Jesus Included who?

I have found the word inclusion in a number of leadership, church and theological settings can stir up so many emotions and discussions along with arguments that conclude in expelling or excluding some one in thinking.

It has become for some a defensive reaction for others a leap of Joy as discovering their welcome.   In saying this it really is a fundamental choice before us today, it also depends  on my understanding of the Divine, I would suggest, the view I have of YHWH I live with and may be speak and take actions from.

As well as answering the questions of inclusion it really is an opportunity to display Father, Son and Holy Spirit  a way of life to the world we are born into.   An opportunity to be the representation of Image and likeness.   So you see it is not just a debate over a word it is a reflection of how I see the Godhead and my responsibility to be that in my world…

Therefore do I have my own theology of inclusion?

Here are some key considerations the kind of Jesus inclusion we should show

Inclusivity…

…recognise, value, love and celebrate the marginalised – was not Jesus from the edge of society sent to include those considered least – poor, weak, outcast, foreigners and prostitutes.

…recognise harm done in the name of God. – we cannot be followers of Christ and oppressive, you don’t have a future in being oppressed or oppressing others.     We must do all to continue in love and be love as the scriptures exhort us, yet many feel rejected, people say that teaching has oppressed them, tradition imprisoned and excluded them.

….show a full intention to create life on the margin. – our inclusive community deliberately makes a conscious and unapologetic decision to love and celebrate the Creator’s diversity welcoming all persons regardless of race, colour, ancestry, age, gender.       Foundational Christian community outside the dominant culture seeing the  Kingdom of God includes the margins of life.    The Kingdom of God is to be inclusive, this the very nature of God.   Edges will respond to people who are open and full of extravagant grace, where other people from the edge gather.  A place to be safe what about being this kind of community

….will not imitate the church structures, but will be Church – the people of God are the sole property of God not a denomination, a person,  a stream or a group.    Radical inclusivity is rooted in restoration reconciliation, creational restoration, Christ filling all in all.

A free people to use their freedom to love to model and demonstrate the inclusive love of Jesus Christ.

….requires a new way of seeing and a new way of being. – celebrating one another in in Christian community – accepting, see each other as God sees us.

… is to be aware, information and understanding – creation of a Christian community among people marginalised means through education and training an understanding, developing a welcome and de-stigmatize its view of any group of people.

… will not hide, and works to undo shame and fear.

Jesus says don’t hide your ‘unacceptable’ realities so you can be accepted or embraced, In order for people on the edges to ‘be’ a community that is “naked” with their “edge-ness/marginality” in full view. 

…sees fully diversity on the margin. – the margin is generally full with people who have been forced out.    People on the margins are challenged to find the inter-connectedness.

… must be linked to preaching and teaching. – the Church requires preaching and teaching that defines and strengthens community by developing a biblical understanding of inclusivity.

… demands hospitality. –  a hospitality where no one has to defend nor deny their place or their humanness.   Listen to how Henri Nouwen says it, “Hospitality…means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy.  Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place.  It is not bringing men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by a dividing line.  It is not to lead our neighbour into a corner where there are no alternatives left, but to open a wide spectrum of options for choice and commitment. It is not a method of making our God and our way into the criteria of happiness, but the opening of an opportunity to others to find their God and their way.  Hospitality is not a subtle invitation to adopt the life style of the host, but the gift of chance for the guest to find his/her own.”

…is sustained & celebrated when everyone in community is responsible & accountable. – establish a belonging that includes everyone in the life of the Church, I mean every one, so we truly produce a shared life, experience in and contribute to the welfare of the whole community.    A thought “freedom without responsibility and accountability is as detrimental as slavery”.  Freedom is not an end itself, let me expand freedom from something must flow into freedom to be something else or it is not truly freedom.

Resilience key: some days will be better than others, but you have to bounce back and just keep working

Always have hope that tomorrow will be better – even when things seem darkest.  Believe in yourself and your offerings.   Success take time.

Be streetwise and confident when navigating the entrepreneurial space.

Accept that you’ll probably get the least sleep you’re ever had and that you have to get out there, promoting your business and creating new accounts.

Learn dot ignore those who didn’t value me or my talents, but if someone believed in me and supported me, then I’d work even harder for them.

to listen to another person requires stillness of the soul, a quietness o fetch mind an empty space where you can hold the other person.

Art of listening to be a better person and epically influencer – workshop dedicating to listening?

Peopel listen not to understand but to reply (Stephen Covey)

Difference of listening and hearing – listening is undervalued and must be revisited.   “Fake news what about Fake lightening?”  not listening to self and are of own voice.

making room for some one els ensues and concerns.

to lead is to along your message with the highest concerns of those who follow you.