Inclusivity and The Bible - (an essay)

 This is an essay I wrote a few months ago, so I figured I could post it here! 

Acadia Thimlar

Honors English 10

8 May 2025

Inclusivity and The Bible

The Bible, a widely debated piece of literature, is what over two billion people consider as a foundation for truth. This ‘truth’ is understood throughout thirty-one thousand verses that contain history, poetry, various moral teachings, prophecy, condemnation of sin, and salvation through a messiah named Jesus Christ. Many claim that its teachings are based on hate, promoting certain types of people, and demoting the ‘sinners’ to be looked down upon. Yet for those studying the Bible, it is obvious that this is simply not accurate. This assumption of exclusivity, or hate, in the Bible is a misunderstanding of what it says about sin. Sin separates everyone from God, not just some ‘bad’ people. Even ‘good’ people are sinners who fall short of the glory of God. Though all have sinned, the Bible teaches that Jesus loves everyone, no matter who they are, and died for them so they may live eternally in the presence of God. The Bible also teaches Christians to serve and love all types of people. So, though some believe that the Bible is exclusive, condemning people, the Bible actually teaches that all humans have value, Jesus died for everyone’s sins, and that all are worthy of not only human love but also God’s love. These concepts are supported by Biblical evidence in this essay, all quotes coming from the New American Standard Bible translation.

Everyone Has Value as a Human

Inclusivity works under the assumption that everyone involved has equal value, all deserving the same treatment. The Bible teaches this in the creation of humans rather than evolution. Charles Darwin introduces the devaluation of humans in his theory of evolution, where he teaches that non-white races are savages, who are ‘incapable of counting past 4’. Of course many reject Darwin’s belief on races, but there is still racism in this world that is defended by saying some races are more advanced in evolution. If one were to claim that people were created already as humans, at no point being ‘savage monkeys’, it makes it impossible to claim certain races evolved further than others. 

After Eve chose the fruit, and with it sin, people became increasingly selfish and corrupt in their actions. God decided to flood the Earth to end this pain and evil, and in Genesis 6:14-16, instructions for a massive boat were given to one righteous family to survive. These instructions were not clear enough to be considered an actual blueprint, therefore proving the intelligence of mankind this early in humanity. The Bible is claiming that Noah, along with his family, were capable of constructing a wooden ship just two thousand years after creation. Considering that this teaches all of humanity comes from this family, the idea that certain races are less evolved than others is completely rejected.

Along with the general belief of unity, or one race, among humans, the Bible expresses that people were made in the image of God. In Genesis 1:26-27, it says “Then God said, ‘Let Us make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness, … So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” From the Christian perspective, humankind is a reflection of God Himself, meaning His character. Humans are conscious, empathetic, capable of unconditional love, and innately understand right from wrong. As all people are made in His own image, inclusivity is expected by God. Christians are certainly not taught to hate anything that is so personally connected to God.

People’s condition does not change how God views them, either. Certain ages are often looked over, such as elders being forgotten, or children being mistreated. The Bible teaches inclusivity by paying attention to these stages of life in many different passages, such as 1 Timothy 5:1-2 “Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, and to the younger men as brothers, to the older women as mothers, and to the younger women as sisters, in all purity.”

In Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus shares a parable about ‘the King and ‘the righteous’. The King represents God. The King is praising the righteous, because they treated Him well by inviting Him into their homes, feeding Him, clothing Him, and visiting Him in prison, yet the righteous go on to say they did none of those things to the King. It is revealed that they did it to others, therefore they did it to the King. As stated before, it goes on to say how these people are treated is not just important, but is actually directly connected to how God is treated. People’s condition, such as being homeless or criminals, does not change their value. 

An important concept in the Bible is salvation from sins, and therefore the wrath of God, which Jesus offers in His death. Those who receive Jesus’s salvation are in the body of Christ, and are called Christians. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-18 it celebrates the differences between people and the necessity of diversity in Christianity. “For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one part, but many. If the foot says, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any less a part of the body. … But now God has arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, just as He desired.”    

Christians Are Taught to Love All

The strongest argument that the Bible supports inclusivity is how directly it teaches to love everyone. When the Pharisees, Jewish religious leaders than often challenged Jesus, came up to Jesus asking Him what the greatest commandment of the Law was, He replied, “And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets,’”(Matthew 22:37-40). He is summarizing the Ten Commandments into two simple ones, both concerning love. Jesus says this again in John 15:12 to His disciples; “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” This commandment is seen throughout the Bible in clear dictation, making it the foundation of an argument for inclusivity.

Though this commandment is clear, one could still make the argument that certain ‘types’ of people are unworthy of love. Jesus quickly extinguishes this argument through his various teachings. In one of His sermons, He tells people to pray for and even love their enemies (Matthew 5:43-45), and in Matthew 25:35-40 Jesus shares a parable about loving strangers, the hungry, the naked, and prisoners. John 4 provides a beautiful story between Jesus and a Samaritan woman. He asks her for water at a well, placing Himself below her socially. It is later revealed that this woman was not only Samaritan -a people group known for being immoral and hated by the Jews- but also an adultress. Nonetheless, Jesus defied social rules, spoke to her, expressed His love and submission to her by asking for a drink, and offered her eternal life. This chapter clearly tears down the idea that a different race and sexual sin is an excuse to not love someone.

As the Jews did not interact with Samaritans, they also generally avoided any Gentiles -a race that was not Jewish. This behavior was actually taught by God, because Gentiles were pagan or polytheistic and did not favor the Jews at all. Their belief systems were completely separate, and even harmful to Jews. Yet in Acts 10:15 + 28, God reveals to Peter that he should no longer judge the Gentiles, saying “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” Once Jesus came, He did not ‘fix’ God’s teachings, or necessarily change them, but He showed the world that sin would no longer separate them. Pagans and Christians did not have to avoid each other to stay ‘safe’ in their religion, but rather love, and be inclusive to each other to honor God.

Jesus Died for Everyone    

One of the most popular verses in the Bible is John 3:16; “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” It is such a valuable verse because not only does it summarize Jesus’s purpose on Earth, but it clearly says ‘the world’ and ‘everyone who believes’. Jesus did not just die for the ‘good’ people, nor for the devout churchgoers; the Bible says that He died for the whole world, and that it is a gift offered for anyone to accept. Another piece of scripture that supports this is Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Every selfish person that walks on this earth, even those who would seem to have no hope, have salvation waiting for them. Mark 8:36 suggests the value and importance of just one soul; “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Jesus views even one individual soul as more important than the entire world. 

While the Bible teaches inclusivity outside of religion, it promotes it even more within the Body of Christ. The Church needs diversity, unity and inclusion for it to function properly. One can see this in 1 Corinthians 12:13 + 17: “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body -whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. … If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?” This passage is so important, because it illustrates diversity -most likely of character and purpose, as it mentions the body part’s functions in the body- and it illustrates inclusion: ‘it would not for that reason stop being part of the body’. Another Biblical example for unity in the Church is Galatians 3:26-28; “For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This passage shows the importance of unity. These two concepts of diversity and unity work hand in hand. Breaking down judgement and social barriers while accepting different backgrounds or perspectives is necessary for unity.       

Something that is often brought up when one sins is judgement. It is known that sin is wrong, so the easy response is to get rid of the problem by ‘getting rid of’ the person. This can be seen by judgment from people, condemnation by religious leaders, or even shunning from the community. What is so incredible in what the Bible teaches is Jesus’s response to sin. He is not seen judging and looking down upon, but rather offering healing and forgiveness. This is seen in John 3:17; “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.” The religious leaders of Jesus’s day, the Pharisees, valued staying holy and obeying the Law. What they did not understand was by ‘staying holy’, or avoiding ‘unclean’ people, they were actually not helping those who truly needed God’s love. In Matthew 9:10-13, Jesus proves the Pharisees’ legalistic beliefs wrong; “Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and began dining with Jesus and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, ‘Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?’ But when Jesus heard this, He said, ‘It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. Now go and learn what this means: I desire compassion, rather than sacrifice, for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” Jesus is seen helping and loving the undesired again in John 8:3-11, where He protects an adulteress from being stoned. He tells the crowd, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Once they realize none are righteous enough to judge the adulteress, they leave, and Jesus speaks to the woman; “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on do not sin any longer.” Without judging, He tells her to stop sinning while protecting her.

Counter Argument Concerning Exclusivity

An argument often presented against the Bible is that it is the foundation for an exclusive and hateful religion. Claims like, “The Bible is inherently hateful, because it forces rules on people, and condemns healthy human behavior like homosexuality.” are not only stemming from a misunderstanding of the Bible but also a self-made truth claim. 

First, the misunderstanding is assuming Christianity is simply founded on rules. Though the Law, which is taught in the Old Testament, is important, it is impossible to fulfill. This is why Jesus came onto earth and died, which is seen in Ephesians 2:8; “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,” Romans 6:14 also confirms this; “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under the Law but under grace.” Christians deny their sin and follow the Bible because they love Jesus rather than trying to gain salvation by following rules.

Secondly, this argument recognizes the Bible teaches homosexuality as a sin, yet states that it is a healthy human behavior. Human understanding of what is right and wrong can seem reasonable, as morals and social rules tend to line up between cultures. Yet the world isn’t perfect, and it is obvious that someone’s definition of morals is not from themselves, but from God. It might seem pleasurable, normal, or natural to be selfish, so that we can care for ourselves, but even children know it is wrong to put yourself before others. Just like this, one cannot assume that homosexuality is healthy because it is natural. Nor can one assume that it is healthy to have sex before marriage or with multiple partners. Nor can one assume child attraction -along with other sexual perversions- is healthy because it is natural. Sexual sin is brought up often in the Bible because it can become a blurry line between right and wrong if people follow their wants or urges. People have to rely on the Bible, and it says in 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, “Flee sexual immorality. Every other sin that a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” This actually shows that sexual sin is not only hurting oneself, but that ‘you are not your own’. For those that follow Jesus, He has a plan and will for their life that will often seem completely different than their own plans. 

All of this being said, those who commit sexual sin are many, like the adulteress Jesus protected, and each of them are worthy of love. The Bible teaches that it is not a Christians job to judge any sin. In 1 Corinthians 4:3-4, Apostle Paul discussed this; “But to me it is an insignificant matter that I would be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself; however I am not vindicated by this, but the one who examines me is the Lord.” There is truth in the opinion that Christians can be judgmental and look down on sinners, but that is not stemming from the Bible. That is their own sin and mistakes, and though it is not justified, it is expected because all have sinned (Isaiah 53:6). Ephesians 4:14-15 encourages Christians to leave this sin and love others; “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;  but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ.” By speaking truth in love, judgement is replaced by constructive criticism and words that build up.

Conclusion

Over two billion people would claim that the Bible is the Word of God- a piece of literature that contains truth from God Himself. This massive book full of artistic poems, complex stories, moral teachings of love, accurate prophecies, and a beautiful promise of salvation is often misunderstood. The condemnation of sin, which separates people from God, is believed by many to be rooted in hate, when in reality, it is because of longing for connection and love from God. According to the Bible, God loved everyone so much that He sent his Son to die in their place, so the world's sins may be removed from the eyes of God. The Bible proves this all-encompassing love by showing inclusivity throughout its teachings; every human is made in the image of God, therefore containing substantial value. It is also directly commanded to love and serve everyone, including those outside of Christianity. As Jesus loved every individual so much that He would die for their salvation, no matter who they were, one could even consider the Bible to be the most inclusive moral teaching in the history of literature.

Works Cited

Darwin, Charles. The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. John Murray, 1871. 

Muldrow, Shon. "The Biblical Basis for Inclusion." Liberty Journal, 22 Apr. 2022, www.liberty.edu/journal/article/the-biblical-basis-for-inclusion/. Accessed 11 Apr. 2025.

Rishmawy, Derek. "How to Really Be Inclusive Like Jesus." The Gospel Coalition, 16 June 2017, www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/how-to-be-inclusive-like-jesus/. Accessed 11 Apr. 2025.

Ryrie, Charles C., editor. Ryrie NAS Study Bible. Moody Publishers, 2009.

• Acts 10:15 + 28

• Ephesians 2:8, 4:14-15

• Galatians 3:26-28

• Genesis 1:26-27, 6:14-16

• Isaiah 53:6

• John 3:16-17, 4, 8:3-11, 15:12

• Mark 8:36

• Matthew 5:43-45, 9:10-13, 22:37-40, 25:35-40

• Romans 5:8, 6:14

• 1 Corinthians 4:3-4, 6:18-20, 12:12-18

• 1 Timothy 5:1-2