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
To see this sermon on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn8pvl9efNs
