[Faith-talk] FW: [thefamilyoffaith] How Do we Cause A Brother Or Sister In Christ To Stumble?

[Eric Calhoun]

Original Message: 
From: "TONY_at_FloridaHealth" <FloridaHealth21 at verizon.net>
To: <tony1.familyoffaith at yahoo.com>
Subject: [thefamilyoffaith] How Do we Cause A Brother Or Sister In Christ
To Stumble?
Date: 
Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:56:35 -0400


How Do we Cause A Brother Or Sister In Christ To Stumble?


Let me state this up front for you to keep in mind as you read this
study. We do do not cause a brother or sister in Christ to stumble in their
faith and sin against their convictions because we do things they don't
like or approve of. We cause them to stumble when we encourage them to do
what they believe is a sin. 

For example, if you know a person who believes it is a sin to smoke, and
you try to persuade that person to do so, if they give into your pressuring
them and do smoke, you have caused them to stumble: at your encouraging and
persuasive word, they did something they believe is a sin. Because of them
sinning against their convictions, their fellowship with God will be
dampened. I am not referring to ther relationship with God. We who are
saved belong to Him for all of eternity. Yet, our close fellowship with our
Lord is limited as long as we continue to do what we (not others) believe
is a sin. Thank our Lord that when we admit our sin (take ownership of it)
and repent (turn away form it) God will restore our fellowship with Him.

With that being said, I pray this study will be of help to you and others
you deal with. - Jerry

The concept of not causing others to stumble is found in Romans 14 and 1
Corinthians 8. In these chapters, Paul talks about personal convictions and
our responsibility to our fellow believers in Christ. He highlights several
topics over which believers have disagreements-food, drink, and sacred
days. In Paul's time, the disagreements were mostly concerning Jewish law
versus the new freedom found in Christ. We experience much the same type of
disagreements today, even over the same topics, to which we could add
things like body piercings, tattoos, clothing style, movies, video games,
books, and alcohol/tobacco. These are all areas for which the Bible does
not provide specific instruction and yet are areas in which many feel
conviction. Some of these things can lead to worldliness, sin, impurity or
even just become an obsession/idol. But, on the flip side, legalism and
avoidance of anything the world has to offer can also become an idol. 

Paul tells the Romans, "So then, each of us will give an account of
himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.
Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in
your brothers way" . . . So whatever you believe about these things keep
between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself
by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats,
because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come
from faith is sin" (Romans 14:12-13, 22-23, NIV). Paul is telling us to
enjoy our freedom in Christ, but along with that freedom comes the
responsibility to protect those around us who have doubts about that
freedom. 

The example of alcohol is relevant here. Alcohol is not inherently evil,
and the biblical prohibitions are not against drinking but against
drunkenness. But someone who tends toward alcoholism very often knows he
must not drink at all and believes others shouldn't drink either, even in
moderation. If a Christian has a friend who is convinced drinking is wrong,
then drinking around that person may cause him/her to "stumble" or trip up.
The Greek word for "stumble" gives the sense of stubbing one's toe. As
Christians, we are forbidden to do anything that may cause our brothers and
sisters in Christ to stub their toe, spiritually speaking. Stubbing the toe
can cause a person to fall or, in the spiritual sense, to damage or weaken
their faith. In all things, the important lesson is to "make every effort
to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification" (Romans 14:18). In
this way, God is glorified, believers are edified, and the world sees in us
"righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).

In Christ we have many freedoms. Encouraging anyone to do something they
believe is a sin IS NOT one of them.

Brother Jerry / brotherjerry1 at gmail.com