Gospel of Inclusion?

CNN recently reported about a megachurch pastor who preaches a [so called] gospel of inclusion. Bishop Carlton Pearson, who was a conservative evangelist, now claims that gays are accepted as they are by God. This is not the time to comment on the modernistic and strange practices of this preacher seen in the video, but rather to show the flaw in his new way of thinking.

Pearson comments, "You never see anywhere in Scripture where Jesus rejected anyone, period." Perhaps he spoke rashly, but if one reads Matthew 24, it is very hard to come to the conclusion that Jesus is not rejected the religious leaders of his day for their sinful practices, yet self-righteousness. Another occasion, that may shed light onto the issue of homesexuality, which is clearly condemned even in New Covenant Scripture (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 1 Timothy 1:10). Such will not "inherit the kingdom of God." What does Paul mean by this statement in 1 Corinthians 6:10? Perhaps Jesus' rejection of a rich young man will help us to understand.

The young man came to Jesus asking him how he may enter eternal life--that is, how he might be part of the kingdom of God. Jesus' answer is clear: obey the commandments. The young man believes he has kept them, so Jesus adds one more command that He did not mention: "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me" (Luke 18:22). This is clearly a claim upon the man's heart--a claim upon His allegiance. Jesus' command seems to be an elaboration on the 10th commandment: Do not covet.... Why is this commandment so important? Because no one can serve two masters: either God will be your master, or something/someone else will be, and that is idolatry.

At this command, the young man was saddened, and we see in Mark that he went away from Jesus (Mark 10:22). Now, someone may well argue, "But Jesus did not reject the man, this man rejected Jesus." But Jesus certainly knew that this man did not understand his own sinfulness (that is why he could say he had kept the commandments), and He knew that the man was rich, and that he loved his riches more than God. Jesus does not blatantly reject the man, and it is not His desire to have to reject him--just as Jesus does not want to reject any, even the Pharisees. After all, Jesus had compassion on this man. But He also realized how difficult it is for those who have a love that is contrary to the kingdom to enter the kingdom, such as the rich, because they must reject that which they have loved--that which is an idol to them.

Those who reject the kingdom, who do not repent of their self-love and self-idolatry, will ultimately be rejected. God will not allow anyone to love anything, whether their parents, their children, wife, or even their own lives, more than Him. Jesus tells His disciples, if they deny Him before men, He will reject (deny) them on the day of judgment. Those who reject the kingdom of God, God's sovereign reign through Christ, will ultimately be rejected (cf. Matthew 8:10-12).

The gospel of Jesus is radically inclusive. Jews and Gentiles now have equal access to God--by faith in Christ. Men and women have equal access and equal value. Slaves and free, rich and poor, old and young, etc, all are welcome (Galatians 3:26-29, Ephesians 2:11-22, 1 Timothy 2:4-7). Yet we must not go further than Jesus. We must not exclude those whom Jesus includes, and we must not include those whom Jesus excludes. Those who will not surrender to God remain under the reign of sin, and so will face God's righteous judgment. These truths are more than clear in all of Scripture.

Certainly in Pearson's thinking is a misunderstanding of sin. Anything that is contrary to God's revealed will is rebellion against God--whether it's homosexuality, lying, hating (which must be understood in Biblical terms, not our modern misconstruing of love as being synonymous with full acceptance/tolerance), or idolatry of any kind. Our transgressions are the evidence of the presence of sin--the power of this present evil age which sets itself against the kingdom of God. While we pursue perfection, yet we do not attain to it in this age. The Christian life is not one of perfection, because the power of sin still remains in us, though its power has been decisively broken in the cross and resurrection of Christ (cf. Romans 6, Colossians 2:8-15). Rather, the Christian life is one of repentance--acknowledging our sin and willingly turning from it because God, by the Holy Spirit, is at work within us, applying Christ's work to our hearts, giving us the new life of the kingdom (cf. Ezekiel 36:22-32, John 3:3-5, etc). God will not, and cannot tolerate sin, for it is an affront to His holy, righteous character.

Yet Paul exhorted his young protege, Timothy, much as wChristians are commanded today: faithfully live and preach the whole Word of God (2 Timothy 3:14-4:2) Yet he also warned him in a way that continues to be true for us today: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths"(2 Timothy 4:3-4). Friends, don't go down that path. To all who read this, turn from your self-seeking, self-worshiping sin, and embrace the kingdom of God by trusting in Christ as Lord.