How do you view the word, ‘inclusion’?
The other day, I scanned a leaflet from a church outlining its principal beliefs. Jesus was mentioned a couple of times, but there wasn’t a single reference to sin. The words ‘include’ or ‘inclusion’, on the other hand, appeared twelve times.
So, what impact does ‘inclusion’ (AKA ‘inclusivity’) have on the church?
So widespread is the promotion of ‘inclusion’ that every day, most people either see, read or hear some kind of message promoting this value. And if not active promotion, then scathing criticism of anyone who doesn’t buy into ‘inclusion.’ This is having an impact on church members, whether we acknowledge it or not.
WHAT IS INCLUSION?
At first glance, inclusion looks wonderful. What’s not to like about a value that envelops everyone and accepts everyone? The problem, however, is that if you don’t buy into this aspect of the modern zeitgeist, well, you’re excluded. So, inclusion turns out not to be as inclusive as we might hope. Not only that, it is extremely ‘group-sensitive’. Certain groups are definitely ‘in’ while other groups are roundly rejected.
How does this affect a church leader?
Our church members may listen to our sermons (30 minutes on a Sunday), but for the rest of the week, wherever they look, ‘inclusion’ is actively promoted. In some workplaces, employees are expected to show visible and tangible support for the value. So, it’s hardly surprising that a significant number find themselves absorbing the following ways of looking at the world.
They are uncomfortable about the idea of judgement.
They much prefer God’s love to any talk about sin.
They don’t like people to feel excluded.
They want to be inclusive and to be seen to be inclusive.
They like the world’s approval.
TRUTH FIRST
Truth should be very important to Christians. Hardly surprising given that we follow a man who claimed to be the Truth. For us, truth is revealed through God’s Word, the Bible, and it is beautifully exhibited in the life of Jesus. So, what do we discover about God’s view on inclusion?
He’s inclusively exclusive.
The Scriptures are absolutely clear about this.
By ‘exclusive’, I mean he desires exclusive worship from his followers. Therefore, other gods are excluded.
You shall have no other gods before me.
Ex 20.3
God refuses to share his glory with other gods. He never, ever, includes other gods. The same theme continues into the New Testament. Jesus’ statement in John’s gospel is famously exclusive.
Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’
John 14.6
So, God is fundamentally exclusive, in the sense that he doesn’t share his glory. He seeks true worshippers who will worship him alone. Exclusively.
When we think about God’s inclusion, however, we discover an expansive, authentic expression of the word. God’s inclusion means ALL are invited. ALL are welcomed, whatever race or background. And he has made this possible through the sacrifice of his beloved Son. That’s why we read so many ‘whoevers’ in the Bible. ‘Whoever’ includes ALL people.
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
John 6.35
In summary, the problem with a worldly version of inclusion, is that it’s not really inclusive at all. It’s simply an expression of our rebellion. We don’t want to honour a holy God. We want to frame the world in our own image—and that means including those we like and excluding those who offend us. We therefore lie to ourselves about our own sinful rejection of God’s extraordinary love and sacrifice. We think of ourselves as inclusive, but we won’t include God. How ironic that our rejection of God is so often driven by the belief that he is insufficiently inclusive.
SOME INITIAL RESPONSES
May I suggest that it’s wise to exercise caution in the area of politics? Inclusion is a hotly contested word in our culture, and once we venture into the world of politics, especially party politics, we could find ourselves in trouble. For us, this isn’t a political issue, it’s a spiritual issue. Worldly ‘inclusiveness’ that downplays the seriousness of sin, and runs counter to the Bible’s teaching about God’s character, is very damaging to our spiritual lives, because it affects how we view our good and holy God.
Second, in spite of the pressure to be inclusive, I urge you to continue to preach the gospel of grace, rooted in the truth. How gloriously inclusive our gospel is, offered to everyone we encounter. Third, never, ever, bow to a worldly pressure to conform. Meditate on Romans 12.2: Do not conform to the pattern of this world. Our job is to preach Christ crucified, and as long as we’re doing that, we won’t go far wrong.
What are we to do, however, about the problem of sin? By this, I mean the very idea of sin and how we talk about it in our services and in our evangelism. Because, nowadays, sin is a tough sell. In fact, it’s worse than that. Many people simply can’t grasp the concept at all. In response, there’s a move to emphasize God’s love, watering it down into a wishy-washy ‘inclusive’ message, that omits the gravity of our rebellion. The answer is to keep preaching the gospel. Our Lord and Saviour didn’t die to express his love in a feel-good, comfort blanket sense, but to rescue us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Never lose sight of this.
CLARITY ON METHODOLOGY
One of our challenges relates to methodology. What are we actually doing when we read the Bible? If a significant number of your church members view the Scriptures as a guidebook to help them navigate their difficulties in this life, then that’s what they’ll get—a book of wisdom, with wise suggestions to aid their own self-realisation or provide some comfort in times of trouble. As a consequence, they’ll tune out the challenges and lap up the comfort.
But that’s not why we read the Bible.
We read the Bible in order to encounter God’s revelation of himself within a story of restoration and salvation into the kingdom of his Son. The truths we read about God will often clash with our modern sensibilities—especially inclusion—but that’s because his ways are not our ways. We can only grow, therefore, through submission to the truth about God, or we will live in a world of lies forever. Our church members must be reminded of this.
Submission to God is hard. It is not a popular concept nowadays, but it is necessary. God isn’t asking for their vote. He wants their worship. He offers the truth in his Son. So, be bold in challenging your people with these kinds of questions.
Will you submit to God, as revealed in this passage, even though you may not fully understand it or even agree with what it teaches?
Will you allow your current views on inclusion to be challenged by this passage?
Will you accept that God’s ways are not your ways?
Will you submit to the truth that God’s holiness entails judgement of sinful human beings?
HOLINESS
Finally, holiness. In truth, the Bible’s central theme isn’t our sinfulness, it’s the holiness of God. Everything—absolutely everything—begins with God’s holiness. It is his most important attribute. He is holy, and we are not. This is the fundamental reason why he’s exclusive.
Beautifully, wonderfully, inclusively exclusive.
Reaching out with a message of love and grace to all who would respond.
For one day, we will see him face to face. His glory will be beyond our ability to express in human language. This is why here today, this very week, we must place him first above all things in our own lives.
Central to our every decision; offering him our exclusive worship.
His holiness demands nothing less.