Issues in inclusivism, Part 1 (see Part 2)

Here's a quick recap of my position plus responses to some issues raised:

Inclusivism holds out hope for the unevangelised by postulating that God's love for humanity (and His reluctance to see anyone perish) has led Him to provide backup/contingency/secondary pathways to salvation apart from the formal covenants (which is basically what an explicit understanding and trust in Jesus represents, a 'formal' covenant).

Yet of course the True Light has come into the world (to give light to EVERY man) and God wants everybody to know about it, be baptised and be learned disciples (hence the Great Commission). The command for mission come is a major priority - the salvation and welfare of many will hinge on the truth being preached everywhere - but God's Spirit had also made provision for mankind to know Him (and perhaps reach out to Him) by revealing Himself through nature, some forms/aspects of pagan religion, culture, etc.

God does not make just about everything 'plain' to the unevangelised (Rom 1:19,20) but leaves out the salvific element. It's sad that some are telling us that God can reveal (through nature) things like His power, His nature, Man's sinfulness, but when it comes to 'how we are saved', He restricts the salvific method to a specific/explicit historical message.

An eternal dwelling with God is something He gives freely to everyone who's heart cries out to Him. And He is using every means available (the beauty of the stars, godly elements in religion, the uniqueness of individuals and community) to reach out to people, especially those who live in non-evangelized regions.  And He invites His Church to feel the cry in His Heart for these people and beckons her to go tell people about Him, that they may be glad and rejoice even more.

Now let's look at some counter-statements of those 'not-so-inclined' towards inclusivism (smile):


"I know that Alwyn is not intentionally trying to SUBSTITUTE evangelism with natural theology but he is unwittingly and militantly putting forth Nature and the Law and divinely-infiltrated pagan religions as sufficient and alternate pathways of salvation. An alternate, even though secondary and inferior, pathway of salvation is a SUBSTITUTE for the name of Christ, whether you like it or not."

Is an insurance plan a substitute for healthy living/driving?
Is an instructor who catches a junior acrobat if he falls a substitute for vigorous training?  Likewise, does a safety net remove the need to 'practice, practice, practice'?
Do the presence of the ICU wards in ANY way spur us to flirt more with physical danger or be less cautious in our avoidance of it?

God, who allows the on-going of former salvific revelational elements, can hardly be said to be replacing His main pathway with these lesser ones.  We're talking contingency here; not substitute.


"One minute, Alwyn tells us that “God has provided for alternate pathways to the kingdom of God” and the next minute he tells us that, “The Name of Jesus IS the only way of salvation for mankind.” One minute Christ is the Only Way, the next minute God has OTHER gracious provisions by which salvation is obtained.  Isn’t this hopeless double-talk?

This is a good objection. What would an inclusivist hold Christ as ONLY Way to mean? Here are some thoughts:

Jesus is the ONLY Way, to me, is an affirmation of the uniqueness and exclusivity of Jesus' Personhood and Work for anyone's salvation. He - Jesus! - was the One who saved us, not Buddha or Mohd or whomever.  This is no other Person like Jesus who did what He did. Jesus is the ONLY Way is similar to Jesus was THE One who saved you, not anyone else.

It is an ontological statement, expressing WHO (Jesus) did WHAT (save people!). Job was saved by Jesus even if he never knew the name (as was the entire OT community!).

As such, no one can explicitly REJECT Jesus and be saved.  Remember, though, that rejection is a very 'active' word and presupposes a healthy measure of knowledge about a person. Salvation is ultimately an everlasting relationship with God the Person; if I reject the TRUE Person of Christ on earth, there is absolutely no reason why I will want to be with Him in heaven.

So, if a Muslim explicitly/persistently hardens his heart towards people who keep telling him about and showing(!) him the true love and Person of Jesus Christ, then I will be sadly convinced that, as of the present, this Muslim will not want to be with God in Heaven.

However, the unevangelised can only know God through nature and divinely-'infiltrated' religion. If anyone of them is saved, it will NOT be because they called on the name of another god but because they have demonstrated by their lives a surrendered receptivity to the truth and love and light which they have ALREADY been given by God.

We need to get this right: I am not saying that a Red Indian who is calling on the Wolf-God is REALLY calling on Jesus. What I'm saying is that Jesus can reveal Himself to the Indian using SOME elements of the religion and many elements in nature, thereby evoking in the Indian's heart an awareness of His truth and Person. (Just like an invisible roommate can make people 'aware' of his presence).

In no way is the Indian 'automatically' saved, but the way he lives his life will be a very important factor in God getting more truth and love into His heart. (Yes, one's choices matter!).  The Indian may not actually call upon the phonetic name of 'Jesus Christ' (how could he?!), but that doesn't mean that God cannot work His grace into the guy.

I do NOT believe in: Call on OTHER Names and you can also be saved.
My argument is: Jesus is the ONLY Saviour - if you know Him but reject His Way, then you've chosen Hell.  If you have not yet heard of Him, then your eventual salvation/damnation will still ultimately depend on your response to His revelations to you.

One is not saved BY trusting on other names, but God will still be merficul and loving DESPITE you calling on other names (especially if you've shown a persistent receptivity to truth and love, but never heard Jesus' name).

God's heart breaks a little each time anyone prays to an empty idol, but He still looks high and low for a glimpse of 'heavenly longing' in the person, and at the slightest opening rushes in with His gentle
grace...
 

AL


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