A sad reality in our current political and religious world is that we are being constantly drawn into a condition of shared mediocrity. The main pillar of a communist state is the mandated sharing according to ability, and receiving according to need – the ultimate consequence of which is to remove the incentive to work for what you have, both on the part of the worker, and the “receiver”. Only the extremely naïve refuse to acknowledge the relationship between the two.

Socially and religiously, this goal is accomplished through the denigrating of “exceptionalism”. More and more, we seek to be “like the nations around us,” and find a common ground based on meaningless banalities. Individual achievement and excellence are minimized, and it is no longer politically correct to praise victory and face the reality of defeat. (unless it can be done without the winner receiving greater praise than the loser, or the loser feeling the sting of failure).

Borrowing from the political and social “multi-culturalism” which promotes the “advantages” of diversity, the religious goal now is “inter –faith interaction”, and a passivity toward distinctions in doctrine and practice. In other words, in the name of “unity”, anything goes!

BUT:

GOD IS EXCLUSIVE – there is only ONE!—Eph 4:3-6
And He is not a “generic” god, to be addressed as Allah, Buddha, or some “new age” caricature of Jehovah.

THE BIBLE IS EXCLUSIVE – It is the ONLY source of divine revelation.—2 Tim 3:16,17
And it should not be confused with, or relegated to an equal status with other so – called writings. The ONE God says all He wants to say in it, and condemns these counterfeits.

THE CHURCH IS EXCLUSIVE – There is ONLY ONE body –Eph 1:22,23
And it is not intended as an “umbrella” under which many diverse groups serve according to their unique view of truth..It is identified by its relationship to God’s truth – and truth is EXCLUSIVE!

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS EXCLUSIVE – The ONLY life is one where the gate is “strait”, and the way is “narrow” – Matt 7:13,14
and,

HEAVEN IS EXCLUSIVE — Rev 21:27 “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Me? I don’t work at finding “middle ground” with the world, it will not work! (2 Cor 6:14-18)

Aubrey Belue