When Rules Block Relationships

At my table, we say we want community, friendship, even love. But sometimes the culture we create makes it nearly impossible.

I once met a youth leader by chance on the street. He invited me to his prayer meeting. Since I didn’t know the place, he kindly fetched me from the metro station. Afterward, it was late, and I lived an hour away. Out of courtesy, he offered to drive me home.

Nothing awkward. Just two singles helping each other out. But before we could leave, two married women stopped me. They said it wasn’t right. That two singles shouldn’t be in a car alone. They offered to drive me instead.

And it hit me: we keep complaining it’s hard to meet people, but then we build walls around every natural opportunity. We confuse suspicion with holiness. Caution with wisdom. Rigidity with discernment. Maybe it’s not that God isn’t sending the right people. Maybe it’s that the people around keep shutting the door.

The Church doesn’t need more rules. It needs room for relationships to grow.