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Inclusive and Exclusive
Brian Mashburn
April 22, 2018
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Is Christianity Inclusive or Exclusive
Have you noticed that our culture has become sensitive to what is referred to as "inclusive" and "exclusive" language? It is a generally positive development, in my opinion, as it is an acknowledgment of what Christians have always known about the power of words: they can heal, and they can hurt. With all due respect to the (true!) idea that we need to "toughen up" and be "unoffendable" in an offensive world, we can still affirm along with the world that we should be careful with our words, both in what we say and how we say them. After all, "the tongue has the power of life and death." (Proverbs 18:21)
The word "inclusive" means to include somebody else, and that is what inclusive language does, potentially making others feel valued and accepted. Exclusive means to exclude somebody else, and that is what exclusive language does, potentially making others feel rejected and unvalued.
With this newfound cultural sensitivity, a new criticism has surfaced against Christianity. It is exclusive, they say, and uses exclusive language, and therefore, makes people feel rejected, unvalued, outcast, and even condemned.
So, as we continue our journey into the mind-bending world of spiritual paradox, today we consider two more seemingly opposite, contradictory ideas that are both found in the Bible: (1) Christianity is exclusive, and (2) Christianity is inclusive.
Christianity is both, and contrary to how the world has recently decided to define "exclusivity" as always negative and hurtful, both are very, very good news.
May we continue to love God with all of our minds as we reconcile another seemingly contradictory set of truths.