Our society today has quickly moved to an “inclusive” mindset. The motto “We’re all alright,” has been a battle cry to be sure that no one feels left out. Don’t get me wrong, I think it is important for people to feel like they belong and are accepted. The problem with inclusiveness lies in the fact that if somebody’s words or actions don’t fit the mold of what the public opinion of inclusiveness is, they are persecuted and excluded! With inclusiveness, there are no absolutes. If there are no absolutes, then there are no rights and wrongs. If there are no rights and wrongs, society will crumble because then everybody just does whatever they want. Three times in the book of Judges, we are told “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit” (Judges 17:6, 19:1, 21:25). Take a minute and see the chaos that was happening on these occasions!
We have seen many public figures be accused of using racial slurs, insensitive language, misogynistic language and other social gaffes. Many people stand tall and point the finger of shame at those who have been exposed of these issues. The most glaring problem with the accusers is that they are guilty of the very offense they are pointing out and violating the very principle which they claim to embrace! Are they not belittling and excluding that person’s opinion? Are they not being the opposite of inclusive?
Another issue with the inclusive way of thinking is that people can write songs, books, make movies, and other types of media and call it entertainment and that’s okay. The only consistency in inclusiveness is that it is constantly inconsistent. If there are no absolutes, then it people decide what is right and what is wrong, and for different people. That will entail different things. Then, once somebody chooses to deny someone else their “freedom of expression.” You have excluded them and the whole inclusive system breaks down.
Christians often take criticism for being bigoted, close-minded, and exclusive. If they are following Jesus, as they should, then nothing is farther from the truth. Nobody is more inclusive than God, after all, look at John 3:16–16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Two key words in this verse, “world” that means everyone, and “whoever” that means anyone. Everyone is included and God’s love and whoever chooses to love Jesus is included in eternal life.
God’s word has absolutes. There is right and there is wrong. God’s word is very clear on the kind of life we must live to inherit eternal life. The gift of eternal life that comes from God through the blood of Jesus, is just like any gift, for it to be useful to us, we must accept and use it. Look at what Jesus says in Mark 16:16–Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. That’s pretty straightforward. Again, we see the word “whoever,” that means each person has the responsibility to make their own decision about what to do with Jesus, accept Him or deny Him. God does not force us to love Him or even listen to Him. We are created as free moral agents with ability to think and reason. We can see from the above verse that we have two choices, being saved, or being condemned. We must believe and be baptized to be saved, that is an absolute. Does that make God’s word exclusive? Only in the fact that people choose to be excluded by their own free will. God loves everyone, regardless. God will only give salvation to those who want to be saved and demonstrate it by being obedient to His word.
If a society is going to function properly, there must be absolutes. There must be guidelines for what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. Over the past fifty years, we have seen what was once unacceptable become, not only acceptable, but often times, celebrated. Sadly, we are also seeing that in the church. People are wanting to include things that God never included and that is unacceptable.
Friends, the church is inclusive in the fact that the gospel is for all and anyone who obeys and is faithful can be part of it. The church is exclusive in the sense that those who choose not to obey exclude themselves. Remember, Jesus loves you, and if you love Him, you will obey Him (John 14:15–15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command).
Read Matthew 7:21-23