What causes others to Stumble

1. What causesothers to stumble?" – 25th
September2016
“Thereforeletusstop passingjudgmenton oneanother.Instead,makeup yourmind notto putany
stumblingblockorobstaclein thewayofa brotherorsister”(Romans14:13).
You reallyshouldn’twatchthatmovie.Youreallyshouldn’tlistentothatmusic.You reallyshouldn’t
readthat book.You reallyshouldn’tallow yourkidstoreadHarry Potter.You reallyshouldn’tgotothat
bar to eat…Inturn youmay respond:“OhI didn’trealize.How come?. Otherpeople thinkit’swrong and
hence youmightbe a stumblingblocktothem…?Thiskindof exchange happensprettyoftenbetween
Christians. Sometimeswe maytell othersnottodo certainthingsbecause theymightbecome a
stumblingblocktosomeone else.Inthe same waywe mayrefrainfromdoingcertainthingsbecause we
are afraidwe mightbecome astumblingblock.The onlyproblemismostof usaren’texactlysure whatit
meansto be a stumblingblock. Sowhatexactlydoesscripture meanwhenittalksaboutcausing
someone else tostumble?
We saythat one has stumbledwhen youhityourfootonsomethingwhenyouare walkingorrunningso
that youfall or almostfall or whensomeone walksinanawkwardway or whenone speaksor act inan
awkwardway.Causesotherstostumble doesnotmean doingsomethingwhichotherpeoplethinkis
wrongwhichnecessarilymake youastumblingblock. In a Christian sensestumbling isakin to Lying,
cheating,slandering,stealing,andsexual immorality whichare all clearlysin.These kindsof actions can
certainlybe a stumblingblockforyourownself andalsoto affectothersaroundyou. We can learnthis
whenthe apostle Paul clearlyaddressesthe whole ideaof beingastumblingblockin1 Corinthians8.
The issue at handis inreference to foodofferedtoidols.The Corinthians,withtheir“superior” self-
proclaimed knowledge,knewthatidolswere notthe true God.Thisknowledge ledthemtoinsistthatit
was perfectlyfine forthemtoeatfoodofferedtoidols.
Paul,however,wasconcernedforthose whohadbeensavedoutof idol worship.Forthese people,
eatingfoodofferedtoidolswasakintoidol worshipitself.And soPaul saystothe Corinthians: Buttake
care that this right ofyours does not somehowbecome a stumblingblockto the weak. For if anyone
sees you who have knowledgeeatingin an idol’stemple,will he not be encouraged,ifhis conscienceis
weak, to eat foodofferedto idols?Andso by yourknowledge thisweak personis destroyed, the
brother for whom Christdied.(1 Corinthians8:9-11). Here Paul’sconcernISNOTthat someone maysee
the Corinthianseatingmeatofferedtoidolsandthenassume the Corinthiansare insin.Paul’sconcernis
that a fellowbelievermayjointhe Corinthiansineatingfoodofferedtoidols eventhoughitgoesagainst
hisor her conscience.Paul isultimatelyconcernedthatthe Corinthianswillencourage fellow believers
to act againsttheirconsciences. Thisisthe importantunderstandingthatwe needtohave as
Christians…thatwe shouldnotmake othersstumblenorour ownselves.
Thisis whyPaul saysin 1 Corinthians8:13, “Therefore, ifwhat I eat causesmy brother or sister to fall
intosin, I will never eat meat again,so that I will not cause them to fall”. Love formy brothersinChrist
guidesandrestrains ourlibertyinChrist.If smoking,watchingamovie orlisteningtoanalbumor
readinga bookwill leadyouto violate yourconscience thenIwill cheerfullygive upthatrightwhenIam
withyou.Love alwaystriumphsoverliberty.Unityalwaystriumphsoverpersonal rights. We have God
givenlibertiesaswe knowasChristians,butwe shouldnotbe a Stumblingblockforanother’swalkwith
God.

2. We are free to enjoywhateverscripturedoesnotforbid.If apersonthinkswe’re wrong, andone knows
that inGods sightit isnot,we are not makinganyone tostumbvle. However,ourfreedommustalways
be wrappedinconcernand care for others.If our freedomactuallyleadssomeone else toviolate their
conscience thenwe have become astumblingblock.
In Paul’stime,the disagreementsweremostlyconcerningJewishlaw versusthe new freedomfoundin
Christ.We experiencemuchthe same type of disagreementstoday,evenoverthe same topics. We can
learnwhenthe apostle Paul tellsthe Romans14:12-13, “ Sothen, each of uswill givean account of
ourselvesto God.13
Thereforelet us stoppassingjudgmenton one another.Instead, make up your
mindnot to put any stumblingblockor obstaclein the way of a brother or sister…” The apostle Paul is
tellingustoenjoyourfreedominChrist,butalongwiththatfreedomcomesthe responsibilitytoprotect
those aroundus whohave doubtsabout thingsthat we do… althoughthatactionis withinGods
commandsfor usas Christians.
As Christianswe mustknowthatour libertyinChristisnotrestrictedsimplybecause of whatother
people mightthinkof me. Insteadof causinganothertostumble,mylibertyinChristshouldactually
encourage anothertodo whatis rightin Gods eyes…If a Christianhasa friendwhoisconvinceddrinking
iswrong,thendrinkingaroundthatpersonmay cause him/herto“stumble”.AsChristians,we are
forbiddentodoanythingthatmay cause our brothersandsistersinChristto stumble. Inall things,the
importantlessonisto“make everyefforttodowhat leadstopeace and to mutual edification”.Inthis
way,God is glorified,believersare edified,andthe worldseesinus“righteousness,peace andjoyinthe
HolySpirit”.We can readthisfrom Romans 14:17, “Forthe kingdomof Godis not a matter of eating
and drinking,butof righteousness,peaceand joy inthe HolySpirit”.