Image, Incarnation, and Christian Expansivism

I am the way, the truth, and the life, says Jesus. Yet the kingdom of heaven consists of all tribes, races, and peoples. How do people of tribes who've never heard the word of Christ enter the kingdom of God? A strictly exclusivist account of the gospel seems to keep many people out of the kingdom of heaven. An inclusivist approach is more consonant with Scripture and the love of God. Yet standard models of inclusivism are problematic. In this book McLeod-Harrison--a Christian philosopher--considers what's wrong with both narrow exclusivist and narrow inclusivist accounts of the gospel and proposes a broad inclusivism called ""expansivism."" An expansive account of the gospel helps us understand the uniqueness and the openness of the gospel together. Narrow exclusivism can lead to existential crises. Narrow inclusivism appears to make not preaching the gospel better for those who've never heard it. Expansivism makes human access to the gospel unique to the individual person and enables Christian theologians to provide lots of different, potentially conflicting and yet true accounts of the theological underpinnings of the salvation provided by Christ.

""In this book, Mark McLeod-Harrison proposes a vision of 'pastoral philosophy' and practices it in relation to the difficult, perennial question of the salvation of those who have never heard. McLeod-Harrison's combination of solid philosophy and pastoral purpose wonderfully serve Christ and his Church. In doing so, McLeod-Harrison opens new paths to be explored by 'pastoral philosophy.'""
--Jonathan R. Wilson, Carey Theological College

""McLeod-Harrison carefully crafts a sophisticated, pastoral philosophical path that avoids the radically relativist 'anti-realism' anathema to evangelical Christians (and many of us) while also showing the profound flaws of the 'naive realism' characteristic of many believers. He calls this path 'theistic irrealism.' He shows how to avoid the pernicious 'one way, my way only' view of salvation without denying the necessity and sufficiency of salvation in and through Jesus Christ. He calls this approach 'expansivism.' His focus on humans literally being images of God who creates is revelatory. Even those of us who are not evangelicals have much to learn from this challenging and enlightening work.""
--Terrence W. Tilley, Fordham University

Mark S. McLeod-Harrison is Professor of Philosophy at George Fox University.