I firmly believe that Jesus Christ, and faith in Him as our personal Savior…that Jesus, is not exclusive. I believe this with all of my heart. He died on the cross so that anyone could come to Him for salvation.
Why do people outside the church look within the church and see or sense exclusivity? Why do so many who don’t believe in God the way that I do feel so excluded?
Christianity is not an exclusive club. It is not something limited to an “elite” few who site some “perfect” profile. Most Christians today really try to not be exclusive – but many today, and perhaps including myself, struggle with not making our relationship with the Lord, a religious action that seems like an exclusive club.
“’Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.’ ‘No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. ‘We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!’ Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus replied, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do. I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.'” (John 14:1-12)
The context of this part of John 14 is that Jesus and the disciples had just shared together in “Last Supper”. And, it should be no surprised to hear his disciples express trouble – after all, Jesus had just shared that one of them would betray him and that Peter, would deny even knowing Him.
Jesus is the only way – the only option that works. No other person or religious leader has ever offered what Jesus provides: Victory over sin & death!
Dr. Warren Wiersbe says, “What does it mean to know the Father? The word ‘know’ is used ninety-one times in John’s gospel, but it does not always carry the same meaning. In fact, there are four different levels of knowing according to John…the fourth use of ‘know’ means to have a deeper relationship with a person; a deeper communion.”
A deeper communion? Is God’s desire for us to know Him this way every exclusive? How can the wonderful truth that God loves us enough to come and take care of our biggest problem, sin, be exclusive?
I believe it is not. But why then do we tend to act exclusive with this truth?
We can look forward to eternal life with God in heaven someday because Jesus Christ has promised it to all who believe in Him. There is nothing exclusive about that.
As the Holy Church of God, we need to experience freedom from the club of exclusivity. We need to stand united and together proclaim that we desire to, for a lack of better words, EFF the club! Yes, that’s right. We need to desire to Experience Freedom From the club and walk in the freedom found as being disciples of Jesus Christ. Faithful & obedient followers of the Lord who are committed to living out the truth & the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives where we are dedicated to God’s mission and that we would be devoted to carrying out the Gospel message of love and transformation into the whole world.
Remember this truth, “I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.” (Psalm 119:45) And part of our devotion unto the Lord is to recognize, adjust and experience the wisdom of the Lord so that we are walking in the freedom & power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is not exclusive with His message of love & transformation – and neither should we.
May you experience freedom from the club of exclusivity and may you walk in the freedom of knowing Jesus Christ in a real and powerful way.
reflections of hope 