Inclusive/exclusive

One of the common accusations by those outside the faith against Christianity is our claim to exclusiveness. Our claim that we have the only means by which people might be saved: Jesus. Of course this is not simply something we've pushed on to Jesus, he made the claim himself repeatedly and so Jesus church is simply working within the boundaries of being saved that Jesus himself gave to us.

There is one way to come to the father - Jesus.

Of course those kinds of statements are politically incorrect.

But they are not all of the story. Whilst Jesus makes the claim to exclusivley be the door to everything of God's kingdom, his call to people to come to him is deeply inclusive. More so than any other offer we might find in this life. Jesus calls all people to himself that he might save them, redeem them and draw them into the kingdom of God.

“The angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”Luke 2:10–11

The angel reminds us of this good news from the very beginning of Jesus coming. Good news. Great Joy. for all the people. Jesus calls people to come to him irrespective of ethnicity, culture, language or background. It matters little whether you have a long history of dark sin or whether you've been mostly good all your life. Jesus does not care whether you are immensely wealthy or desperately poor. He cares little whether you come from a Christian home or are an atheist. It does not bother him whether you have multiple degrees behind your name or a basic primary school education.  Jesus calls all people to come to him and to find rest for their souls a profoundly unique, exclusive call but extensively inclusive in its breadth. This is why we're called to tell people the good news - because there is life and Jesus wants all to find it.

This is a challenge to the church. The challenge is that we'd be a community that has that kind of heart for the world, that we'd call all people irrespective of who they are to come follow him. That we'd not draw inwards in holy huddles but that we'd take the unbelievable and liberating news of Jesus into the world.

Because Christmas is the season of good news for all people.