Can we break down our barriers and build bridges?

As a member of Generation Y, or the Millennials, or whatever you want to call it, I have watched my immediate predecessors, Gen X, deconstruct the institutions of the church in response to the fragmentation of society. As we have drawn lines between, conservatives and liberals, fundamentalists and progressives, we have used deconstruction to tear down both the institutions with which we have contended, but also the traditions and doctrines to which we owe our theological heritage. The exercise in itself is a therapeutic and has helped many to see that there were misplaced assumptions taking central roles in our theological proclamations.

However, after deconstruction we are left with a pile of rubble and a lot of cynicism about the future. Our language that has developed in its wake makes it almost impossible to start a new discussion. It's almost as if we can do nothing more than just talk about what we have torn down. "Look at all that junk. Isn't it great that we don't have to live under such a pile of rubble built on air and faulty foundations? I'm so glad we moved away from this horribly destructive idea of foundationalism and modernity."

While there is something valuable to be had in taking apart our unchallengeable proclamations, how do we really be peacemakers in its wake? In this regard, both sides of the argument, those defending the old structures and those who have destroyed them, seem to just want to walk away or convert the other. Agreeing to disagree, while such an uplifting statement 10 years ago, will not truly grab hold of the Gospel and incarnate it. If we are agreeing to disagree then we just walk away and leave the tension of our conflict between us. How can we really be peacemakers and reconcile the world to Jesus if we can not reconcile ourselves to other Christians?

Somehow, someway, we have to break this cycle. Disparaging the other Christian just because we think we are right and they are wrong will never fix it. Just talking about it will only bring about more words and more language, but it will never heal the wounds. The hurt of being told we have lost the Way is painful, but if we can not take the steps to sharing love for healing, then we are stuck in pain. Liberating ourselves from this narrow us-them, right-wrong, left-right vision of the world is imperative to continuing to follow God. We have to start walking again.