The Exclusive Message of Christmas, 2

What makes Christianity the least exclusive of all religions?

All other religions of the world require people to do something – either to exercise some sort of discipline or to have some sort of experience or to perform some set of rules or to increase in some set of virtues. Most people think that religion is about being good.  God will weigh the good of our lives against the bad, and those who have done more good will be in heaven.

Those are all requirements which are exclusive. They have limited value to a vast majority of people on planet earth. People who cannot rule their passions or have lived such a bad life that no amount of repentance will ever make up for their bad deeds are not given help or hope by these demands. People with limited education or skill may be unable to measure up to these requirements. If that is not elitist and exclusive, what is?

But Christianity is anything but elitist. It offers salvation that is entirely through the work of another – Jesus, the son of Abraham. There are no moral or intellectual requirements. Past record of wrongs have no bearing upon future possibilities. Gender is not an issue – nor age – nor race. Christianity is the only religion that is universally accessible to people, regardless of their qualities of life.

This means that far from being narrow and proud -- the message of the Gospel is not most welcoming and inclusive of all -- anyone may be received by God in the forgiveness of sin regardless of race, gender, moral history, ability or disability.

Christmas is the celebration of grace – God doing all that must be done to forgive us of sin and bless us. It is good news to all peoples – for all may receive this gift. For more reflection, check out our sermons at Grace Church.

Comments

[dlw]

This is SO well said, in a way that I think that anyone could GET IT. Thanks so much for providing this insight.