Exclusivism, Inclusivism, Pluralism (and why I hang in there in spite of it all)

It’s all about Mysticism…

James Alexander

I would say I’m a Christian. Sometimes, just by the skin of my teeth. Still, my faith persists. It persists in the midst of much doubt. I’m certainly not orthodox in many ways. I would suppose some would call me a heretic.

Still, my Love for Christ endures. It is not based in beliefs, but encounter. In reality, the Greek word pistis, usually translated faith, means faithfulness, fidelity, and loyalty. It is a relational term. For me it doesn’t deal with saying “sinner’s prayers,” spouting creeds or confessions, or reciting Bible verses. It is a term referring to friendship. I guess I aspire to be a friend of God.

There are three main ways that Christians look at salvation (a word that has at it’s heart has nothing to do with escaping hell but refers to healing and wholeness. Who doesn’t need that?)

Exclusivism…

Exclusivism means that salvation is offered only through Jesus Christ. Offered could be the wrong word. For folks of the Reformed Persuasion, exclusivism means that some are chosen for heaven and others for hell. That is (supposedly) because that arrangement pleases God.

But, at any rate, exclusivism in salvation means exactly the same as being exclusive in general.

Excluding or not admitting other things. (Example: “my exclusive focus is on San Antonio issues.”) Restricted or limited to the person, group, or area concerned. (Example: “The couple had exclusive possession of the condo.”) And, just to sum things up: “Unable to exist or be true if something else exists or is true.”

In the case of religious exclusivism, Most folks (especially those of non-Christian religions) are not admitted to salvation. Salvation is limited to True Christians (most churchgoers aren’t — or so some say). Exclusivists cannot allow others to exist as people deserving of God’s love. Mark Driscoll, one of the best known exclusivists says this:

“Some of you, God hates you,” he said. “Some of you, God is sick of you. God is frustrated with you. God is wearied by you. God has suffered long enough with you. He doesn’t think you’re cute. He doesn’t think it’s funny.”

Inclusivism…

These guys are a whole lot nicer. Don’t get me wrong. They still think that Jesus is the Only Way, and no one can come to God but through him. (John 14:6). But in the inclusivist world, some are going to make it even if they have never heard of Jesus. They are still saved by Jesus and his sacrifice. If they have lived up to the Light they have, Jesus will save them.

It doesn’t mean that if they were Hindu, Muslim, or Buddhist that Krishna, Mohammad, or Buddha can save them. They are saved in spite of their incorrect beliefs. Clark Pinnock is a well-known inclusivist. Here is what he has to say: “One can be ‘outside’ the Church, but they can never be ‘outside’ God’s love.”

Yeah! Great! But there are limits. Not everyone gets “promoted.” In this view, everyone could (and some argue everyone will) “make it.” But if so, only through Christ. The famous Catholic theologian Karl Rahner summarized the position clearly: Rahner wrote about those who, “accepted the salvific grace of God, through Christ, although [they] may never have heard of the Christian revelation.” So…Inclusivists believe that everyone was included in Christ’s sacrifice and might be saved. Many will be saved, but only through Christ. How many is unclear.

Pluralism…

This is the view that there are many true prophets and ways to salvation, quite apart from Jesus. Some take a rather qualified view of this. The Bahá’í Faith says some very nice things about other folks:

Throughout history, God has sent to humanity a series of divine Educators — known as Manifestations of God — whose teachings have provided the basis for the advancement of civilization. These Manifestations have included Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muḥammad. Baha’u’llah, the latest of these Messengers, explained that the religions of the world come from the same Source and are in essence successive chapters of one religion from God.

Vedanta says some pretty similar things. The deal is that, although all of these guys throughout history were true Manifestations of God, really, the ultimate expression of God is Baha’u’llah, or Sri Ramakrishna, Muhammad, Krishna, etc.

Actually, Christian Pluralists are more charitable when it comes to an equal playing field. The guru of Christian Pluralism has got to be John Hick. I like what he has to say:

For most of us who are Christians it is the right religion, and we should stick with it and live it out to the full. But we should also be aware that exactly the same is true for people formed by the other world religions. They also should stick with the religion that has formed them and live it out, though in each case gradually filtering out its ingrained claim to unique superiority.

A little story about me (finally!)…

I almost gave up on Christianity some time a while back. I thought about changing religions. I considered having no religion. Three things in particular bugged me most:

1. Although the Bible has some beautiful stuff in it, it also has some silly creepy stuff (and immoral) as well. I have written at length on this elsewhere and refer the reader to that article.

2. The notion of blood atonement. I just couldn’t believe that a good and loving God required the suffering, death, and blood of his/her child (or anyone) to forgive people. That is a vestige of the ancient religions throughout the Middle East — trying to appease an angry, vindictive god. Many find it hard to accept.

3. I just can’t believe that there is a hell. I mean any hell. Any at all. And I am not alone. I just walked over to my bookcase and counted 29 books questioning the reality of hell. There are many more than that. Of course, all of those Christians who wrote those books are labeled heretics and consigned to hell by their brethren. Here is an example of such heresy.

So, you might ask, why did you stick it out? And I haven’t even got to the really crazy right-wing politics, the xenophobia, anti-intellectualism, racism, homophobia, silly science etc. I guess I see it a lot like Hick does (did — died recently). But I have another motivation as to why I didn’t quit. Mysticism.

Karl Rahner once said, “In the days ahead, you will either be a mystic (one who has experienced God for real) or nothing at all.” That’s how I see it. And the dictionary definition will serve us well to get us on the same page:

Mysticism is the belief that union with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute, or the spiritual apprehension of knowledge inaccessible to the intellect, may be attained through contemplation and self-surrender.

Teasdale talks at length about the “Mystic Heart” of religion. How it all goes back to mysticism. I am a Christian because I have encountered God through Christ. Or maybe I should say the Cosmic Christ. Richard Rohr puts it well:

Rohr gave this presence a name. For him, the Cosmic Christ is the spirit that is embedded in — and makes up — everything in the universe, and Jesus is the embodied version of that spirit that we can fall in love with and relate to.

I am a Christian because Christ is the presence through which I encountered The Ultimate Lover. I do think there is something or someone that loves and cares. That is what my encounter leads me to say. I would never say that everyone must adopt my way. Jesus says, “Seek and you will find.” Who am I to judge where another finds the cosmic presence? Who am I to criticize those who don’t find it at all?