What Does the Bible Say About Inclusion?

While the Bible seldom reflects in an explicit way on the term “inclusion,” the experience of “including” or “excluding” people from a community, an organization, or an activity runs deep in the Scriptures. This study explores the biblical wisdom regarding a select number of contemporary situations where the challenge of inclusion is in play: our racial and cultural divides, our concern about borders and migrants; the exclusion of the poor from our economic life; the inequities imposed on women; our obligation to “include” care for our created world in our moral universe; crossing the boundaries between world religions. The power and beauty of the biblical word has much to say about opening our hearts and minds to others.