Ask the Pastor 146

How can inclusion be wrong?

Another key word being used by those who seek to eliminate Christianity and the Bible from public discourse is the word inclusion. We are again being confronted with an expanded definition of the word that is designed to advance an agenda which is dogmatically opposed to the Word of God. We are inclined to want to include everyone in everything whether they are actually qualified for the thing in which they are included and to reward them equally to others with higher qualifications and who actually belong in the thing, event, position etc. For example a person in a wheel chair cannot run a marathon; a person lacking certain mental capacities cannot be a brain surgeon (brain surgeons tend to have lousy social manners); a lazy person cannot make a million dollars etc. What is even a worse case scenario is where sin is to be included in righteousness, light is to include darkness, compromise to be included with truth. It is true that the gospel message of salvation is all inclusive, that God so loved the world. But when it comes to compromise with sin, the Bible teaches separation not inclusion. It is as we read, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belia? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?” (II Corinthians 6:14-16). That text goes on to command that we come out from among them and be separate and not touch the unclean thing. The word holy means to be separate from sin and we are to be holy just as the Lord our God is holy. There are a number of creative ways in which people, not otherwise qualified or able to participate, to participate in things designed for them, such as the special Olympics. But sin cannot be included in righteousness just as we read, “Therefore purge out the old leaven (sin) that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened.” (I Corinthians 5:7). For a person to be included in the grace of God and His great salvation, they need to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Have questions about the Bible?Send them to Dr. Greg Koehn at gak4850@gmail.com and read the answer here in this article.