Are You a Wall Builder or Bridge Builder??????

I build walls....Then I build bridges so you can get over it....LOL.

[ForeverBlessed]

Originally Posted by Pianoman

Wall Builder - A person who tries to protect them self from outside influences that they don't agree with. This person will abort associations or friendships to keep themselves "pure". This person puts a high value on separation and purity.

Bridge Builder - A person who holds to friendships and associations even when they may disagree on certain issues. This person will keep friends even when their belief system is totally different than their own. This person puts a high value on friendships.

Which are you more like? I understand that there is a little of both in most.

I know the importance of being a bridge builder…. And I really try to do my best… but I would be lying if I didn’t admit to having a tendency to build walls because of fear and insecurity… it is insecurity in myself… not God. I wish I was more like others I know that have enough faith in God and themselves so they are bridge-builders… I'm glad God has put people in my life that reassures me... and I work at keeping the walls down.

[Felicity]

We've always been bridge builders, no doubt about it, but there are walls that need to be maintained and walls that need to be built too.

There's a time for everything under the sun and that includes wall building. Some things need to be kept out and some things need to be protected.

[tamor]

Originally Posted by Felicity

We've always been bridge builders, no doubt about it, but there are walls that need to be maintained and walls that need to be built too.

There's a time for everything under the sun and that includes wall building. Some things need to be kept out and some things need to be protected.

Good post.

[mfblume]

This is interesting that this thread appears today. I was just reading an article that was inspired by something Eisenhower said in 1961 in one of his speeches. He said that the world must beware of becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate. It, instead, must become a confederation of mutual respect and trust. The weakest must come to the conference table with the strongest.

A writer then commented on the speech and compared the thought with Jesus' ways in the first century. He said it was interesting that Eisenhower used the terms "coming to the table". Jesus sat at tables with thieves, prostitutes and publicans. This was a direct message against all the sects and groups of his day that were actually based on division and hatred.

Every group and sect, of the first century, be it religious or political, was based upon division. Their DIFFERENCES were highlighted and made the foundation of each sect. And the differences were exploited -- Jews versus Gentiles -- Palestinian Jews versus Jews of the Diaspora -- Aramaic speakers versus Greek speakers -- Priests vs. scholars -- violent revolutionaries vs. accommodationists. And each sect carved out thier own niche in ideology and depended upon a concept of prophetic doom to fall on the others in order to vindicate their stand.

Jesus attacked this entire divisive method by inviting everyone to his table! This threatened the authority all around Him that was based upon division. He would not accomodate passively, nor choose violent opposition. His Kingdom was not of this world and never will be. Instead of emphasizing the differences, He proposed a truth and appealed to all people of every other sect and category to understand it, inviting them ALL!

Amongst denominations today, we see the trend of emphasizing the differences to the point of heaven or hell rewards. Instead of proposing truths, religious groups attack each others' beliefs and claim their own belief is was saves a person while they throw mud on the other beliefs.

So instead of basing a new group on emphasizing the differences and contrasting what WE believe while we explicitly throw down what THEY believe, thereby making a new wall in the world, why not preach TRUTH without mudslinging???? Why not share truth without contrasting it with so-and-so's group "who preaches this other thing"????

Why not build bridges instead of walls?

Walls need to be held onto for SOME reasons, as Felicity said, though.

[The Mrs]

This is excellent Bro. Blume!!!

Makes one wonder about the whole idea of separation.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by The Mrs

This is excellent Bro. Blume!!!

Makes one wonder about the whole idea of separation.

Right! True Separation might be about not building walls instead of bridges! lol The WORLD builds political groups based upon divisions. Jesus came to bring a sword, but His separation was against the world's ways of walls.

[CC1]

I didn't vote in the poll but I am definitely a wall builder! I won't have anything to do with those misguided legalists like Elder Groce, Steve Epely, Phil Jones, Bishop1, etc,etc.

[tamor]

Originally Posted by CC1

I didn't vote in the poll but I am definitely a wall builder! I won't have anything to do with those misguided legalists like Elder Groce, Steve Epely, Phil Jones, Bishop1, etc,etc.

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by mfblume

This is interesting that this thread appears today. I was just reading an article that was inspired by something Eisenhower said in 1961 in one of his speeches. He said that the world must beware of becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate. It, instead, must become a confederation of mutual respect and trust. The weakest must come to the conference table with the strongest.

A writer then commented on the speech and compared the thought with Jesus' ways in the first century. He said it was interesting that Eisenhower used the terms "coming to the table". Jesus sat at tables with thieves, prostitutes and publicans. This was a direct message against all the sects and groups of his day that were actually based on division and hatred.

Every group and sect, of the first century, be it religious or political, was based upon division. Their DIFFERENCES were highlighted and made the foundation of each sect. And the differences were exploited -- Jews versus Gentiles -- Palestinian Jews versus Jews of the Diaspora -- Aramaic speakers versus Greek speakers -- Priests vs. scholars -- violent revolutionaries vs. accommodationists. And each sect carved out thier own niche in ideology and depended upon a concept of prophetic doom to fall on the others in order to vindicate their stand.

Jesus attacked this entire divisive method by inviting everyone to his table! This threatened the authority all around Him that was based upon division. He would not accomodate passively, nor choose violent opposition. His Kingdom was not of this world and never will be. Instead of emphasizing the differences, He proposed a truth and appealed to all people of every other sect and category to understand it, inviting them ALL!

Amongst denominations today, we see the trend of emphasizing the differences to the point of heaven or hell rewards. Instead of proposing truths, religious groups attack each others' beliefs and claim their own belief is was saves a person while they throw mud on the other beliefs.

So instead of basing a new group on emphasizing the differences and contrasting what WE believe while we explicitly throw down what THEY believe, thereby making a new wall in the world, why not preach TRUTH without mudslinging???? Why not share truth without contrasting it with so-and-so's group "who preaches this other thing"????

Why not build bridges instead of walls?

Walls need to be held onto for SOME reasons, as Felicity said, though.