A Gospel of Inclusion

It is so great that the Bible answers so many of the questions of life for us.  We don't have to wonder what God wants from us.  We know how He wants to be worshiped, where we came from, why we exist, where we are heading.  We know what our attitudes should be toward so many things; how we are to live and how we are to treat others.  And that brings us to today's discussion of inclusion. 

The Bible, the New Testament, and Jesus Himself, make it clear that we are to be people who reach out to all cultures, all peoples.   In this writing we will look at some Bible examples that give us clear instruction on the matter. 

I always think of the Good Samaritan who went out of his way a lot to help a Jewish man, a man not of his people.  Others had passed this injured man by, but not the Samaritan. 

In Acts 6 we read of Grecian widows who were not having their needs met.  The Jewish Christian widows were being cared for but not the Grecians.  The apostles recognized that they did not have the time to see to every need so they appointed certain men to see out for this need.

In Acts 15 there were disagreements between Christians because some Jewish Christians were insisting that Christian men should be circumcised according to Jewish Law.  This was settled by the apostles, taking away this requirement.

And we see the Corinthian church being instructed in 1 Corinthians 16 to send help to the Christians in Jerusalem who were in need.  It didn't matter that it was Gentiles helping Jewish Christians, or for that matter, Jewish Christians helping Gentile Christians.

We know that the NT teaching is to do good to all men, especially those of the household of faith...i.e., Christians.  So we see that we should treat all men alike for all are the same in God's eyes. 

"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26)

It all comes down to an attitude...an attitude of love.  Thanks for reading.  Have a great week....and feel the love!