I am concerned. Deeply concerned.
First, I’m watching people buy into the lie that Christianity and empire belong together—that somehow following Jesus is compatible with maintaining the power structures of American society. At the same time, I see people I love and respect losing their capacity to understand why others are outraged by the rhetoric (or silence) shaping this country.
I sit in this world as a Black man who loves God and follows Jesus. I serve as a leader in a predominately white denomination. I rest my hat on the conviction that I am called to ministry. And yet, I remain bewildered by the idea that logic, reason, and decency are often treated as if they must remain separate from authentic faith.
But maybe I should be used to this by now.
From preschool to the 10th grade, I attended private “Christian schools.” The goal was always to set myself up with the best education possible. I excelled academically. I was well-liked. I did my best to get along with everyone—and for the most part, I succeeded. But I knew I would never truly fit the mold those environments expected.
The truth is those institutions offered what they called “Christian education,” but what they taught didn’t fully reflect the principles Christ taught and lived. I was taught history from books written to redirect the truth. I heard narratives that erased my people’s story rather than acknowledge the tragedy of this nation. I wasn’t as vocal then as I am now, but I felt the pressure to mute my true voice, to conform, to blend in.
Leaving those institutions changed everything. At East High School, a public school, I found an incubator for my identity as a preacher, leader, scholar, and man. Ironically, it was there—outside the walls of so-called “Christian education”—that I discovered my uniqueness had a place in the world.
Why? Because I was constantly surrounded by believers who demanded my best, but who also showed grace. They celebrated my uniqueness instead of demeaning it. They encouraged me to live out my convictions, not just pay lip service. They gave me space to be both faithful and authentic without requiring me to erase anyone else’s story in the process.
A public school gave me more grounding in spirituality and faith than a “Christian school” ever did.
That realization stays with me as I watch this society slip back into a season where “faith” is a buzzword rather than a true practice of embracing humanity in all its forms. And it’s not just the church. This nation also treats faith like a slogan, uniqueness like a threat, and justice like a bargaining chip.
Here’s the tension: the Church—the body of Christ—embraces the uniqueness of God’s creation. But the church as an institution struggles to walk out the principles of Christ, too often latching onto political platforms and power structures that couldn’t care less about His kingdom. And likewise, society claims to uphold liberty and equality while writing policies and creating cultures that suppress both.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:1–2:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Authentic faith demands nonconformity. Authentic citizenship demands truth-telling. Both require refusing to be squeezed into the molds of empire, silence, or status quo.
And in that spirit, I hear the words of Robert Jones, Jr.:
“We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.”
This is where we are. Too often, the institutional church dismisses the uniqueness of God’s creation in the name of keeping peace. Too often, society itself props up empire rather than dismantling it. Both settle for comfort over transformation.
But Jesus never called us to be monolithic believers. And justice never thrives in a monolithic society. Christ lifted up the least, the last, the lost, and the downtrodden. He called people into the fullness of who they were created to be. He pushed people to live authentically, courageously, and faithfully—not to shrink themselves for the sake of the status quo.
I wonder: if we truly paid attention to the teachings of Jesus, would we be in this situation today? If we stopped trying to tell the Teacher that He is wrong, and instead examined what He actually taught, maybe the Church would look different. Maybe society would look different. Maybe we would look different.
Until then, I will continue to believe that authentic faith is not about empire, not about silence, not about conformity. It is about uniqueness. It is about courage. And it is about following Jesus—even when the world tells you to mute your voice.
A Call to Action
- For the Church: Refuse cheap alliances with platforms that profit from fear, division, or silence. Recover the radical dignity of Christ, who lifted the least and challenged the powerful.
- For Society: Stop treating liberty and equality as slogans and begin embodying them in policy, education, and everyday interactions. Hold systems accountable when they suppress humanity.
- For Each of Us: Renew your mind (Romans 12:2). Resist conformity to empire. Speak truth even when it costs. Protect the uniqueness of your neighbor as fiercely as you protect your own.
Because transformation—in both church and society—will only happen when people of courage decide that God’s truth is more important than empire’s comfort.
Dr. Charles W. Ferguson 