Stumble

Causing a brother to stumble, in my opinion, covers all areas of our Christian walk which can include what we eat or what we drink and things that we say and places we go.  Did you ever consider that saying some things in the presence of other believers can cause them to stumble and can even involve them in your sin?  

Let me use this as an example:  someone tells someone something that they are going to do that is a sin but will only affect the person that is doing the talking and even if it’s not a terrible thing it is still sin in God’s eyes.  If all you do is start joking about it and treat it like it is no big deal, you are just as guilty of that sin as the person that commits the sin.  It may not seem like a big deal at the time but it can cause the others that heard what was said to sin and hurt your testimony also and separate you from the Lord, until you repent.

If we claim to love our brothers and sisters in the Lord we need to show it by our example.  Maybe I am the only one that has sinned in this way but I thought I would do a ‘Tidbit’ on this subject, just in case someone else has been in this situation or may find themselves in this situation in the future.  I think even as believers we can kid around about things at times not even realizing that we might be being tested to see how we would handle the situation, whether we would give in to intimidation or whatever else is going on at the time or stand our ground and call sin a sin.

Read what it says in Galatians 6:1-2, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

If we are to correct someone, it needs to be done in love and humility and we need to watch ourselves because when we think we are standing we may also fall into temptation and sin.  I also want to touch on the believer’s freedom in Christ, it says this pertaining to food and idols, in 1 Corinthians 8:9, “But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.”

We have a certain freedom in Christ but that does not mean anything goes.  We still have a responsibility towards our brothers and sisters in the Lord not to do or say things that would cause them to stumble.  This also includes the places we go, read what it says in verses 11-12, “And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.”  

In this case it is talking about an idol’s temple but what about the places we go and the things that we watch, could they be a cause to make other weaker believers stumble?  Even if we think we can handle what we are doing, we can cause a weaker believer to stumble and sin by our actions.  I think you got the message.  I hope this has been a ‘heads up’ that will help you and not condemn, for that is not my purpose.  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you have a super day and don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord!!