I have an important question for you to consider: Is Christianity inclusive or exclusive? What do we mean by this? We are considering Christianity in the religious context, and asking whether this religion includes all people, or whether it excludes some people. There is a misconception here that I would like to address, so let's take a closer look.
As a Christian, you have probably frequently heard the complaint from unbelievers that Christianity is an exclusive religion, that it’s intolerant of people from other faiths. That it side-lines millions of people from around the world whose beliefs are vastly different from Christians.
“Why can only Christians go to heaven?” they say.
“I’m a devout believer – just not in Christ. Why must I be excluded?”
“You Christians are so arrogant. You think you’re so perfect!”
“I know so many people who’re so much better than you – do you really think you’ll get to heaven and they won’t!”
“You’re delusional!”
All these questions and arguments are sadly misguided. How do I dare to say that? Who do I think I am? How do I dare condemn other people?
The truth is, I’m not condemning. I’m not judging. My firm belief that Jesus is the only way to God is based on what God Himself said about His Son, on the multiple miracles that Jesus did to prove that He was the Son of God and that He had authority on earth to forgive sins, and on the apostles’ eye-witness accounts of what Jesus did on earth, how he died, how he appeared to them in bodily form after His death and how He was finally raised to heaven before their very eyes to take up His position in heaven at the right hand of God, His Father.
Christianity’s avowal that you must believe in Jesus as God’s Son to be saved may at first appear to be exclusive, but if you dig a little deeper, you will discover that Christianity is the most inclusive religion on earth. For Christ died to save ALL sinners, not just some of them. In His own words as he was commissioning His disciples,
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit …
(Mathew 28, v.19)
And what a testament to God’s amazing love for the whole world that He sent His perfect Son to live amongst sinful humanity, becoming the sacrificial lamb, willingly laying down His life so that those who believe in Him will be saved. What amazing love. What an incredible sacrifice. Knowing that the perfect judge, His Father, cannot look on sin, He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, taking on the sin of the whole world.
Why did He allow Himself to be put through such an agonising death on the cross? Because it was His Father’s will. Because there was no other way to save mankind. Because He loves us so much that he willingly lay down His life for us.
Exclusive? Yes, but so inclusive. All who turn to Him are saved from death. They are covered by Jesus’ blood, the blood of the lamb. Jesus has exchanged His perfection for our sinfulness, so that God can look on us and include us in His kingdom because of our new perfection in Christ. What an awesome exchange. What an amazing gift – the free gift of eternal like. What extraordinarily inspiring love.
We will all be enriched by embracing this miraculous, inclusive exclusivity. God’s name be praised for sending such a spotless Saviour for the whole world.