Books

Focus On The Fundamentals Of The Faith

By W. Douglass Harris

Are You a Bridge Builder?

Bridges are material structures connecting bodies of land over chasms, roads, and bodies of water. Webster’s Dictionary lists ten different kinds of bridges or uses of the word. But our concern in this article is with building metaphorical bridges and their importance.

1. In human and divine relations: After man sinned in the Garden of Eden, God was four thousand years in developing a bridge by which man could be restored to a saved and right relationship with his Creator. “O the love that drew salvation’s plan/ O the grace that brought it down to man!/O the mighty gulf that God did span/ At Calvary!” (Wm. R. Newell). It was by means of the cross that God built a bridge across the gulf between Jews and Gentiles to be fellow citizens as saints (Ephesians 2:11-19). As a result Paul says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek...for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

2. In brethren relationships: Paul stirred the Gentile churches of Macedonia and Achaia to send contributions to the poor saints in Judea (Romans 15:25-28). This was an effort by the peerless apostle to better relations (build a bridge) between Gentile and Jewish Christians. He had taken the gospel to the Gentiles as preparation for building this bridge. Now it was their turn to help the poor Jewish saints materially.

Paul also wrote a letter to Philemon to build a bridge for the reconciliation of Philemon and his slave, Onesimus. Paul’s appeal to Philemon was to receive Onesimus now not only as a penitent slave, but also as a brother in Christ (Philemon 16). Paul was even willing to pay Onesimus’ indebtedness to Philemon to restore this relationship. What a bridge builder he was!

3. Christ’s teaching: Christ taught that brethren should build bridges when personal offenses are involved (Cf. Matthew 18:15-18). This is not the scriptural procedure to follow with reference to a false teacher who has circulated false teaching publically, but to offenses known only by the offended whose responsibility is to be a bridge builder. If the offender accepts the overtures of the offended, the matter is settled then and there and it never becomes public. Christ also made bridge building essential to acceptable worship (Matthew 5:23,24). Christ wants His disciples to be bridge builders.

4. To reach aliens: In sending out the twelve and the seventy under the limited commission (Matthew 10:16; Luke 10:3), Jesus instructed them to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” To reach the lost, many barriers must be crossed (bridges built). To win the heart of the woman at Jacob’s well, Jesus crossed the racial barrier — she was a Samaritan and He was a Jew (they had no dealings with each other, John 4:9). He had to cross the well-defined lines which forbade a man’s talking with a woman in public (John 4:27). He crossed well-marked religious lines between Jews and Samaritans (John 4:20ff). He crossed the moral barrier as the sinless One to talk to a woman with a shameful past (John 4:16-19). No barrier should prevent us from seeking the salvation of a lost soul. Paul said, “I am become all things (expedient) to all men, that I may by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22b).

Building a social influence is the most effective soul-saving agency that is available to us. Jesus did this — He went where people were sick, weeping, hungry, and tired from working. He cured, fed, comforted, and rested them. In the country, city, desert, lake, or the home He was a loving friend. He built social bridges to save souls. Are you a bridge builder or wrecker?