I stumbled over rocks while wading in streams in my youth. Fortunately, I was never seriously hurt.
Spiritually, I have departed from obedience. That is stumbling with the potential of hurting myself and others. Causing others to stumble and fall into sin is serious. It puts us in God’s judgment crosshairs.
First-century Christians disagreed over food, drink, and sacred days. Today Christians disagree about areas where the Scriptures are silent: body piercings, tattoos, clothing, movies, video games, books, and alcohol/tobacco.1
Jesus blesses people who support Him and are stepping stones: “If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded” (Mark 9:41 NLT).
On the other hand, Jesus said, “It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin” (Luke 17:2 NLT). The little ones are believers and new followers of Jesus.
What fate awaits stumbling blocks? “Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:40–42 NLT).
Let’s be stepping stones for others not stumbling blocks. Let’s encourage rather than trip others up. Let’s motivate one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24 NLT).
The Scriptures describe characteristics of stumbling blocks. They mock those in trouble and push people who stumble (Job 12:5). They are mean-spirited. They insult those who can’t hear and cause those who can’t see to stumble (Leviticus 19:14). They can’t rest until they do their evil deed for the day and cause someone to stumble (Proverbs 4:16).
Spiritual leaders who are stumbling blocks don’t follow God’s living instructions. They misinform others concerning God’s ways and cause them to stumble spiritually and fall into sin (Malachi 2:18).
They betray God’s trust in them as His shepherds. They become the wolves they are assigned to protect their people against.
Romans 14:12–23 addresses causing other believers to stumble because of eating habits. The food restrictions of the old covenant were no longer in place.
Those with weak faith felt condemned if they ate food previously forbidden. When those with strong faith ate such food in the presence of the weak, they were potential stumbling blocks.
The weak might imitate them. Their consciences would subsequently condemn them. Some could fall away from the faith or lose their spiritual vitality.
The principle is to sacrifice our spiritual freedom when necessary to benefit the spiritually immature. “So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up” (Romans 14:19 NLT). What is best for Christ’s body, the church is more important than what is best for us.
Paul said he would never eat meat if necessary to prevent causing another believer to stumble (1 Corinthians 8:13). In context, he was talking about eating meat sacrificed to idols.
He said, “We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry” (2 Corinthians 6:3 NLT).
He chose the way of love and living in the light as a stepping stone instead of a stumbling block (1 John 2:10). Our challenge is to be a stepping stone, not a stumbling block. See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians. #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources
See free spiritual growth resources for Christians at https://www.christiangrowthresources.com
God has empowered me to write “His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength.” It’s a free evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship eBook. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead more than 3,150 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 8,661 people. I invite you to check it out.
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