Inclusiveness

Inclusiveness
Jesus said,
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17.
Take a close look at the above scripture particularly the sentence that states, “For got did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” John 3:17.
If we claim to be Christians this should be our objective. To save the world.
As Christians we are called to reach out with the love of Christ to all men and women irrespective of their faith, their lifestyle or who they are.
We need to show the love and compassion of Christ without prejudice.
When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well in John chapter four he didn't care who she was. He witnessed to her, offering her eternal life.
This is how we should be as believers in Christ. We should administer the word of God in love as the opportunities arises.
Neither Jesus or his apostles ever preached hellfire or condemnation. Jesus did speak words of correction to the Jewish religious leaders of his day. But then he was a Jew and as such had the right to do so.
Still he never condemned the secular civil authorities of Rome or as we see in the case of the Samaritan woman people outside the Jewish community.
Paul preaching in Athens with all the paganism that was there, never once preached against the practices and lifestyles of the Athenians. 
He presented the salvation of Christ saying simply this is what I believe it is up to you to make your own mind up.
While we can and must win souls for Christ outside the walls of the church. Our churches must be inclusive.
That's not to say we are to relinquish our core values. Far from it we should be ministering the word of God in a positive, loving, unadulterated way.
In a way that will give all people irrespective of who they are pause to think.
If God loves the world and sent Jesus into the world to save the world then we must do the same.
The James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" James 2:12,13.
We must remember that one day we will be judged by God and as such do our best to minister His word as far as is humanly possible in spirit and in truth.
It is only by doing this that we will win souls for Christ.
Think about it.

Inclusive

Inclusive
The Pharisees asked Jesus disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:11-13.
Many years ago the pastor of a church I attended at the time put a sign out in front of the church that read,
“This church for sinners only. ALL are welcome.”
Some people in the congregation objected. I believe some even left. The majority however backed the pastor. They understood what the pastor was saying.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23.
That “all” means everyone you, me, pastors, evangelist, even the Pope. Sinning is falling short of God’s ideals for your life. Sin is what separates us from God. It is something we need to ask forgiveness for.
The apostle John writes,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1John 1:9-10.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans makes it clear,
“...(We) are justified freely by his (God’s) grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  Romans 3:24.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Christ Jesus died for our sins. C. S. Lewis wrote,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” C.S. Lewis.
This is the message Christians are told to take to world around them.
This is a message that will never reach non-Christians if we as believers in Christ Jesus are not willing to sit down with anyone willing to listen to us. If we are not inclusive in who we talk to.
Please think about it.