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June 2004 Table of Contents
Special Feature
Building Bridges
By Kim Messer
I think God is an expert bridge builder. I mean, he's always reaching out to us, building bridges that lead us to him. And he's done this for his people throughout the ages. Even after we've come to accept him into our lives, he still seeks us out by building bridges that help us to know him on a deeper level. Sometimes he does this by using tools and mediums we'd never imagine, much less use ourselves.
When I think about it, Jesus' whole life and ministry was about building bridges. Time after time, he reached out to people regardless of their places in society, never minding what cultural norms were in place. Aren't we called to do the same?
I hesitate to do this, because it is such a stale thing to define a word to make a point. But I just can't resist doing it, so bear with me. The word "bridge" is defined as such: a structure that provides passage over an obstacle.
In Luke's gospel account, the conversion of Zacchaeus falls shortly before the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. In the story, Jesus builds a bridge right into Zacchaeus' heart, and when he creates and crosses over that bridge to Zacchaeus, he immediately challenges and breaks down the walls between himself and Zacchaeus; between Zacchaeus and the town. And Zacchaeus accepts the invitation and crosses back over on that same bridge to meet his Savior and Lord.
In Mark chapter 10, the healing of blind Bartimaeus falls just before the triumphal entry. Bartimaeus cries out to the passing Jesus; Jesus builds the bridge asking, "What can I do for you?" The plea, "Heal me" comes out from Bartimaeus' lips, and in a moment he is crossing back over the bridge to follow the man who has now healed him.
Now it most certainly took several days or more for Jesus to walk from Jericho to Jerusalem, but it's interesting to note that the next big event in these two gospels is Jesus' entry into the city where days later he will be killed. In an event that changes everything forever, Jesus uses a structure (the cross) to provide passage (relationship with him and the forgiveness) by destroying the obstacles (sin and death) that separate us from him to save all of mankind including you and me.
But a bridge provides a structure for travelers to go both ways. Like all the bridges Jesus created, and all the ones God continues to create, a response is desired and needed. See, God didn't provide a one-way conveyor belt or an up escalator that just delivers us into his saving grace. He comes to us, and he invites us to cross back over to him. And he calls us to evangelize in the same way.
I don't know if it was ever intended, but I love the idea of "bridge events" for this very reason. Bridges are meant to be crossed in both directions, so when we seek out those who need Jesus, we have to commit to building a bridge that we will cross over and then leave open for a response from those we built the bridge for in the first place.
This may sound simple, but I can think of many examples of Christian events that I have been a part of that didn't quite reach that goal. We have to be mindful that even though our "roads are paved with good intentions," that we really aren't just building one-way streets where are guests are required to make all the commitments, and therefore take all the risks.
When I travel and teach at conferences about doing "bridge events" such as our Uncle Phil's Diner plays, I always come across a few skeptical people who just can't wrap their minds around why it might be beneficial to do an event that is "just for fun." I always ask these folks to imagine a long line, and then to imagine that the line is made up of many dots that represent people. At one end, are faithful Christians involved in weekly worship, full of the knowledge and saving power of Jesus. At the other end, are people who are lost, angry, bitter, sad, indifferent and they all need Jesus, but most of them don't even want to hear his name. They seek community, but they just aren't ready to be preached to.
It's for these people that the Uncle Phil's series was developed. Each play is an interactive dinner theatre event where the audience is engaged and involved in an evening of 1950's music and fun. Not everyone we evangelize to is ready to come to a church service or even to a less-risky seasonal production staged in our sanctuary. Some people need to see other sides of Christians just to break some of the myths they have about us and our faith. Seeing Christians having fun in a wholesome way and being part of an event that brings an entire church together provides a wonderful example of community that many people want in their lives.
Because of the hundreds of churches that have used Uncle Phil's Diner and Uncle Phil's Diner 2 in the ways I've just described, Lillenas Drama has recently released Christmas at Uncle Phil's Diner. This is another great addition to the series because it provides all of the successful elements in the first two along with a seasonal setting and touch. Just a couple of the features include a food drive that culminates in a game of canned-food bingo, parodies of well-loved Christmas carols, and the staging of the Nativity with children from the audience.
I know that Uncle Phil's isn't for every church, but I hope that you will look for ways to impact people on that long line. To do that, you just may have to use tools that you've never used before but that are nevertheless tools that God will speak through. Let's take our cues from the expert Bridgebuilder and use the talents He's gifted us with to creatively reach out to people around us. Remember: build a structure to provide passage over obstacles. And as you do so, be sure your bridges can be traveled on in both directions.
Kim Messer is Product Line Manager of Lillenas Drama and Editor of the Lillenas Drama Newsletter in Kansas City, MO
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