INCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVITY

The problem of EXCLUSIVITY: Aren't Christians intolerant? A biblical guide to inclusive exclusivity. Date: 3.08.09 Speaker: Kristian Martens Passage: 1 John 4:1-10, Proverbs 14:12, Hebrews 10:20 Luke 22:42, 23:32-34, John 1:1-5, 14, 8:32, 14:6-7, 18:38 Title: Inclusive Exclusivity: Arent Christians Intolerant? There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12 Exclusive religious claims are the enemy of peace in the world. Since truth cannot be proven, no one should claim to have it exclusively. Christianity makes exclusive truth claims. Therefore it is intolerant, archaic & should be discarded & replaced with either a multi-cultural, open & free-thinking spirituality - or none at all. In this sermon we'll see that while exclusivity does tend to lead people down the slippery slope of superiority separation unfamiliarity marginalization discrimination - & hatred... this is a challenge for both the religious & the irreligious/atheists. All of us make exclusive truth claims, including those who claim there is no truth. That is a truth claim in itself. But unlike other religions, Christianity has a unique, counter-intuitive resource that should lead in a different direction. Well see at the cross and in the life of Jesus the perfect picture of grace, truth, justice & peace. And how exclusive, Gospel-centred Christianity can indeed produce the peace-loving, city-serving, compassion-motivated, & radically humble agents of reconciliation our world so desperately longs for. Unlike exclusive religions & secularism, the Gospel of Jesus leads to inclusivity a place where the rich & poor, black & white, educated & simple can sit together under the throne of Grace. A grace that comes only through Jesus, who died for his enemies and for us.