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Lewis Smedes tells of his early days as a seminary professor when he ran into trouble with the more conservative professors at the seminary. The issue was how Christian believers should relate to the world of unbelievers. The conservative professors were certain that there was a chasm that separated the believers from the unbelievers. They were "Christians of the wall, dedicated to sealing the borders to keep the strangers from coming over."
Smedes took a different position and explained: "I was, from the start, a Christian of the bridge. I like bridges that I could cross over to drink from unbeliever's goblets, to feast on their wisdom, and to admire their good works. I also like bridges that I could cross over and, with God's blessing, be a blessing to the people on the other side."
Paul was a bridge-builder between Jews and Christians and spent a large part of his ministry seeking reconciliation between these two groups.
Smedes took a different position and explained: "I was, from the start, a Christian of the bridge. I like bridges that I could cross over to drink from unbeliever's goblets, to feast on their wisdom, and to admire their good works. I also like bridges that I could cross over and, with God's blessing, be a blessing to the people on the other side."
Paul was a bridge-builder between Jews and Christians and spent a large part of his ministry seeking reconciliation between these two groups.
