. I can count the numerous conversations I had in classes dealing with over-theoratical progressive thinker attempting to tell me that racism is gone. Yet, Goliath (racism) still had brothers waiting. 

Charlottesville was not the resurrection of Goliath. Charlottesville was the unveiling of the next generation of Goliath’s DNA. With the actions of these unhinged, short-sided thinking people, my question is were are those of “the lineage of David”? I’m not talking about people with great talking points dipped in the sweet nectar of knowledge. I want to know where are the people who have the courage to organize, fight, advocate, and position a great movement of what is morally correct? 

Yes, I recognize many organizations and pockets of people that continue to stand the premise of advancing moral and civil rights. But, you must excuse me if my frustration will suggest that many of us are still waiting on someone else “to do it”, wanting others to be passive about the facts, or explain away nonsense by blaming “both sides”. I wonder are there people who have gleaned from the past, embraced their own gifts, and gained enough determination now to see what is upon us. 

When the Philistine giants came looking for revenge, whole armies did not step to them and fight. No. Individuals said that they had enough within them to battle those giants and win. What is needed now to defeat these giants?

1. Heart (Emotional Balance)
2. Fully Connected Spirit (Constant Interaction with God)
3. Active Gifts (Using Your Talent Without Hesitation)
4. Confidence (Have Hope and Faith that Victory Will Come)
5. Resolve (Recognize that the Fight Will Continue)
6. Empowerment (Give Others the Chance to Glean and Learn in Order to Produce)

Every element is necessary so that we might see a shift that is necessary for the world. Do not become a sideliner believing these things will go away. Make up in your mind that you will be the change agent that ends the rhetoric and creates a flourishing, equitable environment for all.