People often ask me, what we at Inner Light Ministries mean by "the radical inclusiveness of Jesus Christ."  We believe that "radical inclusiveness" is to affirm God's unconditional acceptance and universal law of love.  This mandates that we have love for God, ourselves and our neighbors. 

I must ask the question:  Who do we not permit to sit at the table of God? Before answering, let me clarify that the "theology of Jesus" is inclusive, but the "theology about Jesus" is generally selective.  The first accepts everyone as part of the body of Christ.  The second requires that one have certain qualifications and have certain standards. 

We believe the answer lies in the life of Jesus and see him as a radical person.  Jesus the Christ did not differentiate, nor did he segregate.  He accepted everyone as the same.  He had women and children around him, he healed people on the Sabbath and touched everyone, from the "haves" to the "have nots" and all those between.

Far too often, churches have not been welcoming to anyone that does not look or act as the church's current members.  A church's greeting may say, "everyone is welcome here," but its actions often dictate something different.  

So, I go back to the first question:  Who do we not permit to sit at the table of God?  Look at the congregations in the churches you are familiar with.  Does it match the community?   Does it ordain women who so diligently serve in that church?  Or, are they only able to serve the food, but not sit at the table?  What about gays, lesbians and bisexuals?  Is it all right for them to sing in the choir or to play the piano, but not sit at the table?  Should I even mention the word transgender?  Do they even get invited into the room?

Right now, the Episcopal Church is struggling with the idea of having a known gay Pastor become a Bishop.  Why now is it suddenly so troubling for him to hold the office of Bishop?  He can enter the room, but maybe not sit at the head of the table?  What about people with a different spiritual practice, can they visit? Or what about single parents or even a person living with HIV/AIDS?  Are they allowed to sit at the table of Christ?

The scripture says, "Who so ever will, let them come." It does not say, who so ever will, let them come, "if."   At Inner Light Ministries, we are very conscious not too just invite you into the room, but we set a place at the table for you . . . just as you are.  Inner Light Ministries welcomes whoever enters regardless of race, gender, age or sexual orientation.  We are the body of Christ so, who so ever will, let them come!

Inner Light Ministries not only asks the question: "What would Jesus do?"   We work at doing what Jesus did.  Therefore, the theology of Christ is not difficult to understand.  It simply charges us to love God, ourselves and our neighbors.  That, for some people, is radically inclusive.