 JESSE B. FERGUSON, A VOICE FOR CHANGE
From many quarters, we hear brethren assailing the pioneer preachers of the church and asserting their freedom and liberty from "brotherhood" conformity.
Some of our intellectuals feel they have something new to tell us; new concepts and insights to share. In days past others of the same stripe have arisen among us. When their program was rejected by the brethren they usually renounced the Church of Christ. Some abandoned religion entirely, while others joined various denominational churches.
While thumbing through the 1855 Millennial Harbinger I came across a story that makes an appropriate preface for the story of our current "change movement." In fact, it seems that some of our voices for change might have "stolen their thunder" from a distant ancestor. The article is entitled "The Fall of Mr. J. B. Ferguson." Ferguson was the preacher for the church in Nashville from 1847-1856. "He was born eloquent and brilliant and he knew it. Flattery fell abundantly on is head, and he grew vain and proud, losing at the same time his spirituality" (Earl West, Search for the Ancient Order, Vol 1, p. 261).
As I read and compare the many volumes published by our contemporary "agents of change" and the apology of Jesse B. Ferguson, I find the likeness in content and spirit striking. Hear him:
"...in March 1847 (I) as pastor, took charge of that (Nashville) congregation. During the five succeeding years the most flattering success attended our ministry, and it was decided to erect a more commodious edifice." (Those of his stripe usually feel the need of telling the world of their greatness and success. Bigness is equated with divine approval).
"...We defined our position upon their charges of heresy and infidelity by showing our independence of all Church creeds, written or unwritten..." (Through the years a certain type of men have protested an unwritten creed in the church, especially when they are charged with heresy!).
"I speak plainly: man was not made to be subservient to religious or any other associates, and when they proscribe his native integrity by rules fit for hideous brothels, it is better for religion and morality to break up.
Politic(al) movements in religion are criminating and desolating scourges of the world. Every man that enters this house is my brother, let him be more or less worthy." (The complaint of mind-control and political power in the church is still a favorite smoke screen of those walking in paths of apostasy. They want to be able to violate the Scriptural standards with out criticism. Seamy adjectives to describe one's revulsion to the laws of the church is still a favorite mode of expression. It is proper to say that then as now the only rule or for the church was the Word of God. Hence, he says it was "fit for hideous brothels."),
"The dome of God's temple includes all mankind, and there is no door into or out of it, NO ACCESSIONS OF EXCLUSIONS, and no knocking for admission into it. We go in and come out without our choice, for whomsoever God creates and vivifies, he, and not man, admits." (In his broad-mindedness, he would claim religious brotherhood with all mankind, regardless of their faith or practice; truly an ecumenical minded brother!).
"We would plant no dissension by stirring up ‘Divine Wrath;' we would not stir up the offensive acts of old comrades to contaminate others; but with pitying affection will declare, that we have no selfish heaven or hopeless hell." (His type always pleads innocent to schism as they are wrecking the church about them. They would have us think that they are only working to heal the wounds others have inflicted).
"...the world is my church; mankind are its members; forms are the rights of the heart. If I comply with your ordinances, or if I do not, you perceive clearly my position. I once admitted your ceremonials, but now they are dead; your organization ceasing to act, is not nominally, but really dead, under my teaching in this house." (He had renounced the forms and ceremonies (as he called them), of the New Testament Church. He was certain the Church of Christ was on its death bed. After all, he was leaving. Would he not be chagrined to see the church today? No doubt, he would be disappointed! How similar is his outburst to those clamoring for change among us!).
"The human mind is bursting the shackles of a superstitious tradition favoring religious dogmatists." (Over and over we hear this type of disenchanted preacher predict that every ‘intelligent' person will reject the Restoration concept for his new and enlightened way. Really it is but the fond and hopeful wish of his imagination).
"In our day, God is rearing up a temple whose sunlight will teach you to know, be free, be candid, be a man and think, feel, and act for the day in which you live." (He called for a movement inner direction that would be relevant to 1855! Bro. Jesse could easily be mistaken for a university professor promoting a new kind of church of Christ!).
"We are free to serve any society seeking our labors of their own accord. We pay no servile respect to the doctrines of antiquity–even 5,000 years consecrate the Bible no further than the truths developed in such books." (He felt free to share his ministry with denomination churches and not to limit it to narrow confines of one church! Do you suppose he called it "dialog" or reaching out to our religious neighbors? He refused to be bound to the doctrines of the old paths of the first century).
"Even Mr. Campbell, who worries his disciples of the ‘Reform of the 19th Century' with the flippant heraldry of faith, repentance and baptism for the remission of sins..." (He must have read some of our contemporary church bulletins and books of our "change agents" It is remarkable the way this element always attack great men of the past when they reject a particular doctrine. I wonder why they do not attack the Scripture those pioneers preachers? But that would be too obvious! Today a new generation of apostates are also casting aspersion on "baptism for remission of sins").
"The Pentecost of the ‘reformed church' is a penitence due to Demons. My church will yet love those who deliver it from separating strife and narrow bigotry." (The great growth of our churches was, he charged, because people were afraid of the devil. Come to think about it...I still hear some complaints about preachers preaching on sin, death, judgment, hell and the Devil. They demand a "positive" only message. Perhaps they sprouted from Ferguson's stump).
"In spirit communion, we hear the voice of he Lord God, as did the fabled Adam..." (He thought God was talking directly to him. For those who feel the Holy Spirit speaks to them, he should be a welcome guest. And there is his ‘fabled' Adam. The liberals who view the first 12 chapters of Genesis as fable are not new. They are 150 years behind Ferguson).
"We must learn to know man in one brotherhood, though in many families..." (He could have been an associate professor at Abilene Christian University and a contributor to the "fabled" Wineskins magazine).
"Self-knowledge is the consciousness of the Divinity in ourselves, for as we are so is God in us...Let the scope of man's thoughts embrace the Divine germ of spirit growing in his system." (I offer this to let you compare it with the vague theological meanderings of the current professors of change. A marvelous similarity). (All the above quotes are from The Millennial Harbinger, 1855, pp. 636-640).
The man whose words we have considered came to Nashville and found a congregation of some 600 members. In 10 years, "the church was wholly broken up, and disbanded; so that when a call was made by a few who desired to renew the worship according to the old faith,...only fifteen or twenty at first responded to the call." (J. E. Scobey, Franklin College and Its Influences, pp. 45-50). Moreover, he led many other congregations off with him. Not unexpectedly, he soon went into Universalism and finally quite preaching altogether. He died in obscurity. (H. L. Boles, Biographical Sketches of Pioneer Preachers, p.190). Had not Alexander Campbell publicly exposed Ferguson's error, likely he would have swept many of the Middle-Tennessee congregations down the road of apostasy with him.
The lessons for us today are obvious:
1. We must constantly try the sprits (I John 4:1). We must take heed what we hear (Mk. 4:24). No matter how highly educated, polished or respected a preacher may be, our faith must go beyond him to God's Word.
If he abides not faithfully in that sacred message we must reject him and his message. The sooner the better!
2. Public exposure of doctrinal error is the only way to stop a false doctrine that is being publicly promoted (Rom. 16:16).
3 The defense offered by J. B. Ferguson for his departure is currently being repeated by a multitude of preachers among our churches. Perhaps a similar sickness has affected those who reflect similar symptoms.
4. Only when the apostate was driven out was the wounded church able to recover itself and rebuild. Without his poison, the Churches of Christ in Nashville eventually came to number 135 with many of them exceedingly large.
5. Now as then, when Satan cannot defeat us by enemies from without, he will attempt to subvert us from within. "Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom;" in Christianity and well as in democracy.
JHW
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