Christianity Is Exclusively Inclusive
It is often said that Christianity or at least some sects of Christianity are too exclusive or intolerant in that they do not accept any other faiths as valid and even reject other sects of Christianity. There is a lot of truth in that accusation. The question is whether the accusation should be taken as a criticism and thus provoking change or as an affirmation that truth is being presented to the world and the world is rejecting it as has been prophesied and indeed is recorded throughout history.
Since the Garden of Eden mankind has asked, "Yea hath God said…?" and each time God responds with an affirmative they question still more. Mankind is rather stubborn or stiffnecked as the KJV puts it. We do not like to be told what to do and certainly not that there is only one-way to do it. Tell a person, "No" and he will most surely do it despite any consequences. That is primarily why the jails are so full. Say that it has to be your way and you will see him nearly kill himself if need be to prove you wrong and do it some other way. Now, whether the project will be done as well is another story but it will be at least done another way.
We like options and we do not like guilt. That is why we are in the current age of "tolerance." All ideas are equal in the public forum and we must accept all these ideas as valid and having worth. Oddly, the promoters of this concept are the least tolerant of all and reject the claims of biblical Christianity as worthless and not to be tolerated and the only absolute is that there are no absolutes, which are ludicrous and extremely bigoted and prejudicial premises. Yet, they claim to have no prejudices and hate bigotry. I will explain "biblical" Christianity later.
Thus Christianity does pose a problem in this age because God does not think in those terms. Since He created the universe and all that is in it He expects to be the one making the rules, which He has said are for our own good. (Deut 10:13; Joshua 23:14) However, if you break the rules you pay the consequences. (Deut 11:17; Josh 23:11-13) Even an atheist would tell you that if you rebel against the law of gravity by jumping from a ten-story building unaided by a parachute or bungee cord that you will die when you hit the ground. We have crowded jails because men must pay the consequences of breaking human laws so why is it so hard to understand that God might have laws or principles that must be obeyed?
God also states that He, and He alone, is Lord and sovereign. That is pretty exclusive.
Isa 45:5-6
5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. (KJV)
I can already hear the opposition whining that I am using Scripture and they do not recognize it as coming from God. Well, they are prejudiced, not me. The definition for prejudice is as follows:
prej·u·dice (prèj¹e-dîs) noun
1. a. An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts. See synonyms at predilection. b. A preconceived preference or idea.
2. The act or state of holding unreasonable preconceived judgments or convictions.
3. Irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race, or religion.
4. Detriment or injury caused to a person by the preconceived, unfavorable conviction of another or others. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from INSO Corporation. All rights reserved.
I have nearly six thousand years of proof for the Old Testament and two thousand for the New Testament. That proof comes by archeology, science, fulfilled prophecies, and changes in millions of lives. Indeed the Jewish people are living proof of the Old Testament since nations have tried to destroy them for millennia and they still thrive. Even the fact that there is an Israel is proof of fulfilled prophecy. Yet, Christianity’s opponents refuse to accept the Bible. That is indeed a classic example of the primary definition of prejudice.
One of my co-workers has never read the Bible and claims he does not need it nor sees its value. Yet, he would claim to be a member of a "Christian" sect. Many opponents have not truly searched the Scriptures either. They just cut and paste pieces they do not understand nor leave in context as a basis for their unbelief and assault on Christianity. Since there is a wealth of evidence and volumes of current and historical apologetics they hold unreasonable convictions and preconceived judgments placing them under the second definition as well.
They do express some irrational hatred of biblical Christians. That is number three. They will defend murderers and insane cultists and yet seek to persecute and wipe out any hint of biblical Christianity. That throws them into number four and thus prejudiced in every sense of the word and bigots as well.
Once you look up the word tolerate and compare their actions to their words you find that they are not at all tolerant unless you agree with them. Tolerate means to put up with, allow and not interfere with ideas that are different than yours. Putting Christians to death in Islamic and Communist countries does not equate to tolerance and yet the ones preaching tolerance will embrace the murderers as long as they are just murdering Christians of any sect, but especially those considered fundamentalists or at least considered intolerant by their standards.
The opponents of Christianity seek to interfere with the faith every chance they get. They pass laws against evangelism because they fear people will accept the claims of Christianity and turn away from their creed. They limit size and locations of places to worship. They seek to control prayer and remove all symbols of Christianity from the public view though this is a country founded on the Bible and its laws. They are not at all tolerant. Indeed, they use the term to cloak their own oppression and agenda. They are truly bigots of the first order despite their claims.
Let’s get back to the assertion that Christianity is exclusive. As we have seen, God in the Old Testament declares that He is the only God and we know that He called the Jews His chosen people. He expressed Himself via His laws, the tabernacle and temple as well as through Jewish prophets until the time of Jesus Christ. Yet, in His exclusive sovereignty and choice of a special people God is also inclusive.
Gen 12:1-3
1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (KJV)
Here we see the father of the Jewish race being told that God would bless all men through him and them. While He picked the Jews to show Himself through He did not exclude the other races. Many people converted to Judaism or received blessings of God because of how they treated Him by their treatment of the Jews. Admittedly, there were times that the Jews developed prejudices and did not fulfill the mission that God had gave them. God chastised them by the nations they hated and even spared Nineveh because they repented at the preaching of a reluctant prophet.
Num 15:29-31
29 Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.
30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
31 Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him. (KJV)
While earlier in this passage God decreed that if any stranger in the land sought to worship Him they had to offer up an offering in the same manner as the Jews thus appearing to our present crowd as intolerant and narrow minded, He now states that the law for sin must be same for Jew and Gentile as well. He could have easily said that any non-Jew that sins is cut off whether he was ignorant or not whereas Jews must be proven to have done it willfully. He is equitable and just.
God also had a plan for the Gentiles’ redemption. It was the same for the Jews. Offerings in the Old Testament only covered sins. God had a plan to pay for them and that plan was in Jesus Christ.
Isa 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. (KJV)
Therefore, while God demands that He alone to be worshipped and that He must be worshipped in His way He opens the door to all men. That makes Him exclusively inclusive. No one is denied, but all must come in the way that He designed.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (KJV)
Here is the rock of offense for today’s freethinker. Jesus says that if you want to find God and salvation for your souls, you must come through Him and Him alone. That is indeed exclusive of all other faiths or "non-faiths."
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (KJV)
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (KJV)
1 Tim 2:4-5
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
(KJV)
Both of these passages clearly state that any religion, philosophy or creed that does not have Jesus Christ, as the mediator between man and God is wrong and the adherents will not see salvation because they do not have His Spirit. That is exclusive and narrow as Jesus described the way to God. (Matt 7:14) Yet, in Timothy we see that God wants all men to be saved so His plan is inclusive.
John 12:31-33
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die. (KJV)
Jesus said that He would draw all men to Himself that they might be saved, but He did not say that all would accept. Indeed, though He came at first only to Jews, they rejected Him. Even in His earthly ministry, He did save some Gentiles and even marvelled that they had so much more faith than the Jews who had the Law and the Prophets and should have recognized Him immediately as the Messiah.
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: (KJV)
God, in His infinite wisdom and grace, converted one of the greatest opponents to the early Church and made him an apostle. Indeed, throughout history many who have railed against the Lord and His Christ have in the end converted, as they could no longer kick against the pricks of truth and conscience. (Acts 9:5) Often they were taken in their own craftiness or philosophy when they found it bankrupt or unable to repudiate the claims of Christianity. (1 Cor 3:19) Sadly, many will not come to the right conclusions until it is too late. (Philippians 2:10)
Matt 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (KJV)
We are commanded to go and disciple all nations and to teach them to observe all things that God, the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost have commanded. There are no exceptions. There is that exclusiveness again, but it is inclusive in that no one is denied the right to be saved. What if they do not want to accept? What then?
Titus 3:8-11
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. (KJV)
An unbeliever or an apostate heretic is to be left alone or rejected as the KJV says. Nowhere in the New Testament are we taught to kill unbelievers or heretics, but rather as much as is possible to live peaceably with all men.
Rom 12:18-21
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (KJV)
This is tolerance and more. This is not how the opponents of Christianity are practicing tolerance. Some will say, "Has there not been murders and wars in the name of Christianity." Yes, this is true, but this is where we get into the discussion of biblical Christianity.
There are many different groups that will use the Bible and the name of Jesus to teach all sorts of heresy and crazy things. Some of these groups are quite large and some are numbered in the hundreds. We usually pick out the small ones easily enough for they often practice things that even unbelievers recognize as being unbiblical like sexual abuse of minors or they are unnaturally reclusive. Though a time may come when the true believers in the U. S. may need to find catacombs and such like as they do in other lands, for now we are to be "in the world and not of it." It is usually the big cultic or heretical groups that we miss because some of them have been around for a long time and we have friends or relatives that are members of these groups hence they are respectable and accepted. That is their danger.
Most people would run like crazy if the devil showed up at their church or workplace in a red suit with horns, tail and a pitch fork. If that is what he looked like none of us would be fooled. Instead,
2 Cor 11:13-15
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles
of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of
righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (KJV)
This can make them tougher to find even in your own tradition.
Acts 20:28-30
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost
hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his
own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not
sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples
after them. (KJV)
It is obvious then that all who call themselves Christians are not. All groups that use the Bible and use the name of Jesus are not necessarily His and some will be cast out of the Kingdom. (Matt 7:23) Indeed, there is no group that has a corner on the Kingdom even though they say they are the only ones that are right. There are remnants of true believers in most groups that were at least once Orthodox or Bible believing.
The cults usually have severe enough problems in just their doctrine of Christ that proves they were never part of biblical Christianity so hence no remnant. However, if many founders of the various Protestant sects were to come back from the grave they would renounce their own denomination and I am certain that Peter and Paul would have much to reprove and rebuke the pope about. Charismatics have many false prophets as well though they claim to have a special corner on the Holy Spirit. The Baptists can stop cheering though they came neither out of Catholicism nor Protestantism nor are Charismatic because there are many fallen from the faith within them as well.
So the claim that Christianity is too exclusive or intolerant in that they do not accept any other faiths as valid and even reject other sects of Christianity is partly true. True Christianity cannot accept any faith outside of Christ as valid because Christ says He is the exclusive Savior of the world. Those claiming to be Christian but deny His Word and even the Lord that bought them are just groups with the "form of godliness, but denying the power thereof" and are rejected. Indeed, Christianity is exclusive in that sense.
We are certainly more tolerant than our opponents in that we were the ones who built the country with the most freedom in the world including religious freedom. Non-Christians and those who say they are Christians and are not are taking that freedom away from us, but we did establish it. We do not teach persecution of our opponents or to kill them. They have a right in this world to believe as they choose. We have the duty to point out to them in love that it will be a bleak picture when they meet God if they refuse His Son’s sacrifice and forgiveness, but they have a right to reject and live the best life they can here. The God they reject gave them the free will to do so. Therefore I would say that we are very tolerant.
John 10:7-11
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and
find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they
might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (KJV)
2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance. (KJV)
Rom 10:9-14
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart
that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is
rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they
believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a
preacher? (KJV)
Christianity is all-inclusive in that "any man" can come through the door and our God is not willing that any should perish. He has provided the plan for all and has sent the message to all. All it takes is for anyone to believe and call upon Him. If you are reading this you have Romans 10:9,10 to tell you what you need to believe and what do and that is to call upon Jesus for salvation, the forgiveness of sins. He has sent the message and this preacher to you.
What side of the door are you on? If you are on the outside, you have excluded yourself. The Lord has not excluded you. He wants to include you. Professing Christian, are you sure you are inside and not trusting in some ritual, creed, or religion? Come through the Door now and abandon false hope and false teachers. If you are on the inside, have you shown the Door to anyone lately? For the love of God and man, please do so frequently! Maranatha!!!
