We’ve all heard the battle cry that we need to be inclusive. To not be inclusive, or exclusive, is bigoted, mean, outdated, nazi, fascist, so on and so forth with exclusive claims against those who are not inclusive. After all, we want to be inclusive so we must only include others who are also inclusive, anyone who is exclusive must be excluded from the inclusiveness because they are not inclusive, and being inclusive is the highest good.
I saw this claim of inclusiveness plenty in seminary, it is heard in our society, and the cries are loud from the UMC. I just read a recent article from the Wesleyan Covenant Association, a conservative group in the UMC, regarding the recent decisions made at Jurisdictional Conferences. Progressive bishops were elected yet there were no conservative bishops elected. The path the UMC is going down is clear, theologically progressive and all in the name of being inclusive.
I believe this begs some questions. I think it is important to evaluate our own thoughts and actions to determine if we are doing things correctly or could be better. Am I crazy or are they crazy? Is inclusiveness the goal? I know we are to be kind, and we all want to be nice, so is inclusiveness the thing we are to do? If we are to be inclusive, then how far are we to be inclusive as to not be exclusive to those who are not inclusive? Was Jesus inclusive? Are we as Christians supposed to be inclusive?
In short, inclusiveness is an absolute farce. I have had time to think about this and inclusiveness always fails in its own goals, every time. Not only is it hypocritical, but it’s not anywhere close to the goal.
What Inclusiveness Means
The definition of inclusiveness seems obvious, to include, the problem comes in the implementation. My seminary was super proud of itself for being inclusive. They were so inclusive that I had to use inclusive language in my papers. What does that mean? I could not use any pronouns for God. I could use different names for God, other than Father of course, but no pronouns because those are either male or female. Since God is not male or female then no pronoun should be used. Forget the fact that the Bible has pronouns for God and is God-breathed, therefore those pronouns are how God chooses to reveal Himself to us. Side note, some of the professors were okay with using “she” for God to help right some of the wrongs in using “he” for God.
They, the seminary, didn’t see the Bible as God’s word. They saw the Bible as ancient stories written by the patriarchy as to how they saw and thought about God. That puts a whole different understanding to Scripture. But, more to my point, what if I do believe the Bible is more than man’s writing? What if I believe the Spirit of God actually worked through those men to put down on paper what God wanted to be there? What if I believe the words of Jesus were actually the words of Jesus and not what the Gospel writer simply contributed to Jesus?
Well, then I was labeled a fundamentalist, that’s another word with an interesting use. And the thing about those fundamentalists is that they’re bigots, misogynists, unintelligent, and certainly not inclusive, therefore cannot be included. That’s how inclusiveness works.
In one class I actually spoke up against the inclusiveness at the school. It was one of the few classes and professors where I could speak up without being persecuted. The students were going on about how wonderful it was that the school was inclusive. I took that opportunity to ask a couple of questions. How many conservative professors are at this school? How many conservatives are on staff at this school? Nobody could name even one. Then I asked how that was inclusive. I could see people thinking about it, but then the subject was changed.
Real World Experience
There is now a whole subset of categories in the workplace; diversity, equity, and inclusion. To be inclusive there must be more minorities represented. So, you must exclude other employees or job seekers who are not of the minority. This sort of exclusion is for the purpose of being inclusive.
To really understand how those categories get sorted out you need to understand intersectionality. Yes, I learned about that in seminary. Intersectionality takes every aspect of a person’s life that can be thought of and makes the person a product of that aspect. Hopefully, you have heard this concept so I won’t belabor the point, but here’s an example. I am a white heterosexual cis-gender Christian male from the urban South. All of those are strikes against me. According to the rules of intersectionality, I am evil incarnate. Every problem in our society comes down to me and people like me. I’m not being hyperbolic, that is the actual belief.
Intersectionality is how we really know who is in the minority and who needs to be elevated and included. This is how we have people in government who are “the first such and such aspect of intersectionality” and nothing is mentioned about their qualifications for the job. You certainly can’t criticize them for the job they are doing, because then you are being a bigot and criticizing “such and such aspect of intersectionality” and are evil, like me. Marxism also has a role to play in this intersectionality to make the whole issue about a power struggle.
Intersectionality also has a problem with thinking everyone can be grouped by their stereotypes, while at the same time making the claim that stereotyping is evil. I am a man and every man believes and acts a certain way. I am a white man and every white man believes and acts a certain way. This goes on throughout the whole category. I made the claim in my seminary class that this simply put people in smaller and smaller boxes. The professor disagreed with me, but I still hold to that assessment.
Should Christians Be Inclusive?
It is important to talk about the Christian worldview of inclusiveness. The question comes down to whether or not Christians should be inclusive. Christianity makes a bold inclusivity claim while at the same time making a bold exclusivity claim.
Let us take a familiar verse that I believe shows us both sides. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV)
The inclusive claim is that God loves the world. That is everyone. God gave His Son for the whole world. Everyone is included.
The exclusive claim is that only those who believe will have eternal life. Furthermore, it is only belief in Jesus that grants eternal life.
God’s grace is for everyone, but not everyone will accept it. God wants everyone to be saved, but only those who repent and believe will be saved. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
Jesus is the only way to salvation, that is an exclusive claim. The Great Commission says that we will be His witnesses throughout the world, that is an inclusive claim.
The significant difference with the inclusiveness of the Gospel, as opposed to the world, is that there is only one criterion, belief in Jesus. It doesn’t matter if you are a white man, what matters is your belief. The claim of the Gospel is that we have all sinned (Romans 3:16) and every one of us needs the grace of God. The issue is not a power struggle, it is a sin struggle.
Belief in Jesus is not simply a matter of saying you believe. “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe–and shudder!” James 2:19 (ESV) Belief in Jesus is laying your whole life down at His feet and presenting yourself as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). So, is living with the love of God inclusive?
We know that Jesus ate and drank with sinners. He dined with Zacchaeus, that man cheated people out of their money. Jesus ministered to the woman at the well who was a Samaritan living an adulteress lifestyle. He also did not condemn the prostitute, but instead, sent those away who wanted to punish her. Does this mean we should also accept people for who they are no matter what they have done or how they are living?
Societies’ view of inclusiveness affirms everyone as they are, except for those who are not inclusive, obviously. Jesus did not affirm sinners as they were but called them to be who God created them to be. Jesus loved them even though they were sinful, but the whole purpose was to free them from that sin.
The modern claims of inclusivity take out the mention of sin altogether. The ideology does not come from a Christian worldview, though it does try to use it at times. The belief is that everyone is basically good and only acts poorly because of the way they have been treated. People are certainly a product of nurture, for good and bad, but that is not our main problem. Our problem is sin, rebellion against God.
The Christian is supposed to love everyone. We are to love as God loved us, and as we are reminded by Paul, “[Love] does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:6 (ESV)
We are to love our neighbor enough to tell them the path they are going down leads to destruction. We do not tell them that because we are better than they are, we are only made righteous through Jesus, or because they really annoy us. We point them to the cross because we love them and only Jesus has the power to save.
As Christians, we can see the atrocities of society and have the proper ground to make the moral truth claim. There is certainly racism, bigotry, and oppression in our society and the world. No legislation can make people behave morally, C.S. Lewis made this claim. Change will not happen by an evil society rooting out all the evil, evil begets evil. Change will only occur as people turn their hearts to God and surrender their life to Him. Christianity sees the world as it is, a problem of sin, separation from God.
In Conclusion
All this talk about inclusiveness really bugs me because it is not inclusive. However, we know the world is not going to make sense. Jesus is truth and they have pushed Jesus out of the picture. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” Romans 1:18 (ESV)
I know we want to be nice and not be seen as the enemy, because we truly love people and want them to know the truth. I hope this helps give you the confidence to stand firm in your faith. Do not be tricked by the ways of the world, some of them are pretty crafty.
I also hope this helps you stand firm in your Christian faith. One of my favorite passages says; “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” Hebrews 10:39 (ESV)
Have faith, stand firm, and put your trust in God. It’s exclusive and so is the truth.
WORD UP 