JESUS’ INCLUSIVE MINISTRY AS A COUNTER-CULTURAL NARRATIVE FOR PASTORAL WORK IN OUR CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY

Abstract

This paper examines the inclusive nature of Jesus's ministry, a model for effective pastoral ministry that remains profoundly relevant in our contemporary society. In the first-century Palestinian society, marked by rigid social hierarchies and exclusionary practices, Jesus challenged established norms by embracing marginalized groups, including women, people experiencing poverty, and those considered ritually unclean. His compassionate acts of forgiveness, healing, charity, and teachings demonstrate a radical inclusivity that transcends social and religious boundaries. Through a hermeneutical-critical reading of some biblical passages, this study explores how Jesus’s interactions, such as his engagement with the Syrophoenician woman and the woman with a haemorrhage, exemplify his commitment to restoring dignity to the downtrodden. Ultimately, this work argues that pastors today are called to emulate Jesus’s inclusive ministry by advocating for the voiceless, challenging oppressive structures, and fostering communities of love and acceptance, thereby embodying the Gospel’s essence in a divided world.