Building Bridges Official Video Version by JMA Lyrics
[Intro]
[Hook]
People will know we’re His disciples
If we truly love one another
That's why it's vital, that’s why it’s vital
To burn walls and build bridges
[Verse 1: Communication vs Confrontation]
It is my core conviction
That instead of confrontation
We need communication
Not mere condemnation
We need to begin conversations
For the reformation of our relations
Transformation of our nations
And formation of our patience
We need to reflect, to have a reevaluation
Of our own humanity, because it seems to me that in this age of globalization
It is undergoing a severe devaluation and deformation
We need a relationship revolution!
[Verse 2: Understanding vs Agreement]
So how do we do it? Just listen!
Yes, the difference
Between communication and confrontation is when you take the time to listen
When you stop for a second...
And reckon
That this other person
Also has their own version
Of the story
And they want to beckon
You to that journey
So that you could understand them more clearly
Agreement is not the goal, really
But understanding is, truly
So let's try to listen to understand
Not only to react or reply
Because when building walls happen in dysfunctional and destructive dynamics of dehumanization
Then building bridges happen in dialogues, in face to face, safe conversations
[Verse 3: Making Peace vs Keeping Peace]
We are called to be peacemakers not mere peacekeepers
We are called to multiply what has God has given to us and hand it out to the seekers
Not just keep it to ourselves
But making peace takes more than keeping it
Instead of staying silent and away from the mess, you've gotta learn to start leaning in
If you wanna really win
You gotta work through the chaos
And walk through the tunnel
I said, you gotta work through the chaos
And walk through the tunnel
It's not gonna be easy, not something you always wanna
But it's gonna be worth it, because always after the winter eventually summer
Will come
So let's be pacemakers
In this peace making
But for that to happen we have to have conversations, one on one
Because communication
Is the road to reconciliation
[Verse 4: Unity in Diversity]
Take a hand of another
Look past of the clutter
Of your own biases
In the attic
Of your brain
Let us refrain
From the lie that we have to be the same
To feel safe
We are addicted
To our own opinions and infected
With viruses
Of wanting to be right
And never wrong
That's why we fight
Like we do
But really our motivations come from the same root -
We long
To be understood
So take a hand of another
Look them in the eyes
And recognize
That they're also someone else's mother, father, sister or brother
Just like you, regardless
Of their political views, skin color, religion or any other
Difference you might have
Let your guard down to rest
And understand that just like your, their deepest need, too
Is to feel safe, loved, understood and accepted
So let us give that acceptance
Let us respect it
Yes, Jesus is the way to the Father
But what about each other?
Shouldn't His love make us love one another better?
[Verse 5: Love vs Hate]
As Martin Luther King said about this universality:
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that
Hatred cannot drive out hatred, only love can do that.”
Choosing to love our enemies -
Or even just people who are different - might look like a compromise
But you gotta realize:
Refusing to love them is the real one, I promise
Because the next generation
Will stand on the foundation
That we have laid
So let's stand up and be brave
And understand what has been given to us
Can stop here, we don't have to pass on
What has been passed down to us by our forefathers
And -mothers -
Hatred, racism, violence - instead of passing them on let's rather... not
It's in our hands!
It has to stop here, it has to stop with us!
Let's come close and near to each other and understand: the potential to change is within us
Let's build bridges that will bring about restoration
So that the next generation
Could walk on that foundation
And continue to be part of the solution
So let's make contact
In the midst of conflict
We have to stop this race
Between races
And skin colors
And rediscover
What it means to be human
What it means to be a "neighbor"
Because at the end
Of the day, the only race
That transcends
All others is the human race
Because your neighbor ain't only someone who looks like you
But who is human like you -
That's what unifies us
That's what we all are, that's the bridge that connects us, don't dehumanize us -
The human race -
By saying they're not part of us because they look different
[Verse 6: Building Bridges and Burning Walls]
Building bridges doesn't mean to abandon your differences
It doesn't mean to fall back from your convictions, beliefs, your creed
But it does mean to come together in spite of them
To abandon any kind of hatred, divisions, self-interest and greed
To not go along with the schemes
Of the enemy
Instead to scatter the seeds
Of understanding and empathy
We may disagree
But I won't disrespect or dishonor you
I may not understand you
But I will not undermine our relationship
We may never see eye to eye
But I will at least look you in the eyes, so that I could see my own reflection
And understand that we are not that different
To begin with
For Jesus has broken down the dividing wall, the hostility
Between us
He has united what was divided!
He gave an example of self-sacrificing -
Not self-serving - love
That we should follow
There's reconciliation
That happens through the cross, so instead of retaliation
We should come to a realization
Of this revelation:
Our oneness and union in Christ, not opposition
Or oppression
Because people will know that we are His disciples
If we truly love one another. That's why it's vital
That instead of building walls and burning bridges
We'll burn walls and start to build bridges!
[Hook]
People will know we’re His disciples
If we truly love one another
That's why it's vital, that’s why it’s vital
To burn walls and build bridges
[Verse 1: Communication vs Confrontation]
It is my core conviction
That instead of confrontation
We need communication
Not mere condemnation
We need to begin conversations
For the reformation of our relations
Transformation of our nations
And formation of our patience
We need to reflect, to have a reevaluation
Of our own humanity, because it seems to me that in this age of globalization
It is undergoing a severe devaluation and deformation
We need a relationship revolution!
[Verse 2: Understanding vs Agreement]
So how do we do it? Just listen!
Yes, the difference
Between communication and confrontation is when you take the time to listen
When you stop for a second...
And reckon
That this other person
Also has their own version
Of the story
And they want to beckon
You to that journey
So that you could understand them more clearly
Agreement is not the goal, really
But understanding is, truly
So let's try to listen to understand
Not only to react or reply
Because when building walls happen in dysfunctional and destructive dynamics of dehumanization
Then building bridges happen in dialogues, in face to face, safe conversations
[Verse 3: Making Peace vs Keeping Peace]
We are called to be peacemakers not mere peacekeepers
We are called to multiply what has God has given to us and hand it out to the seekers
Not just keep it to ourselves
But making peace takes more than keeping it
Instead of staying silent and away from the mess, you've gotta learn to start leaning in
If you wanna really win
You gotta work through the chaos
And walk through the tunnel
I said, you gotta work through the chaos
And walk through the tunnel
It's not gonna be easy, not something you always wanna
But it's gonna be worth it, because always after the winter eventually summer
Will come
So let's be pacemakers
In this peace making
But for that to happen we have to have conversations, one on one
Because communication
Is the road to reconciliation
[Verse 4: Unity in Diversity]
Take a hand of another
Look past of the clutter
Of your own biases
In the attic
Of your brain
Let us refrain
From the lie that we have to be the same
To feel safe
We are addicted
To our own opinions and infected
With viruses
Of wanting to be right
And never wrong
That's why we fight
Like we do
But really our motivations come from the same root -
We long
To be understood
So take a hand of another
Look them in the eyes
And recognize
That they're also someone else's mother, father, sister or brother
Just like you, regardless
Of their political views, skin color, religion or any other
Difference you might have
Let your guard down to rest
And understand that just like your, their deepest need, too
Is to feel safe, loved, understood and accepted
So let us give that acceptance
Let us respect it
Yes, Jesus is the way to the Father
But what about each other?
Shouldn't His love make us love one another better?
[Verse 5: Love vs Hate]
As Martin Luther King said about this universality:
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that
Hatred cannot drive out hatred, only love can do that.”
Choosing to love our enemies -
Or even just people who are different - might look like a compromise
But you gotta realize:
Refusing to love them is the real one, I promise
Because the next generation
Will stand on the foundation
That we have laid
So let's stand up and be brave
And understand what has been given to us
Can stop here, we don't have to pass on
What has been passed down to us by our forefathers
And -mothers -
Hatred, racism, violence - instead of passing them on let's rather... not
It's in our hands!
It has to stop here, it has to stop with us!
Let's come close and near to each other and understand: the potential to change is within us
Let's build bridges that will bring about restoration
So that the next generation
Could walk on that foundation
And continue to be part of the solution
So let's make contact
In the midst of conflict
We have to stop this race
Between races
And skin colors
And rediscover
What it means to be human
What it means to be a "neighbor"
Because at the end
Of the day, the only race
That transcends
All others is the human race
Because your neighbor ain't only someone who looks like you
But who is human like you -
That's what unifies us
That's what we all are, that's the bridge that connects us, don't dehumanize us -
The human race -
By saying they're not part of us because they look different
[Verse 6: Building Bridges and Burning Walls]
Building bridges doesn't mean to abandon your differences
It doesn't mean to fall back from your convictions, beliefs, your creed
But it does mean to come together in spite of them
To abandon any kind of hatred, divisions, self-interest and greed
To not go along with the schemes
Of the enemy
Instead to scatter the seeds
Of understanding and empathy
We may disagree
But I won't disrespect or dishonor you
I may not understand you
But I will not undermine our relationship
We may never see eye to eye
But I will at least look you in the eyes, so that I could see my own reflection
And understand that we are not that different
To begin with
For Jesus has broken down the dividing wall, the hostility
Between us
He has united what was divided!
He gave an example of self-sacrificing -
Not self-serving - love
That we should follow
There's reconciliation
That happens through the cross, so instead of retaliation
We should come to a realization
Of this revelation:
Our oneness and union in Christ, not opposition
Or oppression
Because people will know that we are His disciples
If we truly love one another. That's why it's vital
That instead of building walls and burning bridges
We'll burn walls and start to build bridges!