It’s not hard to find articles in some Christian circles advocating for a more “inclusive” faith. I get the concern. Rob Bell in his controversial book Love Wins was advocating for not setting ourselves up as on the inside with others on the outside. There’s something perversely appealing about being able to say, “I’m in, you’re out.” On the other hand, the gospel message has to be more than “Everyone is a child of God; some just don’t know it yet,” doesn’t it?

This passage contains both exclusivity AND inclusivity. Jesus is speaking:

There is a great cost for anyone to enter through the narrow doorway to God’s kingdom realm. I tell you, there will be many who will want to enter but won’t be able to. For once the head of the house has shut and locked the door, it will be too late. Even if you stand outside knocking, begging to enter, and saying, “Lord, Lord, open the door for us,” he will say to you, “I don’t know who you are. You are not a part of my family.” Then you will reply, “But Lord, we dined with you and walked with you as you taught us.” And he will reply, “Don’t you understand? I don’t know who you are, for you are not a part of my family. You cannot enter in. Now, go away from me! For you are all disloyal to me and do evil.” You will experience great weeping and great anguish when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, along with all the prophets of Israel, enjoying God’s kingdom realm while you yourselves are barred from entering. And you will see people streaming from the four corners of the earth, accepting the invitation to feast in God’s kingdom, while you are kept outside looking in. (Luke 13.24 – 29, Passion Translation)

Doesn’t that passage contain both exclusivity (truth) and inclusivity (grace)?

• One enters the Kingdom through the narrow doorway
• Some will want to enter but can’t
• Some are part of the family and some not
• Being around Jesus and hearing his teaching is not enough
• People will come from all over, all kinds of people, and be part of God’s Kingdom
• Others are outside looking in

Maybe the next paragraph in Luke is the key:

O city of Jerusalem, you are the city that murders your prophets! You are the city that pelts to death with stones the very messengers who were sent to deliver you! So many times I have longed to gather your wayward children together around me, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings—but you were too stubborn to let me. And now it is too late, since your house will be left in ruins. You will not see me again until you are able to say, “We welcome the one who comes to us in the name of the Lord.” (Luke 13.34 – 35, Passion Translation)

Some (insiders!) are on the outside, and Jesus is sad about it.

I don’t take any pleasure in the fact that I can do math and the young man I have been tutoring for 18 months can’t (even though he makes A’s in school!). Often I see little progress, and that makes me sad. I’m doing what I can to change his inability to ability, while maintaining the truth of mathematics. The solution to “innumeracy” is not to declare that everyone is numerate, but to teach the innumerate with compassion.

The solution to not everyone being part of the Kingdom is not to declare that they are, but to help them enter the Kingdom and participate in its life.

Anyone who does not know the Teaching, you teach them. (Ezra 7.25, MSG)

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1.17, NIV, emphasis)