The Perils of Exclusivity

It's interesting how our Western society values exclusivity. Remember when your parents forbade you from doing something or going somewhere? All you could think about day after day was doing that one thing they wouldn't let you do -- that one place they wouldn't let you go.

Isn't it sad how, when we reach adulthood, we notice very little authority behind exclusivity? At least with our parents, they had a reason to keep us away from certain activities or places. After all, they were only trying to protect us.

As adults, we are told to keep out due only to pride and hubris. We have gated communities to keep out those who have less money, exclusive country clubs to keep out those not well-heeled, and exclusive programs only for specific genders, sexual orientations, or those with matching skin tones.

Another classic example is the guy who places a large sign on his lawn saying: "Keep Off The Grass!" Neighbors can't help but chuckle as they witness kids, dogs, and even other adults trampling on it day after day. The comical nature of his self-imposed authority keeps people from respecting the sign; it has no teeth.

But exclusivity only fosters coveting what we seemingly cannot have. After all, Satan is behind the idea of exclusivity. In contrast, God wants everyone to be included in His kingdom.

Unfortunately, exclusivity has crept into the church. You can see it in many places.

Have you noticed it? If so, I would love to get your thoughts.

It's interesting how our Western society values exclusivity. Remember when your parents forbade you from doing something or going somewhere? All you could think about day after day was doing that one thing they wouldn't let you do -- that one place they wouldn't let you go.

Isn't it sad how, when we reach adulthood, we notice very little authority behind exclusivity? At least with our parents, they had a reason to keep us away from certain activities or places. After all, they were only trying to protect us.

As adults, we are told to keep out due only to pride and hubris. We have gated communities to keep out those who have less money, exclusive country clubs to keep out those not well-heeled, and exclusive programs only for specific genders, sexual orientations, or those with matching skin tones.

Another classic example is the guy who places a large sign on his lawn saying: "Keep Off The Grass!" Neighbors can't help but chuckle as they witness kids, dogs, and even other adults trampling on it day after day. The comical nature of his self-imposed authority keeps people from respecting the sign; it has no teeth.

But exclusivity only fosters coveting what we seemingly cannot have. After all, Satan is behind the idea of exclusivity. In contrast, God wants everyone to be included in His kingdom.

Unfortunately, exclusivity has crept into the church. You can see it in many places.

Have you noticed it? If so, I would love to get your thoughts.

It's interesting how our Western society values exclusivity. Remember when your parents forbade you from doing something or going somewhere? All you could think about day after day was doing that one thing they wouldn't let you do -- that one place they wouldn't let you go.

Isn't it sad how, when we reach adulthood, we notice very little authority behind exclusivity? At least with our parents, they had a reason to keep us away from certain activities or places. After all, they were only trying to protect us.

As adults, we are told to keep out due only to pride and hubris. We have gated communities to keep out those who have less money, exclusive country clubs to keep out those not well-heeled, and exclusive programs only for specific genders, sexual orientations, or those with matching skin tones.

Another classic example is the guy who places a large sign on his lawn saying: "Keep Off The Grass!" Neighbors can't help but chuckle as they witness kids, dogs, and even other adults trampling on it day after day. The comical nature of his self-imposed authority keeps people from respecting the sign; it has no teeth.

But exclusivity only fosters coveting what we seemingly cannot have. After all, Satan is behind the idea of exclusivity. In contrast, God wants everyone to be included in His kingdom.

Unfortunately, exclusivity has crept into the church. You can see it in many places.

Have you noticed it? If so, I would love to get your thoughts.

I don't have a sign, but if it were legal, I would use a sign....to smack the owners who leave their dog crap where I have to get on the ground to pull weeds from my landscape. If it weren't so hard to keep the weeds out, I'd pour sand and just plant cactus. Dog people around here have no respect for anyone.

While I am not sure what you mean by "church" since you did not define it, if you mean the place where Christians/believers gather it is meant to be exclusive.

If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.
2 Thessalonians 3:14

I obviously had very different parents from you.

I'm sorry to hear that.

But God's kingdom is exclusive. This is where many get it wrong. Yes, he wants all to be included; but not at the expense of truth and the rest of the flock who love truth. In this sense, God is very exclusive.

As adults, we are told to keep out due only to pride and hubris.

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I go back to this scripture:

But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Where's the exclusivity in that?

Peter denied Jesus three times. So, by your standards, Jesus should have excluded him from the twelve. But by our Father's perfect standard, Jesus showed him perfect grace and mercy. Peter went on to become an apostle, and I'm glad he did.

Unfortunately, exclusivity has crept into the church. You can see it in many places.

Have you noticed it? If so, I would love to get your thoughts.

I lock my car and my apartment door to keep people out and it has nothing to do with pride and/or hubris.
Can you imagine if businesses did not lock their doors to keep people out while they were closed?
Chaos, anarchy, theft. Those things happen on a large scale during riots. Then the fires start.
And all the while people are abused by others, some murdered.

Is that what you want? What is wrong with law and order?

By all means we should attempt to include everyone; but there are times when people have to be excluded.

With all due respect -- and I do respect you as much as anyone on this site-- you normally have scripture to back up your comments.
I wonder if you could show where Jesus told us to lock people out of the church? Or out of our lives, for that matter?

Yeah, it's called Calvinism.