The Great Paradox: Inclusive vs Exclusive

Jesus was inclusive.

Or so I’ve heard it said, and every time, I've felt the urge to ask, “What do you mean by inclusive?”

Inclusivity is a widely recognized term. At its core, it refers to creating an environment where everyone is seen, heard, and accepted. A place where everyone belongs. Certainly, these are positive values that aim to promote equality and foster a more unified society.

But is there a version of inclusivity that might actually undermine these very ideals?

Renae A. Sauter once said, “Love: always inclusive, never divisive.”

This sentiment captures a commonly held belief about inclusivity as a central aspect of true love. One that suggests that true love means accepting all beliefs and ideas as equal. It presents inclusivity as a universal good, but also raises an important question: Does such a definition of inclusivity leave room for the boundaries of truth? Does love, in its truest form, have the right to be exclusive in some way?

When this line of thinking is applied to Jesus, we see something beautiful and paradoxical about His inclusivity.

Jesus: The Physician for the Marginalized

During His earthly ministry, Jesus made a bold proclamation: “It is those who are sick who are in need of a physician” (Matthew 9:12).

By describing Himself as a physician, He revealed that redemption had come for the outcasts: the poor, the marginalized, the despised, and the lowly of society. Those whom society rejected and ignored, Jesus welcomed and embraced. He sparked the ire of self-righteous leaders when He dined with sinners, prostitutes, and the socially rejected. His table was never restricted to those of status or reputation; it was open to those without it.

Jesus’ invitation to His Kingdom was for all. He proclaimed that the Kingdom of God was at hand, and with that proclamation came an invitation to draw near: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus promised that for all who accepted His invitation, they would never be neglected or cast aside.

Inclusion is a theme that flows throughout the New Testament. From Jesus' ministry to Paul’s commission to the Gentiles, the Gospel consistently highlights the invitation extended to everyone, regardless of background, race, gender, or social standing.

God’s Promise to Unite All People

The inclusivity of Jesus is most clearly seen in the fulfillment of God’s promise to unite all people to Himself. In Genesis 12:3, God promises Abraham that through his seed, all nations of the earth would be blessed. And this promise came to fruition in Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection made it possible for all people to be united to God through faith.

Paul, in his ministry to the Gentiles, embodied this promise. In Galatians 3:28, Paul writes, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This is the heart of the Gospel: the uniting of all people, no matter their race, gender, social status, or nationality, into one body through Christ.

Jesus died so that everyone may come to Him through repentance and faith, and forever find a place at His table. This is the perfect representation of inclusion.

The Paradox of Exclusivity

While Jesus’ invitation is undeniably inclusive, it is equally true that Jesus is exclusive.

That is, the truth of God demands exclusivity. The message of the Gospel is an open invitation to all, however, there are conditions for receiving His invitation, and not everyone will accept it.

This truth is succinctly captured in John 14:6, "I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus declares that He alone is the path to God the Father. A statement that is often deemed controversial because of its exclusive nature. Yet, His invitation calls for a recognition of who He is, as the giver of life.

From that recognition, comes Jesus' call to respond: “Repent and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15). Repentance and faith are not optional, they are the condition for acceptance.

Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” The invitation is extended to all, but only those who respond with repentance and faith will be welcomed into the fullness of His Kingdom.

John 1:12 also highlights this truth: “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” Not everyone receives Jesus' invitation. Not everyone accepts Him as their Savior, which underscores the exclusive aspect of the Gospel.

The Parable of the Doctor: Recognizing the Need for a Cure

Jesus often described the Kingdom of God in terms of spiritual health. He likened Himself to a doctor, sent to heal the spiritually sick. In Matthew 9:12, He explains that people in good health don’t seek a doctor, only those who recognize their sickness do. A vitally important point. Jesus was not referring to a physical ailment but a spiritual condition.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus declares, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Those who recognize their spiritual poverty, their need for redemption, are the ones who will receive the blessings of the Kingdom. Those with hardened hearts, who think they need no help, are the ones who will miss out.

The rest of Jesus' teachings further express the exclusiveness of the Kingdom reality. His invitation to His Kingdom is not only a call to salvation but an invitation to transformational living as Kingdom citizens. This is what it means to be set apart. We are called to live by a different standard which is often at odds with cultural norms.

A Tension Between Inclusion and Exclusivity

In Jesus, we see a beautiful blend of both inclusion and exclusivity-an invitation extended to all, but a call to respond in faith and to live by faith. Therein lies the tension: Jesus’ love is inclusive, but the truth of the Gospel is exclusive. It’s a paradox that, while challenging, reveals the depth and beauty of God’s love.

So, with this in mind, we can attest that the truest form of love embodied in Jesus doesn't fully conform to the cultural understanding of inclusivity because it simultaneously demands exclusivity. Yes, Jesus was inclusive, but He was equally exclusive. And it’s through this balance that the fullness of His message of love, grace, and redemption is truly understood.

May His invitation stir a response of faith in your heart today. His table is ready.

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. -John 6:37