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Incarnation & Inclusion, Abba & Lamb
The question addressed in this brief work is how Christ-followers might hold the tension of these two abiding and complementary truths: 1. Christ's one-of-a-kind revelation 2. Abba's all-inclusive love. Brad Jersak believes that Sacred Scripture and Christ himself affirm both these doctrines in a mind-blowing fullness. And yet those who enthusiastically profess either one of these two truths frequently do so at the expense of their complement. Jersak is neither an exclusivist nor a pluralist. He argues for both the unique revelation of Christ and the inclusive love of Abba. IN lays out biblical and experiential evidence for integrating and celebrating both these truths together, espousing the beautiful gospel of Christ's unique revelation of Abba's all-inclusive love. By "Christ," Jersak refers not to some abstract, ethereal or disincarnate spirit. Following the Apostolic tradition, he specifies Christ as" our one Lord Jesus Christ," the Lamb crucified and risen, whose singular revelation unveiled God as our eternal, cruciform and loving Abba. His primary lens for this synthesis is the prologue of John's Gospel, where we see: God's One and Only Lamb, crucified and risen-this Word who speaks ALL into being, this Light who shines on all and in all, this Life who breathes life into all, this One unveils God as Our All-merciful, All-embracing Abba. God's banqueting table is wide open because of Christ. The higher our Christology, the wider we will perceive the reach of Abba's love. The banquet metaphor is a way to think about both the uniqueness of Christ and the inclusivity of his Abba. The Master of the feast instructed his servants to invite and compel all to join in the feast. There's a seat and setting reserved for every human in history. IN magnifies both these glorious truths clearly.
188 pages, Paperback
Published July 30, 2019
40 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 26, 2021
I am grateful to Brad and admire him for accepting this monumental challenge to write a book that invites us to “hold the tension of these two abiding and complementary truths: 1. Christ’s one-of-a-kind revelation 2. Abba’s all-inclusive love.”
The risk in writing such a book is that neither camp - neither the exclusivist or the universalist - will be happy.
1) The exclusivist who is content to state their entire view on the topic by quoting their favourite proof text of John 14:6 “ I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father but through me” will find it difficult NOT to see this as universalism, despite Brad’s insistence in his final chapter that he is not a universalist, which I found unconvincing even though I would readily defer to Brad’s superior grasp of the finer distinctives of such theological definitions.
2) The pure universalist or pluralist who may react against Brad’s insistence that only a conscious recognition and response to the Name of Jesus will open the door to a “full experience” of Christ’s redemptive love.
Brad uses a three pronged approach to state his position: biblical revelation, real life anecdotes, and authoritative witnesses.
It is his presentation of the anecdotal experiential that I found most persuasive and deeply moving. Perhaps this is a testament to how I have strayed from a need to arrive at a solid theological position on these matters and be content to settle these matters in the wisdom of my heart.
I recognize how this might be a copout for one who no longer feels the need to evangelize or persuade other people to alter their religious views or arrive at a conscious naming of Christ to discover they are forgiven and redeemed.
I confess that I still do not feel confident what to do with The Name when faced with my brothers and sisters in other religions or in no religion who do not yet know their standing in Christ and are content to follow other names. Perhaps the position of Saint Francis gives me the greatest comfort: “Preach the gospel at all times. When necessary, use words".
Whether or not I am any further ahead in my capacity to hold these two positions of Christ’s one-of-a-kind revelation and God's all-inclusive love together in a non-dualistic fashion, I am grateful for the opportunity to have reflected on a topic that continues to be so strongly divisive in Christian circles. I am also grateful for the opportunity to read and study this book together with a small group of SoulStream partners as we share our reflections with one another by email.
Perhaps I am most grateful to be a part of a community that emphasizes God’s all-inclusive love, as evident by his residing image within all and as reflected in this core SoulStream value (brackets mine) : "We are (all) God’s dearly loved children. We do not have to achieve our identity. We simply receive it. Therefore every person has dignity and worth regardless of race, gender, gender identity, sexual identity or orientation, religious beliefs or any other distinction, and every person is to be treated as the bearer of God’s presence in our world".
The risk in writing such a book is that neither camp - neither the exclusivist or the universalist - will be happy.
1) The exclusivist who is content to state their entire view on the topic by quoting their favourite proof text of John 14:6 “ I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father but through me” will find it difficult NOT to see this as universalism, despite Brad’s insistence in his final chapter that he is not a universalist, which I found unconvincing even though I would readily defer to Brad’s superior grasp of the finer distinctives of such theological definitions.
2) The pure universalist or pluralist who may react against Brad’s insistence that only a conscious recognition and response to the Name of Jesus will open the door to a “full experience” of Christ’s redemptive love.
Brad uses a three pronged approach to state his position: biblical revelation, real life anecdotes, and authoritative witnesses.
It is his presentation of the anecdotal experiential that I found most persuasive and deeply moving. Perhaps this is a testament to how I have strayed from a need to arrive at a solid theological position on these matters and be content to settle these matters in the wisdom of my heart.
I recognize how this might be a copout for one who no longer feels the need to evangelize or persuade other people to alter their religious views or arrive at a conscious naming of Christ to discover they are forgiven and redeemed.
I confess that I still do not feel confident what to do with The Name when faced with my brothers and sisters in other religions or in no religion who do not yet know their standing in Christ and are content to follow other names. Perhaps the position of Saint Francis gives me the greatest comfort: “Preach the gospel at all times. When necessary, use words".
Whether or not I am any further ahead in my capacity to hold these two positions of Christ’s one-of-a-kind revelation and God's all-inclusive love together in a non-dualistic fashion, I am grateful for the opportunity to have reflected on a topic that continues to be so strongly divisive in Christian circles. I am also grateful for the opportunity to read and study this book together with a small group of SoulStream partners as we share our reflections with one another by email.
Perhaps I am most grateful to be a part of a community that emphasizes God’s all-inclusive love, as evident by his residing image within all and as reflected in this core SoulStream value (brackets mine) : "We are (all) God’s dearly loved children. We do not have to achieve our identity. We simply receive it. Therefore every person has dignity and worth regardless of race, gender, gender identity, sexual identity or orientation, religious beliefs or any other distinction, and every person is to be treated as the bearer of God’s presence in our world".
December 12, 2019
This book is an excellent primer on a thoroughly biblical approach to the theological value of “inclusion” - which of course is a word meaning a whole host of different things. The book serves as an introduction to a cruciform value that at first appears to be a paradox: what is the unique and singular value of Jesus if His saving grace already includes everyone?
As usual, Jersak is gentle and pastoral in his writing. He doesn’t use his words to chide or rebuke, and he goes to great pains to empathize with detractors. My only criticism is that I wanted the book to be longer! At its present length, “In” is written for those who already consider themselves on the right side of a relationship with Jesus. What does this book look like for pluralists who might be invited to discover the Jesus story is more inclusive than they were led to believe? What about those whose sense of inclusion is thin and tepid and rendered as a milquetoast version of a more robust faith?
As usual, Jersak is gentle and pastoral in his writing. He doesn’t use his words to chide or rebuke, and he goes to great pains to empathize with detractors. My only criticism is that I wanted the book to be longer! At its present length, “In” is written for those who already consider themselves on the right side of a relationship with Jesus. What does this book look like for pluralists who might be invited to discover the Jesus story is more inclusive than they were led to believe? What about those whose sense of inclusion is thin and tepid and rendered as a milquetoast version of a more robust faith?
July 13, 2021
Radical inclusion and uniqueness/cruciformity together. Not separate.
August 26, 2019
IN—Incarnation & Inclusion, Abba & Lamb appears to target an audience of Evangelicals. It aims to convince the reader of the all-inclusive nature of God by tackling the seemingly contradicting message that Christians spread as “the good news.” It goes something like this: God loves everyone, but if you don’t accept Jesus as the only way to get to heaven....well, then you’re excluded. But Jersak says it better, “Holding the unique revelation of Christ and the inclusive love of our Abba together has never been easy for Christians. We forever corner ourselves into sounding either too broad or too narrow. But in the back of our minds and hearts is an authentic desire to be faithful to the wideness of Abba’s mercy and the singularity of Christ’s Person and work. How do we hold both?” Personally, I don’t need convincing about the all inclusive love of God, but since my stray from Evangelicalism, I could use some reassurance about the unique revelation of Christ.
I appreciate that Jersak’s writing is never just his opinion. He endeavors to objectively consider biblical revelation, real-life anecdotes and the writings of the early church fathers. I trust this Patristic Scholar. He understands my inner angst about the incongruities of the theology I was raised on and writes entire books that calm my soul. In his books A More Christlike God-A More Beautiful Gospel and Her Gates Will Never Be Shut, he asks the questions I am too afraid to ask and then answers those questions. IN—Incarnation & Inclusion, Abba & Lamb continues in the same vein.
The book flowed like a river and carried me along. I experienced some rapids in the beginning that prickled my sensitivities and seemed tainted by exclusivism. Not that Jersak himself makes any claims whatsoever that God is in anyway ever excluding of anyone...I’m just extra sensitive about that. But the next section of the book told some real life stories of radical forgiveness. It was like a deep refreshing swimming hole. I dove in, head first. Then the self-protecting dam I had constructed broke. The tears held in the reservoir of distrust that has lately accumulated in my heart came bursting out. The stories he tells illustrate the cruciform nature of God in a revelatory way, “Forgiveness is cruciformity itself.” God’s love, like a river, finds the lowest place. Finally Jersak calls upon the authority of four early church fathers and one modern day Orthodox theologian to say, yes we can hold both the unique revelation of Christ and the inclusive love of our Abba together—without diminishing either. In the end I was carried out to sea and left to float under a cloud of assuring witnesses in the incomprehensible love of The Christ who includes me, and you—all of you!
For me to recommend a theological book it must spark a knowing that goes deeper than intellect. IN—Incarnation & Inclusion, Abba & Lamb by Bradly Jersak meets that criteria.
I appreciate that Jersak’s writing is never just his opinion. He endeavors to objectively consider biblical revelation, real-life anecdotes and the writings of the early church fathers. I trust this Patristic Scholar. He understands my inner angst about the incongruities of the theology I was raised on and writes entire books that calm my soul. In his books A More Christlike God-A More Beautiful Gospel and Her Gates Will Never Be Shut, he asks the questions I am too afraid to ask and then answers those questions. IN—Incarnation & Inclusion, Abba & Lamb continues in the same vein.
The book flowed like a river and carried me along. I experienced some rapids in the beginning that prickled my sensitivities and seemed tainted by exclusivism. Not that Jersak himself makes any claims whatsoever that God is in anyway ever excluding of anyone...I’m just extra sensitive about that. But the next section of the book told some real life stories of radical forgiveness. It was like a deep refreshing swimming hole. I dove in, head first. Then the self-protecting dam I had constructed broke. The tears held in the reservoir of distrust that has lately accumulated in my heart came bursting out. The stories he tells illustrate the cruciform nature of God in a revelatory way, “Forgiveness is cruciformity itself.” God’s love, like a river, finds the lowest place. Finally Jersak calls upon the authority of four early church fathers and one modern day Orthodox theologian to say, yes we can hold both the unique revelation of Christ and the inclusive love of our Abba together—without diminishing either. In the end I was carried out to sea and left to float under a cloud of assuring witnesses in the incomprehensible love of The Christ who includes me, and you—all of you!
For me to recommend a theological book it must spark a knowing that goes deeper than intellect. IN—Incarnation & Inclusion, Abba & Lamb by Bradly Jersak meets that criteria.
December 12, 2019
Brad Jersak’s voice is definitive in its call to return the foundations of Christian Faith. To remember the Christ who died for all to save all.
I can’t say enough good things about Brad’s ability to clearly convey, truth with nuanced simplicity. Brad doesn’t dumb the conversation down nor does he used lofty language to cast a shadow of arrogance on the reader. He is a theologian with a pastoral voice.
I can’t say enough good things about Brad’s ability to clearly convey, truth with nuanced simplicity. Brad doesn’t dumb the conversation down nor does he used lofty language to cast a shadow of arrogance on the reader. He is a theologian with a pastoral voice.
February 16, 2020
I enjoy Brad Jersak's writing and theology, and found a correspondence between this book and Richard Rohr's "The Universal Christ." I still struggle, in this day and age of religious plurality, with the exclusivity of Christ and Christianity, and how it must sound to those of other faiths (or no faiths). As a Christian, how would I feel if, say, a Muslim said to me, "you're IN because of Mohamed?" I would find that statement insulting, and a form of Muslim supremacy. Brad Jersak would say that God's love was uniquely incarnated in Jesus, but I could argue that the Buddha also spoke of and lived a life of compassion and love. I'm open to comments on how others reconcile Christian exclusivist and supremacist truth claims with the pluralistic world we live in.
December 15, 2021
The very best on the wide and everlasting love of God. A must read for all those who are born evangelists, truly love people and who struggle with the classical way of evangelism trying to draw people in their believe-system.
I recommend this book who find it difficult to be on the one side be true to the claims of the gospel, and on the other side know people who live in a Christlike manner without professing the Christian faith as we are used to. God is bigger and wider and wants to take us out of our small theological boxes without loosing the essence of Christ in us. A must read for everyone who is serious in following Christ without compromise and being a true witness to the hope who lives inside all those we will ever meet in our lives.
I recommend this book who find it difficult to be on the one side be true to the claims of the gospel, and on the other side know people who live in a Christlike manner without professing the Christian faith as we are used to. God is bigger and wider and wants to take us out of our small theological boxes without loosing the essence of Christ in us. A must read for everyone who is serious in following Christ without compromise and being a true witness to the hope who lives inside all those we will ever meet in our lives.
May 29, 2021
I have two favourite books, and this one is one of them. Thanks to this work, I have actually felt like my view of God as Inclusive and still perfectly shown in Jesus matches with what the Bible has to say about it. I honestly can’t quite figure out why so many other books on universalism or hopeful inclusion get so much more love than this one. It’s that good.
Don’t be fooled tho, it isn’t just a push for inclusive theology. Brad also excellently shows how any of that inclusion doesn’t diminish the need for Jesus. Absolutely brilliant game changer.
Don’t be fooled tho, it isn’t just a push for inclusive theology. Brad also excellently shows how any of that inclusion doesn’t diminish the need for Jesus. Absolutely brilliant game changer.
December 16, 2021
Dr. Jersak attempts to hold together a longstanding tension in Christian theology. Is Jesus a unique revelation of God? Is God’s love and acceptance, as revealed in Jesus, radically inclusive? These two ideas seem to be (and have historically been treated as) contradictory. In this little book, Jersak shows a way to think of them that allows them to both be aspects of God’s character and cruciform love. Worth reading.
August 13, 2021
This book is so well written. Bradley Jersak is a masterful communicator using everyday terms and examples putting words to a concept that may be new to many. Yet how have we missed this truth all these years. Abba is revealing truths to us in these days that we were unable to see or understand before this. This book is part of the current move of God. I loved it.
March 30, 2023
The first 4 chapters are well argued and compelling. Although the penultimate and final chapters show real life examples of grace and inclusion, they don't have the same flow and didn't quite link up thematically with the same exactitude of the first half of the book. Overall a very important, timely book that I will be returning to and referencing.
July 20, 2023
It is a great book that offers a balanced and compelling view regarding the religiously,philosophically, and theologically diverse world that we live in, especially for those who come from apostolic tradition based forms of Christianity (catholics eastern and oriental orthodox etc).
February 5, 2020
Wow, another great Brad Jersak book. He takes on the two opposing statements (at least at face value): Jesus is the ONLY way to God; God loves ALL people. He manages to show how these two can both be true. Yes, we have to think about some things differently but he does a great job of connecting these. includes some great stories of forgiveness. He writes in a. Rey approachable style, easy to follow along.
April 13, 2020
Great book on the love of God
Brad writes in his book "In", about the inclusive love of God, and distinguishes what is inclusive and what isn't. He writes plainly and simply expressing God's love for all of humanity.
Brad writes in his book "In", about the inclusive love of God, and distinguishes what is inclusive and what isn't. He writes plainly and simply expressing God's love for all of humanity.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews