Nothing is perhaps more intrusive, ridiculous, and morally offensive in the Western world than the Christian claim that salvation is found in Christ, and for those who like Reformation-echoing language, in Christ alone.
OK. I guess I don't need to read the book to know where the author is gonna land. Good post, Scot. It got me thinking and riled up all at the same time, a sometimes exhilarating experience which it certainly was for me this morning . . . better, even, than my morning cup o' Joe!
Thank you, Scot. I appreciate this discussion. I’m deconstructing, having left the (white) conservative American evangelical subculture to better follow Jesus.
Using these categories I would say I’m a Christian Exclusivism who hopes in the possibility that one day all will accept Christ (universalist). With Inclusivism, as I see it in your descriptions, there’s no need for repentance. (It also turns many exclusive passages in Scripture on its head.) As I see in inclusivism you can live how ever you want as long as you are not a narcissistic uncaring “a-hole” and you’ll receive salvation. What about sins against your own body? What about the first great commandment to love God? It could go the other way as well. This might cause anxiety of trying to be good enough to not be among the damned.
Christian Inclusivism moralistic therapeutic deism with Christian trappings. It just doesn’t sound like good news.
I’m not sure how you got that from that description but I don’t think that is the case with most incluvists. The no need to repent or seek out God is universalism.
Inclusivism implies the faithful Hindu who loves God in the way that it has been shared to him, and knows in his heart that there is a creator is still saved through their faith to serve God in the best capacity they can. Billy Graham understood and believed this when he met a Buddhist monk talking about how he had been serving Grahams God all his life before he had ever heard the gospel for the first time.
Your understanding of universalism is wanting. I’d suggest reading the work of Brad Jersak or Robin Perry. From an evangelical perspective repentance in this age or the next is necessary for salvation.
Mere religious devotion to a god is not enough. The Jews had devotion. The Romans had devotion. And yet the apostles still called them to repentance. And said that God is calling everyone everywhere to repent. They said there is no other name by which people could be saved than Jesus. Inclusivism cuts out the need for repentance to Jesus Christ which Jesus and his apostles said was needed to receive salvation. Was Jesus wrong in saying unless one repents they will die in their sin? I’d say no.
Boy you sure weighted your poll toward inclusivism with the descriptions, didn't ya! And it's a miracle that anybody ever comes to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, ain't it? I don't believe that any person ever born did/does/will not have the opportunity to call out to the LORD and be "saved." He has promised THAT in both the so-called Old and New Testaments. I guess I outta write a book, huh? https://themjkxn.substack.com/p/i-found-it
The descriptions and definitions are summaries of what the author himself wrote.
OK. I guess I don't need to read the book to know where the author is gonna land. Good post, Scot. It got me thinking and riled up all at the same time, a sometimes exhilarating experience which it certainly was for me this morning . . . better, even, than my morning cup o' Joe!
Is that going too far? Ha.
Just right, actually . . . I need something non-pharmaceutically inspirational to get me going in the morning.
Thank you, Scot. I appreciate this discussion. I’m deconstructing, having left the (white) conservative American evangelical subculture to better follow Jesus.
I’m not sure I can choose one - they all have influenced my journey.
I’m not sure I can adhere to one, because they each have at least one “hook” to snag. Jesus seemed to like nets.
Does there need to be a shadow side of salvation that is anything but us, personally, ignoring goodness because we can?
These are interesting concepts and I like them. Thank you Scott for sharing this book .
Using these categories I would say I’m a Christian Exclusivism who hopes in the possibility that one day all will accept Christ (universalist). With Inclusivism, as I see it in your descriptions, there’s no need for repentance. (It also turns many exclusive passages in Scripture on its head.) As I see in inclusivism you can live how ever you want as long as you are not a narcissistic uncaring “a-hole” and you’ll receive salvation. What about sins against your own body? What about the first great commandment to love God? It could go the other way as well. This might cause anxiety of trying to be good enough to not be among the damned.
Christian Inclusivism moralistic therapeutic deism with Christian trappings. It just doesn’t sound like good news.
I’m not sure how you got that from that description but I don’t think that is the case with most incluvists. The no need to repent or seek out God is universalism.
Inclusivism implies the faithful Hindu who loves God in the way that it has been shared to him, and knows in his heart that there is a creator is still saved through their faith to serve God in the best capacity they can. Billy Graham understood and believed this when he met a Buddhist monk talking about how he had been serving Grahams God all his life before he had ever heard the gospel for the first time.
Your understanding of universalism is wanting. I’d suggest reading the work of Brad Jersak or Robin Perry. From an evangelical perspective repentance in this age or the next is necessary for salvation.
Mere religious devotion to a god is not enough. The Jews had devotion. The Romans had devotion. And yet the apostles still called them to repentance. And said that God is calling everyone everywhere to repent. They said there is no other name by which people could be saved than Jesus. Inclusivism cuts out the need for repentance to Jesus Christ which Jesus and his apostles said was needed to receive salvation. Was Jesus wrong in saying unless one repents they will die in their sin? I’d say no.
I have read Perry, not Jersak. But I'm summarizing the terms and definitions of Adam Hamilton.
Thanks Scot! My comment was a reply to another comment and not your post. Thank you for the clarification.
Boy you sure weighted your poll toward inclusivism with the descriptions, didn't ya! And it's a miracle that anybody ever comes to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, ain't it? I don't believe that any person ever born did/does/will not have the opportunity to call out to the LORD and be "saved." He has promised THAT in both the so-called Old and New Testaments. I guess I outta write a book, huh? https://themjkxn.substack.com/p/i-found-it