Building Relational Bridges

In my last post I threw out some challenges for Christians, and I received some very good advice concerning"building bridges" from "anonymous."

In most cases building relational bridges has been most rewarding, and I have loved doing it. One such bridge goes to Bishop W. who is with the COGIC; I love celebrating his birthday each February. Other bridges go out to the Salvation Army, some to our Baptist friends, the Covenants, the Four Squares, two very fine lawyers, and one great independent church in Pennsylvania, etc. I should also mention a Credit Union and a dive shop. Family members and friends are on top of this list, and, in their case, I thank God for cell phones and unlimited weekend minutes.

In other cases, building relational bridges can be more challenging. These are often asked to be built around a call for tolerance. In some cases this can be good as well. I do need to be more tolerant in traffic, and I'm glad Joyce showed tolerance after I made the bed with the top bed spread 90 degrees askew (it was real short on the bottom but the sides had plenty of material). Tolerance for people going through difficult circumstances is always received well.

In other cases, building brides around tolerance can prove to be difficult and needs to be approached carefully. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Then, at one point, He asked one of the men, "but what about you...who do you say I am?" Tolerance would suggest that there are many ways to God, but here it says only one way (John 14). That man and I need to answer that question carefully. By-the-way, I answered the same as the man above.

I am all for building bridges, with love and caring, wherever and whenever I can. However, some decisions, based on what we value, will impose some limitations on bridging. How does that adage go? -"We have to stand for something or we will stand for nothing."