Inclusive

I've figured for years that someday I would write something called
'Inclusion'. It will go into things like Moabites being excluded from the
congregation of the Lord for umpteen generations and yet Ruth was welcomed
in and David, her great-grandson, led that congregation. The Samaritan's
were supposedly excluded - but Jesus repeatedly ministered to them and so
forth. The instances of God breaking his own laws out of love is legion.

In the Christian Reformed Church 'Banner' the question was asked, "Do good
people in other religions, for example Buddhists or Muslims, go to hell?
Isn't that unfair?"

The answer,
"I don't know. Only God knows who really goes to heaven or hell. It seems
unfair to us humans, but we don't have the big picture. We don't know
everything. We don't really even know what 'heaven' and 'hell' are!

"The question reveals more about our sinful nature than anything else- we
want to decide what is good and evil, heaven and hell, rather than trust in
God's goodness, wisdom and grace. We, like Adam and Eve, prefer to 'be like
God' in knowledge rather than trust in God's norms as creatures in God's
image."

Aside: The answer so far is one of the most amazing, theologically all
encompassing answers I have ever seen. It pulls in all the hundreds of
'Judge not lest ye be judged', the law of love and original sin all in one
answer. I am so impressed!

Answer Continued:
"Christian theologians are split three ways on this question:
1. Exclusivists view Jesus as the only way to salvation, available only in
the Christian Religion.
2. Pluralists view salvation as possible in all religions, with Jesus
providing one way among many. They believe all religions lead to God.
3. The Inclusive viewpoint sees Jesus as the only way but allows God's
saving grace through Christ to work in other religions too. There might be
'anonymous Christians' who unknowingly worship the only true God.

"The Reformed confessions clearly exclude a pluralist view, based on such
Scripture passages as John 14:6.

"The debate continues, I believe that God is just, gracious, almighty, and
wise. I trust that God's saving actions are fair and right. Our focus is not
on playing fair or playing God. Rather, we focus on loving God and neighbor,
including those of other religions, bearing witness of Christ, our Lord, who
is 'the way, the truth and the life'."
by Shiao Chang, campus minister of York University in Toronto.
Received on Mon May 29 11:03:32 2006