Christianity Is A Religion of Diversity, Inclusiveness, And Equality

Among all the religions of the world, Christianity is one of diversity, inclusiveness, and equality. It is diverse because it consists of people from all races, cultures, and other religious backgrounds. No matter what nation one goes to, someone of the Christian faith will be there, with maybe a few exceptions. There are churches where people of different colors worship together. There is a global spiritual family of Christians with the same basic beliefs and practices, not limited by borders, races, cultures, nor ethnic backgrounds. “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”(Galatians 3:28).

Christianity is inclusive of all individuals. All can be included, the foolish and the wise, the mighty and the weak, the rulers and the common ones, “so that no human being might boast in the presence of God”(I Corinthians 1:27-29). No one is superior to another in God’s eyes!

One is not excluded because of his or her past life. God does not discriminate based upon what a person has done or what kind of life has been lived. No person is so evil that they don’t deserve God’s grace, or so moral and righteous that they don’t need his grace. Even the best and most religious people fall short of God’s righteousness. God’s grace is inclusive to each person by the same equal measure.

However, even though there is diversity and inclusiveness, there is a condition for equality. If you have noticed, I have used the word, “can” in this article in reference to inclusiveness. Every person on the planet is not automatically part of God’s spiritual family. We are all God’s creations, but not all his children. John 1:12 says that all who believe in the name of Jesus, have “the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of  the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

So, what is the one equal condition that makes it possible for each person of any race or culture to be a part of the spiritual and universal family of God? What makes possible inclusiveness by the exact same condition?

The answer is the “Gospel” which means “good news.” What is this gospel? It means there is a savior for humanity and each individual person, but not just any savior – the one and only Savior, Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 2:5 says, “There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all…”  Furthermore, “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved”(Acts 4:12). Christianity is a “one-salvation-fits-all” religion. Worshiping a dead idol, as some religions do, will not save any person. The basis of Christianity is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Any person who sees themselves as a sinner in need of God’s grace and accepts Jesus as his or her Savior is included in God’s spiritual and eternal family. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him, shall not perish but have everlasting life.”  The word “whosoever” includes both diversity and inclusiveness, with the same condition of equality for each and every person on the globe! The cross upon which Jesus died is the great equalizer.

Whoever you are reading this, whatever country or culture you are a part of, do you have assurance of eternal life? Do you know you are going to heaven in God’s loving presence when you die? Heaven will be full of diverse people from every corner of this earth, under the same condition as all other people. God gives each person an equal opportunity to experience forgiveness, redemption, and salvation. But each person has to make that choice. Have you?