who are the bridge builders?

[A New Day]

who are they and how do you know when you meet someone that he is a bridge builder and are those on the internet only?

how do you become a bridge builder too?

 

[Tigger45]

who are they and how do you know when you meet someone that he is a bridge builder and are those on the internet only?

how do you become a bridge builder too?

To me a bridge builder would be someone who is inter-denominational. I believe in the universal church of Christ where if anybody or church believes in the historic biblical Jesus Christ they are part of the body of Christ. We may look and act a little differently but so did the NT church assemblies. If you believe in uniting the body of Christ without denominational barriers then you would probably qualify as a bridge builder. In fact I will officially nominate you for a bridge builder membership and if we can get someone to second that nomination well that's it you're in!

 

[Peripatetic]

Bridge builders embrace diversity of worship styles and beliefs. I like to call it unity without uniformity. All Christians share a common foundation, but bridge builders tend to believe that there are many "secondary doctrines" with room for interpretation.

 

[A New Day]

To me a bridge builder would be someone who is inter-denominational. I believe in the universal church of Christ where if anybody or church believes in the historic biblical Jesus Christ they are part of the body of Christ. We may look and act a little differently but so did the NT church assemblies. If you believe in uniting the body of Christ without denominational barriers then you would probably qualify as a bridge builder. In fact I will officially nominate you for a bridge builder membership and if we can get someone to second that nomination well that's it you're in!

So a bridge builder builds a bridge of unity in the body of Christ between the denominations regardless of their belief thus the say: without denominational barriers.

Bridge builders embrace diversity of worship styles and beliefs. I like to call it unity without uniformity. All Christians share a common foundation, but bridge builders tend to believe that there are many "secondary doctrines" with room for interpretation.

but is the bridge building about getting the denominations closer together or is it about a worship style in the person's life?

 

[Yusuphhai]

basically, if one belongs to group1 and group2, and group1 and group2 need a bridge to connect, then he is on the bridge.

 

[A New Day]

basically, if one belongs to group1 and group2, and group1 and group2 need a bridge to connect, then he is on the bridge.

so a person that is a member of two different churches can connect the bridge between the two churches, that is an interesting conclusion/thought.

 

[Albion]

so a person that is a member of two different churches can connect the bridge between the two churches, that is an interesting conclusion/thought.

You may have been asking about the term in the bigger sense, but here on this forum it means only that the participants will not speak in a partisan way or be accusatory towards others.

 

[Yusuphhai]

to me a bridge means both moderation between different race and different culture, usually race and culture affect theological opinion much. Oriental and Western way are quite different, a bridge is necessary, many people are needed to do such work. bridge builders are not only who now on the bridge but all who will go across the bridge later.

 

[A New Day]

You may have been asking about the term in the bigger sense, but here on this forum it means only that the participants will not speak in a partisan way or be accusatory towards others.

Thank you Albion a very interesting thought, what you said remind me about Galatians 6:1

 

[Albion]

Thank you Albion a very interesting thought, what you said remind me about Galatians 6:1

You're welcome, but I can't take credit for any particular insightfulness.

What I explained is exactly what this forum was set up to be back when it was created. So many other forums were so hate-filled, 'gotcha' hangouts for liberals or conservatives, or Catholics against Protestants, that it was thought that there should be at least one where people would discuss things totally without impoliteness.

 

[A New Day]

to me a bridge means both moderation between different race and different culture, usually race and culture affect theological opinion much. Oriental and Western way are quite different, a bridge is necessary, many people are needed to do such work. bridge builders are not only who now on the bridge but all who will go across the bridge later.

An interesting idea, but do you also think that to build a bridge can be possible between christians and other people that are not christians?

 

[Albion]

An interesting idea, but do you also think that to build a bridge can be possible between christians and other people that are not christians?

You are right to make that point. "Moderate" and "Bridge builders" are terms that, on this forum, refer to our manner of speech as we discuss things with other Christians. It is not a reference to being tolerant of other religions or races or nationalities, etc.

 

[Yusuphhai]

An interesting idea, but do you also think that to build a bridge can be possible between christians and other people that are not christians?

relationship between Christians and non-Christians is a big project. But here is a place of Moderate within broad meaning Christianity. to me is a place where the relationship between Oriental and Western christianity can develope. I mean Orient refers from Israel to China, crossing Asia.

 

[Lightbygrace]

Might a bridge-builder also be those followers of Christ who seek to build bridges of understanding and fellowship between Christ followers and people of other faiths? Not as a means to an end of 'saving souls' but as a response to Christ's call to love beyond boundaries...Our job is to bring the Kingdom (share the love and grace of Christ with all) - it is the job of the Holy Spirit to build the Church.

 

[Albion]

Might a bridge-builder also be those followers of Christ who seek to build bridges of understanding and fellowship between Christ followers and people of other faiths?

That's not what it means on this forum.

Used elsewhere, I agree that it could mean any effort to reconcile or at least build better relations between any two sets of ideas that normally are opposed to each other.

 

[Peripatetic]

That's not what it means on this forum.

Used elsewhere, I agree that it could mean any effort to reconcile or at least build better relations between any two sets of ideas that normally are opposed to each other.

In my opinion, part of being a bridge builder (even as defined on this forum) is to think more broadly. In other words, I don't think this group would be identified by one narrow list of "Moderate" views. Even though this is a Christian faith group sub-forum, I think it's OK to discuss outreach to people outside the Christian community. Every Christian has been called to do that! But the bridge builder may have a tendency to listen as much or more as "telling". We may approach it differently, but the end goal is the same.

 

[Albion]

In my opinion, part of being a bridge builder (even as defined on this forum) is to think more broadly.

There is a history to this thread. It was created in order to provide a forum where Christians who were willing to lower their voices and discuss issues without savage partisanship could engage each other. At the time, several of the other forums were known for being strongholds of liberal or conservative, etc. opinion where comments were often very insulting to the other side.

The name "Bridge Builders" was carefully chosen and debated before final approval, and it was thought that, along with the term Moderate, the idea would be understood. At no time was the idea floated that, on this Christian forum, "Moderate" would be used to provide an opening for the promotion of non-Christian theology or religions on an equal footing with Christianity.

On the other hand, inter-denominational discussions (i.e. between different Christian churches) are welcome here just as they are on a number of other faith forums on CF. The difference, then, would be a matter of how the posters speak and advance their positions. I'm glad you raised that point so we avoid any confusion.

Even though this is a Christian faith group sub-forum, I think it's OK to discuss outreach to people outside the Christian community. Every Christian has been called to do that!

As a personal objective, that might be so...although not on this forum. This thread asked who the Bridge Builders are, not what new use the forum could be put to. This is the answer, given in the knowledge that many who come here in recent years would not be in the position to know the history behind the creation of the forum or the selection of its name.