Should Christianity be inclusive or exclusive?

Question

inclusive - including of everything( in this case, of other doctrines)

exclusive - not admitting of something else; incompatible

Please be serious and support your answers.

Answer 1

By the very nature of the word Christian we know that Christianity is exclusive. We are followers of Christ and His teachings. How are we to know His teachings and or doctrine? We study His Word (The Bible). More specifically, the New Testament of Jesus Christ, as we today live under the Christian dispensation. The Bible is the Word of God revealed through His Son Jesus Christ.

Nothing is more clearly taught in the Bible than the fact that certain things in religion are right and certainthings are wrong. Jesus and His disciples exposed and strongly denounced the false religions about them. They maintained that the way of religious truth is "strait" ( narrow, confined and difficult) and "narrow" (Matthew 7:13-14).

There are several references to man-made doctrine and how Jesus opposed it. Matthew 15:7-9 "Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophecy of you, saying, this people draw nigh unto me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

Galations 1:8-9 "But though we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again. If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

II Timothy 4:3-4 " For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

II John 9-11 "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God."

I John 4:1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

I Peter 4:11 "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God."

Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven."

See also, Isaiah 5:20-24, John 8:31-32; Revelation 22:18-19 and Acts 3:22-23.

It makes a difference to God what men believe and do. If it made no difference, God would not warn against apostacy (I Timothy 4:1), He would not condemn false teachers (Matthew 7:15), and He would not demand that people follow the Bible. (II Timothy 3:15-17). Christ will reap vengence on those who do not obey Him. (Thessalonians 1:8)

When and if we are true followers of Christ, then we teach; practice and worship only in the manner in which He taught us. Christ died for His church and no other. He taught us that we should worship Him in spirit and in truth and not to incorporate into that worship any thing that He did not authorize regardless of how we might 'feel' about it.

The New Testament of Jesus Christ is very telling with regard to His Church and what it is to be called, how we are to worship, and how we become a member of His Church.

Because of what Christ does teach us about His doctrines, Church, Worship, Membership etc., we can exclude all others, i.e. Noah was instructed by God to use Gopher wood in constructing the ark. Because God said Gopher wood, Noah knew not to incorporate any other kind.

He may have felt it would be okay, and saw nothing wrong with pine, cedar or birch, but God said Gopher wood. We must also use this logic when we accept the teachings of Christ, and use no other.

I hope that this information helps you in your quest for the answers that you are searching for?

Answer 2

Christianity is, indeed, the most inclusive and the most exclusive entity imaginable. We don't go out of the way to make the world hate us. That it will do all by itself. Instead, we are "wise as serpents, harmless as doves." This isn't "going along to get along," but rather is an effort to remain open to others and to consider and care for others as Jesus did. However ... Christians believe in absolute truth as well just as 1+1+2 not 3, 4, or 5, we belive the road to God is Jesus.

Answer 3

a religion that is too inclusive runs the risk of not having any doctrines at all, rendering itself meaningless.

a religion that is exclusive appeals to people. They want to feel part of a special group that looks down on other people.

So, clearly, if Christianity wants to survive, it must be as exclusive as possible.

Answer 4

Christianity is a personal relationship with the Messiah and the belief that He IS the Messiah and Son of God. To include anything that went against that would make it no longer be Christianity.

Doctrines are a matter of religion, not of relationship.

Answer 5

It is not our prerogative to define Christianity. It has been ordained by God and our response is to live within the outline provided by him.
Salvation comes through believing in Jesus Christ, and fellowship with him happens with reading and following his word , the Bible.
While Jesus died for all sinners, it is exclusive to the person that takes hold of it for himself/herself.
In the sense of there being no universal salvation and it being exclusive to the group of people that accepts this truth, true Christianity is exclusive.

Best,
Agate

Answer 6

Christianity by the means of it's own doctrine MUST be exclusive. Eaither you are the true religion or you are not, you can not have opposing core doctrine or you render your religion obsolete. this is the problem with adhearants of any religion ,they are athiestic of all other religions or they fail in the faith of their own religion.

Answer 7

No. Many Protestant churches are unique. that's Christian coaching. Protestant churches educate that no-one is stored except they ask Jesus to be their savior. i concept that grew to become into what Catholics taught too, yet wager not. i understand that my Baptist church is unique, my grandmas Church of Christ is unique, and my different grandma's Baptist Church is unique. via unique, I advise that they think that Jesus is the only thank you to salvation. they are maximum definitely inclusive in asserting that any you're able to connect. each and every person would nicely be Christian.

Answer 8

Jesus Christ was exclusive. In Scripture we clearly see that He authoritatively taught certain things and declared other things to be wrong.

It's not a bad thing to be exclusive when you're talking about doctrine. It's the only way to preserve truth in its purity.

God bless you.

Answer 9

When any church claims to be the one and only true church, it tends to become isolationist, because all the rest of the world, to them is evil, and they become afraid to mingle with people.

Answer 10

St. Augustine said it best:

"IN ESSENTIALS UNITY, IN NON-ESSENTIALS LIBERTY, IN ALL THINGS CHARITY."

Outside of the Creeds there is no Christianity. But outside of those essentials, there should be liberty, non-judgement - and most of all - agape (love).