Inclusion: A God Principle

Definition: inclusion - the state and process of putting diversity into action by creating an environment of involvement, respect, and connection — where the richness of ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives are harnessed to create value; authentically bringing traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities, benefits and decision/policy making in a way that shares power.

"Exclusion is not a God thing."

I once had a client whose employees of color publicly spoke out about feeling excluded and disregarded — like just a number. Their experiences weren’t about preference; they were about dignity.

This signaled that inclusion was lacking in the organizational culture.

Inclusion isn’t an abstract concept; it’s about how people feel within the spaces they have contributed to. Inclusion means creating a space where everyone feels valued and seen. It is an active choice to make room for others.

We see in the Bible where Jesus practiced radical inclusion. He ate with tax collectors, touched lepers, and engaged with marginalized people. Paul reinforced this in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, where he describes the body of Christ. No part is greater than another; each one is necessary.

Unfortunately, some Christians have embraced a gospel of exclusion. But Jesus came to save the world (John 3:16), not just a select few. Any rhetoric that supports exclusion contradicts the Word of God.

Biblical Example

• The early church struggled with inclusion. Peter initially hesitated to welcome Gentiles, but God corrected him in Acts 10, showing that inclusion is His will.
• Jephthah, the Outcast Judge (Judges 11:1-11) – Jephthah was rejected by his family because he was the son of a prostitute. Yet, when Israel needed a leader, they called on him. His story reveals that God calls and includes those whom society excludes.
• Ebed-Melek the Ethiopian (Jeremiah 38:7-13) – This lesser-known figure was an Ethiopian eunuch who saved the prophet Jeremiah from dying in a cistern. Despite being a foreigner and of a lower social status, God honored his faithfulness, showing that inclusion is part of God’s plan.

Reflection Questions

1. Have you ever felt excluded in a faith or workplace setting?
2. How can you create spaces of inclusion in your community?
3. In what ways did Jesus model inclusion?