Isaiah 56:8 The Sovereign Lord declares—
    he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather still others to them
    besides those already gathered.”

As a Gentile myself, I was tempted to write on verses 6-7, but the point is that God is interested in people from all excluded categories. What we need to remember, however, is that for each of these categories, God is specifying repentance. (Back in those days eunuchs didn’t choose that status for themselves, but that category could be spread to various forms of sexual deviancy, and those certainly call for repentance.) You could say that this is the ultimate DEI, but it’s not what we’ve seen in recent years. In terms of diversity, God loves every human being who has ever walked the face of this earth. In terms of equity, repentance and faith bring eternal life to all; we can’t earn our way into heaven. In terms of inclusion, we have this passage that explicitly includes previously excluded categories of people. When we try to bring this about by our own efforts, all sorts of aberrations occur. I am not in the least in favor of DEI as it has been foisted on society in recent years. However, I am deeply grateful that God opens the door for all who will repent and believe, whatever their previous status or characteristics might have been. I am not to set up barriers that God doesn’t, but at the same time I am not to overlook the requirements that God has established. Repentance is indeed key! It’s not an “into bliss and out of blister” situation, as my grandfather used to say of “easy believism.” There are those who profess to be Christian, yet have never repented of things that God clearly says are forbidden. I’m not to run around condemning, by any means, but I am to be clear as to what God has said and is saying.

This whole business of being included or excluded is very close to my heart, for many reasons. I grew up, and still live, as a Caucasian in Japan, which has led to countless experiences of exclusion. Conversely, I was a Missionary Kid attending a US military dependents school, which also led to exclusion. As an adult, I’ve not been a drinker, which again has cut me out of some circles. I’m glad that God accepts me as I am, though He doesn’t leave me that way. That’s a message I tell people constantly. There is no situation in which God can’t reach us, but if we refuse to move from that situation, to change, then we cut ourselves off from Him. Repentance always involves change, and sometimes people are unwilling, regardless of how destructive their current situation is. I am to speak the truth in love always, extending God’s invitation but making the conditions clear, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit people may be born again indeed.

Father, thank You for Your open heart. Help me be an accurate expression of that, drawing people into Your family in repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!