Are you a Stumbling Block to Others?

Pastor S. Asap Singh

Stumbling Blocks: There are certain things in our life stumbling block for our spiritual growth in following Jesus Christ. I shared it few weeks ago about the “Stumbling Blocks in Us” in our walk with Christ from Luke 9:57-62. They are basically Earthly Priorities, Wealth of the World and Overtaking God. Today we will be looking at some stumbling blocks that make others to stumble by looking at us. I would say this one is dangerous than the previous stumbling in us.

Mat. 5:16 where Jesus said, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

The nature of a believer is so important outside the church than the inside activities. Stumbling is Hindering/Stopping/Quitting someone’s growth through our behavior or activities. Someone said “Don’t be a stumbling block, be a stepping stone” the following nature in us makes others to stumble in their faith. We should be aware of it.

I was on my motor bike the other day wanted to go for an urgent work, couple of guys blocked the road and were talking casually not bothering about the people walk on the road. I was so angry at them and shouted to clear the way – They understood the problem and cleared the way. One of the guys looked at my motor bike and noticed the word “Jesus Loves You.” He said back to me “Are you a Christian, who do not have patience and shouting at me?” that really pricked me and I am sure I cannot take that word back. I understood I humiliated the name of Jesus and a stumbling block to someone. Several times incidents such as these are being the stumbling block to others to follow Jesus. Here I list out three things below,

1.      JUDGING OTHERS (ROM 14:13)

v. 13, “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.”

Don’t Judge others – It is the repeated command of the Bible. Often we judge others mistakenly it is due to our insufficient knowledge about others and we are not born righteous people. “All have sinned and lost the glory of God” (Rom 3:23) and the image of God (Righteous/Just) in us is marred due to the sin nature in us. It is easy to pass judgment on others and regret later once we understand we are wrong in it.

Often judging others becomes stumbling block in their faith. One of the brothers in our church was from Malaysia, he came to the church wearing hat – he due to less hair used to wear it regardless of places. One of the matured believer in our church said to him not to wear the hat inside the church – as the scripture says… he got upset about it and stopped coming to church. Later I came to know about it and brought him to the church.

Jesus clearly said about judging others in Matthew 7: 1-5, ““Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. ³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

I understand few things from this passage

·  God is righteous (He returns the amount you give to him of anything – even in judgment case v.1)

·    The example of speck and log (mote – beam, speaks we are wrong in our judgment in most cases – the mistake we correct in others found in us large size)

·     First Judge or cleanse yourself (take out the log/beam in you)

That may be the case scripture advises us to JUDGE OURSELVES (1 Cor. 11:31) before judging others – I know who I am, that realization makes me whether I can judge others or not?

Second there is one Judge for everyone that is Christ Jesus (James 4:12) – There is one law giver and Judge … Who are you to judge your neighbor?

Make note of it “Your judgment on others may make them stumble in their faith – Judge yourself before judging others” after passing judgment on others there is only regret remaining in their fall. The better option is “Do not judge others” (Matt 7:1)

2.      MISUSING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY (ROM. 14:20-21)

Romans 14 is entirely speaking about the “Weak and Strong” in faith.

vv. 20-21, “Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. ²¹ It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.”

Christian Liberty: There are issues that are silent and uncertain to make conclusions in the Bible that are counted as Christian liberty issues – it means according to your conscience and practice you can choose to do it or not to do it. It is called the gray issues in the Bible. There are certain things Bible clearly commands as SIN, which must be avoided for example, “Lying, Cheating, Stealing, Murdering, Hatred, Idol Worship, Sexual immorality … etc” (Gal. 5:19-21, “¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”) Let me ask the following interrogative questions…

·         Is Sexual Immorality sin?

·         Is Hatred Sin?

·         Is Speaking lie a sin?

·         Is eating pork sin?

·         Is drinking wine sin?

·         Is watching movie sin?

·         Is wearing jewel sin? …etc

The first three questions all agree “Yes” the following four there are “Yes and No” answers I see everywhere. It shows that they have no proper conclusion.

Now coming to misusing the Christian liberty it is good to look at another passage I Cor. 8:9-11, “⁹ Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. ¹⁰ For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? ¹¹ So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.”

Earlier in Romans Paul talks about those who are “Strong in faith” however here he speaks about the contrast between “knowledge and weak in conscience”  misusing our liberty often comes out of selfish desires – “Food offered to idols – if you want to eat, eat it but caring about someone who is weak in conscience one must prevent their liberty for the cause of the weak in faith” therefore we must be very careful in exercising our Christian liberty because “Love always triumphs over Liberty and Unity triumphs over personal rights”

Romans 14:19, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” We have to give up our rights for the weak – You can do it but don’t do it for the sake of someone who don’t do it.

3.      OPPOSING GOD’S PLAN (MATT. 16:23)

v.23, “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.””

The irony here is Peter got appreciated few verses ago by Jesus saying “He is blessed and got revelation from God” (Mat 16:17), verses later he was scolded by Jesus as “Satan and Stumbling block.” The following questions are obvious to be answered,

·         Was Peter a blessed?

·         Was Peter spoke in the revelation of God?

·         Was Peter a Satan?

·         Was Peter possessed by Satan?

The first two are obvious “Yes” and the later two are “No.” The Hebrew word “SATAN” means “Adversary or one who resists/opposes”

Peter opposed the original plan of God, that is Jesus’ atonement death. That is the plan of God ever since humanity’s fall. The plan of God must happen for the atonement of humanity whether Peter likes it or not? Peter opposed the plan of God for his own agenda that is to achieve his political dream/fear of wasting 3½ years with Jesus not understanding about the wider plan of God through His death on the cross. In fact Peter don’t want to see the death of Christ that would be the end of his career.

When you oppose the plan of God you are a stumbling block to others. It is always our plans (concerns) have less importance over the plans (concerns) of God. The following are few concerns of God which we also must be concerned of…

·         Salvation of entire humanity (1 Tim. 2:3-4)

·         Sanctified and avoid Immorality (1 Thes. 4:3)

·         Doing Good (1 Pet. 2:15)

·         Filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:15-20)

·         Pray without ceasing (1 Thes. 5:17)

·         Give thanks for all things (1 Thes. 5:18)

Jesus concluded the statement by saying the signs of true disciple is to deny themselves (v. 25) and not trying to save (v. 26) but ready to lose.

1.      God’s plan seems opposite to your plan – Don’t oppose it!

2.      Denying self seems hard to you – Don’t neglect it!

3.      Losing life looks hard to you – Be ready for it!

God’s plan has superior ending comparing to your plans. Opposing it makes others to stumbling at your decisions.

Isaiah 57: 14, “Build up! Build up!” The opposite of being stumbling block to someone is Building them Up!

Let us build up others and bring Glory to God who is in heaven. May God bless you all

*Preached by Pr. Asap Singh @ IGL New Life Church on Oct 15, 2017
To see this sermon on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn8pvl9efNs