Stumbling Block or Stepping Stone on Others’ Spiritual Path
- Jack Selcher
- Sep 12
- 2 min read
People are following us. Whether we realize it or not. Love must temper our freedom to keep followers from stumbling.
We must not trip others up. Paul reminds us not to hinder the spiritual progress of weak Christians with hyperactive consciences.
Weak believers do not perceive their liberty in Christ (Romans 14:1, 23). They lack biblical knowledge (1 Corinthians 8:7).
Their consciences condemn them for things the Bible permits (1 Corinthians 8:7, 10, 12). The example of a stronger believer can influence them to act contrary to their conscience (1 Corinthians 8:10).
Weak believers include young adults raised in strict, legalistic homes. They are still developing their convictions. Also, recent converts emerging from a sin-stained past, they have turned their back on.
Add believers from another country or culture and dependent children of convinced, differing believers.
The danger is that we can exercise our freedom in gray areas, causing those with many inhibitions to stumble. They follow our example even when we do not pressure them to do so.
As a result, their consciences rebuke them and cause them distress. They lose fellowship with the Lord because violating their consciences is a sin (Romans 14:23).
We should not pressure other believers to conform to our convictions in gray areas. Neither should we condemn those whose convictions are different from our own.
Not everyone who disagrees with us in gray areas is a weak believer. We offend some believers with strong convictions when we disagree with them. Others may differ from our opinion, but still accept us and not stumble into sin because of our example.
It is far better to be a stepping stone than an obstacle in someone’s spiritual path. People walk on stepping stones. That is the price of love.
Sacrificing our freedom in gray areas to not offend the convictions of weaker believers might seem unfair. But Jesus’ going to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins is not exactly fair either. Jesus is our stepping stone. We are to be like Him.
The most important things in life are not the externals, like what we eat or drink. They are righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
The Holy Spirit’s control produces these three in our lives. We will not fight over gray areas when we yield to the Spirit and major in a godly life.
We will not insist on exercising our freedom. As we pursue peace, we create an atmosphere where we can build one another up in the faith.
In this atmosphere, weak believers grow toward maturity. What is your takeaway? See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians.
God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 6,090 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 15,150 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting.
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