I just posted another article on my blogsite (blacktaxandwhitebenefits.com) entitled “Two Sources of Wisdom.” In my recent blog post, “Slavery and the Bible,” I had a few things to say about the inability of political solutions to effectively deal with the problems of society that are rooted in sin, and that includes the sin of racism. My reasoning was that while politics may well produce legislation, it cannot produce love (often quite the contrary). Hate cannot be outlawed, although acts of hate can. Nor can love be demanded by law. Further, since our most basic human emotional needs are all about love, respect and acceptance, politics will always come up short in providing what the human soul most desires.
In that recent article, I used some material written by Michael Burns, adopted and adapted from an email. As I prepared for a trip to the East Coast to teach about racial issues, I spent much time re-reading his book, “Crossing the Line: Culture, Race and Kingdom.” To be honest, my human nature would like to legislate the reading of this book by all disciples of all colors! Of course, that urge is not realistic and not particularly spiritual either. I think it does illustrate the fact that our very strong feelings to make something happen often go in the wrong direction and are not very effective in bringing about the desired results at the heart level. With Michael’s permission once again, I quote fairly extensively from his book in exploring the difference between God’s wisdom and human wisdom. Enjoy the read! ... See MoreSee Less
1 week ago ·
Several weeks ago, I had a very unusual experience. It started with me preaching what turned out to be an emotional sermon for me, and for the audience. After the service was over, I took a long drive in the countryside to talk with God about things stirred up in me by the sermon. I returned home to write for hours about the whole experience, which included a good deal of reminiscing about the early years of my life.
When finished, I felt that what I had written was just journaling between me and God and should be left at that. However, I later started feeling that perhaps I should view this fairly long piece of writing as an article to post on my teaching website (gordonferguson.org). It was in a sense a prequel to what I have written in the first section of “My Three Lives” and to our earliest married days described in “Fairy Tales Do Come True.” Both of these books are among my three most recent ones, having been written in 2016. They contain many details of a personal nature, as this article most certainly does.
I vacillated between keeping the article contents private and publishing it. After a couple of weeks passed, I sent the article to two of my fellow authors and close friends, asking their opinion. Tom Jones had this to say: “Very good piece that makes a vital point. Those who are fans of yours (a considerable number, including me) will especially enjoy more details from your life, and in the process, hear the heart of your message.” Steve Kinnard wrote (while on vacation): “I used my morning of leisure (no theme park today) to read your article. I really enjoyed it. I think you should publish it for a larger audience… People would be inspired by it. I was.”
Since I am tired of vacillating, and trust these brothers who know me well, I just posted the article. Its title is, “I Have Lost My Faith! (in Coincidences)” ... See MoreSee Less
2 weeks ago ·
My most recent blog article on my racial issues blogsite (blacktaxandwhitebenefits.com) was on the subject of slavery and the Bible. Interestingly, one of the members of our Diversity Committee in the ICOC churches is quite the expert on the subject. Richard Rodriguez, a brother in the South Florida Church of Christ, wrote both a thesis for his Master’s degree in History and a dissertation for his PhD on related aspects of American Slavery.
I asked him some time ago to write an article or series of articles about the main themes of his academic studies to use on one of my online sites. The end result was a seven-part series, which was too long for my blogsite, but fine for my teaching website (gordonferguson.org). I am posting a biographical sketch introduction to Richard himself and to his material on my blogsite, and will include it as an introduction to the series, which will be on my teaching website.
I have combined the longer series into one article, which is still longer than the normal article on that website, yet it contains some valuable material, complete with source documentation, for those who desire to dig deeply into a topic that has shaped so much of the American society in ways that we usually don’t realize.
His thesis dealt with the concept of the ideology of Divine retribution for slavery, something that many figures of history saw as a distinct possibility (including Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln). His dissertation delved into our national history of how the Bible was the cornerstone of the abolitionist argument against American slavery – in spite of the fact that the Bible was used also as support for same. Please go to my blogsite and read Richard’s biographical sketch, and then you can decide about reading the much more in-depth synopsis of his graduate research! Thank you, Richard, for your contributions to the world of academia and to our spiritual heritage! ... See MoreSee Less
3 weeks ago ·
I just posted a new article on my blogsite dealing with racial issues and diversity -- blacktaxandwhitebenefits.com (Blog 33). It is entitled "Slavery and the Bible." Since I started my blog, I have known that I needed to address the issue of slavery and the Bible. It is a fact that the Bible does not forbid any and all slavery, but rather regulated it among God’s followers in both Old Testament and New Testament settings. That fact is especially difficult to accept for those who have even a reasonably good understanding of how slavery was practiced in the United States for centuries. It was, with relatively few exceptions, applied in the harshest and most damaging ways imaginable. Further, the Bible was used to justify the institution, no matter how harsh these practices were. Just how are we moderns to view all of this? Please read the article for some very important answers. ... See MoreSee Less
1 month ago ·
I just posted another article on my teaching website (gordonferguson.org). It is entitled "The Theological Basis For Discipling Relationships." The first paragraph of introduction I will drop in here, but suffice it to say, it addresses a much needed subject. I would perhaps put it at or near the top of all the articles I've ever written on the subject -- although it was written some years ago as a chapter in a book. Here is that introduction explaining the origin of the material:
Special Note: This material once comprised a chapter in my book entitled Discipling (1997). This longer book was condensed into a shorter version called The Power of Discipling -- now in its second (slightly longer) edition. A number of chapters from the original book were omitted in the shorter one. I added back two of these chapters in a condensed combination (about group discipling and family discipling) in the second edition of the shorter version. Another chapter omitted in the original is this one, now published in a standalone article. It is in some ways “deeper” than the material in other chapters of the book, being more theological in nature. Newer disciples may find it more difficult to understand, but along with more mature disciples, all will find it highly stimulating and challenging if read carefully. In re-reading it now, over twenty years after I wrote it originally, it is hard to believe how relevant it is right now compared to its earlier setting. Our churches and our members need it – badly! ... See MoreSee Less
1 month ago ·
