Sermon On A Bridge Too Far

George Herbert, a British poet and orator once remarked: “He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would ever reach heaven; for everyone has need to be forgiven.” Luke 14:28-30 reminds us: “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’”

"A bridge too far" is an idiom for an ambitious plan that is considered too demanding to succeed. It infers an action that retains a measure of overreaching, or going beyond what is practical or achievable. The phrase comes from a failed World War II military operation called ”Operation Market Garden,” where the Allies tried to capture a bridge that proved too difficult to hold.

The phrase, "A bridge too far" can be correlated to the Almighty by interpreting it as a metaphor for the abyss between humanity and God, which a person's own efforts is unable to bridge. In Christianity, Jesus is seen as the bridge connecting mankind to God, vanquishing the "chasm" of sin through His sacrifice. In Islamic belief, the "Pul-e-Siraat" is a bridge, or a very narrow bridge, that the righteous cross to enter paradise after death.

For some, in atypical circumstances, forgiveness may be considered “a bridge too far.” This is because not everyone has the compassion or capacity to absolve, or the offenses are not considered pardonable through their gravity. In specific situations, withholding exoneration is a valid act of self-protection. The concept of purgation is complex and highly personal; while it offers benefits for many, for some, it is not considered a destination that everyone must reach.

However, to withhold forgiveness implies that a person refuses, or is unwilling to release someone for a past deed, often out of feelings of hurt, degradation, a feeling of power, or because of personal pride or bitterness. This refusal to forgive doesn't excuse the original offense, but can lead to a cycle of emotional imprisonment for the person holding onto the grudge, as they may remain burdened by guilt, animosity and resentment. The Bible teaches that forgiveness is a central tenet, both for forgiving others and receiving God's forgiveness. Key teachings include the instruction to forgive as God has forgiven us, the Lord's Prayer, and Jesus' command to forgive seventy times seven times, emphasizing that forgiving others is necessary to receive forgiveness from God.

In Christianity, Jesus is often considered the ultimate "image of forgiveness" due to his teachings and actions. Stories about forgiveness are a central theme in the Bible, demonstrating the importance of mercy and reconciliation. Prominent biblical stories about forgiveness include Jesus' parable of the Unforgiving Servant, where a king forgives a huge debt but the servant refuses to forgive a smaller one, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son, about a father who joyfully forgives his wayward son. Other examples are Jesus forgiving the woman caught in adultery and praying for his crucifiers, and Joseph forgiving his brothers. Jesus’s final words on the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing," are a key example of this, as he chose to forgive those crucifying him even in the midst of His suffering.

On occasions, if it is not the will of God, His omnipotence may intervene. A bridge too far is a man-made bridge with man-made limitations along with hindrances from the natural world. To avoid collapse, they need to be built on firm foundations. Found in the book of Genesis, the story of the Tower of Babel describes a united human race speaking a single language. Seeking to make a name for themselves and prevent being scattered across the earth, the people decided to build a city and a tower "with its top in the heavens.” God saw their collective ambition and was concerned that with a single language, "nothing that they intend to do will be impossible for them".

To prevent this, God intervened by confusing their languages so they could no longer understand one another. Unable to communicate, the builders stopped work on the tower and were scattered across the earth. Genesis 11:1-9 reminds us: “Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built.