Inclusivism vs Exclusivism

1. Inclusivismvs. Exclusivismandthe Bible – 18th
May 2916
“Jesusanswered, “Iam the wayand the truth and the life. Noone comes to the Father except through
me” (John14:6).
Exclusivismreferstothe practice of excludingorof beingexclusive.Anexample isone’spersonalfaithin
Jesusstatedasthe onlywayto heaven(Exclusivism).Onthe contrary Inclusivismrefersto the practice
of tryingtoincorporate diverse orun-reconciled elementsintoasingle system.Asanexample didJesus’
deathalsoprovide salvationforsome whodonotbelieve(inclusivism)?Thisquestionisoftenposedby
non-Christianswhenfirstconfrontedwiththe claimsof biblical Christianity.Manyskepticscharge thatit
isunreasonable forGodto demandallegiance toJesusChristinordertoreceive the forgivenessof one’s
sins.Inthe lastseveral decades,manyChristianshave beguntooptfora differentanswerthanthat
whichhas traditionallybeengivenbythe majorityof Christianbelievers.The trendistoward
“inclusivism- the practice of tryingto incorporate diverse orun-reconciled elementsintoasingle
system.
Inclusivismisthe viewthatpeople actuallyappropriateGod’sgiftof salvationonlyonthe basisof Jesus
Christ’satoningwork,butthat the sinnerneednotexplicitlybelievethe gospel inordertoactually
receive thissalvation.InclusivismteachesthatChristianityisthe onlytrue religion - includingthe belief
that Christisthe onlySaviorof men - BUT thatthissalvationcouldbe made available throughmeans
otherthan explicitfaithinChrist.The inclusivistbelievesthatadherentsof otherreligionsandeven
atheistscanbe savedbyrespondingtoGod’srevelationincreationorthroughthe elements of truth
containedwithintheirnon-Christianreligion.
Inclusivistswillquicklypointoutthatanypersonwhois savedisultimatelysavedbyJesusChrist,butthe
sinnerneednotbelieve thatChristisSaviorinorderreceive thissalvation.Inclusivistswill sometimes
referto suchpeople as“anonymousChristians.”Inclusivistsrefertoseveral biblical textsinanattempt
to supporttheirview;however,theirprimaryargumentismore philosophical thanexegetical which
meansderiveddirectlyfromthe Scripture.The questionof the ultimatedestinyof the un-evangelizedis
oftenraisedbyinclusivists,alongwithissuesrelatedtothe salvationof infants,the mentally
handicapped,andotherswhoare preventedfrommakingarational choice fororagainstChrist.
“Exclusivism”or“restrictivism”isthe traditionalevangelical Christianview dealingwiththe salvationof
non-Christians.Thisisthe viewthatasinnercan onlybe savedbya conscious,explicitfaithinthe gospel
of JesusChrist.Exclusivistsargue thata positive response togeneral revelationissimplyinsufficientto
ensure salvationfromabiblical perspective.Exclusivistsappeal tomultiplescripturestosupporttheir
view,including John14:6, “Jesusanswered, “I amthe way andthe truth andthe life.No one comes to
the Father except throughme” AgaininJohn3:16–18, “ForGodso loved the world that he gave his
one and onlySon,that whoever believes in himshall not perishbut have eternal life. 17
For Goddid not
send hisSon intothe worldto condemn the world,but to save the worldthroughhim. 18
Whoever
believes inhim isnot condemned,but whoever does not believe standscondemnedalready because
they have not believed inthe nameof God’sone andonly Son. We can alsolearn from Romans10:13–
15, “… for,“Everyonewho callson the name of the Lord will be saved.”14
How,then,can they call on
the one they havenot believed in?And how can they believe inthe one ofwhom they have not heard?
And howcan they hear withoutsomeonepreaching to them? 15
Andhow cananyone preach unless
they are sent? As it iswritten: “Howbeautiful are the feet of thosewho bringgood news!”

2. It appearsthat a straightforwardreadingof these textsrevealsthe inspiredScriptureisclearlyteaching
Christianexclusivism whichstatesthatone mustplace hisfaithinChristin orderto be saved.It is
importantto pointoutthat there maybe exceptionstothisprinciple(suchasthe deathof infantsor
childrenof a veryyoungage who have notyetdevelopedsufficientlytocomprehendtheirsinandto
make a rational choice of trustinginChrist). SecondSamuel 12:23 statesthatKingDavid’sinfantchild
wentto heavenafterdeath. Isaiah7:alsohintsat an age of moral accountability:“Hewill eat curdsand
honey when he knowsenough to reject the wrong andchoose the right. But before the boy knows
enoughto reject the wrong and choosethe right,the land ofthe two kingsyou dread will be laid
waste.” (Isaiah7:15–16).
These exceptions wouldinnowayundermine the positionof Christianexclusivism.Rather,theyshow
the infinite mercyof Godinprovidingsalvationforthose whomightotherwise notattainit.Ourposition
isthat explicitfaithin Christ is necessaryfor all sinnerswho are capable ofactually trustingin Christ
and believingthe gospel. Christianexclusivistsbelievethatthe biblical textsusedtosupportinclusivism
are far fromcompellingandthatthe textsusedbyexclusivistsare,infact,clear.It isdifficultto see how
the inspiredwriterscouldhave beenclearerthatexplicitfaithinChristisnecessaryforsalvation –
referringtothose whoare capable of it.It isalsoimportantto pointoutthat the Christianexclusivist
doesnotnecessarilybelieve thatthe un-evangelizedpersonwill be condemnedforfailingtobelieveina
Jesusthattheyhave neverheardof.Rather,such a personwouldbe judgedforhisorher failure to
respondtothe message of general revelation andforsinningagainstGod’smoral law thathad been
writtenonthe heart.
In the end,we can be confidentthatGod will notjudge anyone unfairly.The un-evangelizedwill onlybe
judgedbasedonthe sinsthat theyhave willfullycommitted.Christianexclusivismcertainlyshould
provide the churchwithmore than sufficientmotivationtoevangelize everypersononEarth,for,
literally,people’seternaldestinyhangsinthe balance.Godhassimplynotinformedusof anyback-up
planHe may have forthose whodo not hearthe gospel inthislife.We mustassume thatthere isnone.

3. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me”
(John 14:6).