Why Some Bridges Need To Be Burned

Growing up I was always taught to not burn bridges; to not give up on relationships. Though this is mostly true, there are some exceptions.

Now I know what you're thinking:

"Wow that's harsh"

"Everbody deserves second chances"

"What would Jesus do?"

In order to perceive and comprehend this thought, I'm gonna compare it to the actual process of burning real bridges.

Every major city in the world has a failsafe in case of a disease related epidemic. One of the first steps into stopping the epidemic is, in fact, burning or destroying any routes of transportaion including bridges. This is done only in severe cases where a disease is so bad that it has a high risk of spreading to neighboring areas. Later, if and when the disease is cured, bridges can be rebuilt.

Now take this concept and put it in play of the integrity of relational bridges. Sometimes, people are burdened with so much hate and evil that there is nothing we can do but pray. These people have the tendency of creating their own atmosphere from the corruption within their hearts. An atmosphere that more than often affects others around them negatively. 

Think about it.

When someone walks into a room and is really ticked off, the atmosphere in the room becomes extremely uncomfortable, others may even start to adopt the same mentality as the atmospheric origin. 

Another case where a relational bridge burning is necessary, is in a situation where someone is in an abusive relationship. I have seen too many cases where someone is in relationship (friendly or romantic) where the other participant is physical and/or mentaly abusive. It is disgusting.

In these cases it is safer for us to walk away, "burn the bridge", and let God work on them. Sometimes there really isn't anything we can do but pray. 

So yes it is acceptable, and even healthy, to burn the bridges of a relationship where the other end spews uncontrolled hatred or corruption. This being said, it is important that we also dont forget that bridges can be rebuilt. 

Somtimes burning relational bridges is necessary in order to keep us from returning to the places that we should never have been to in the first place.