Stumbling Blocks

Romans 14:¹³Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

Observation: Paul is talking to both new Christians, and Christians with a Jewish heritage. One may have strict convictions about what is “lawful” to eat, while the other doesn’t really care. Put both of those people in a room and there may be some disagreement. But is the disagreement worth the relationship? No, Paul is arguing that it just isn’t worth hurting a relationship because of something like food or drink. He also encourage us to not cause another brother to stumble because of what one may or may not find lawful. This creates a great divide. I can spend every hour of my day trying to offend or cause someone to stumble, when is enough, enough? I think this is where the tension of legalism comes into play.

A pastor who I greatly respect as a man of God told me legalism is when someone places their standards for righteousness as a judgement for someone else. For example, say I think that a good christian should read the bible 2 hours a day. I meet another christian who only reads 1 hour a day. If I tell them they are less righteous because they are not reading 2 hours a day, I become legalistic. Right is right? whatever God tells YOU to do. He didn’t tell the other person the same thing He told you. So when I place my the standards God has called for my life on someone else I begin to get legalistic.

Paul was probably dealing with a fair amount of legalism in his day. Romans 14 addresses a bit of this legalism. So lets deal with causing another to “stumble.” Here’s the problem with this application today. I need to discern for myself what may cause someone else to stumble. The problem is that other people try to discern for me or you what may cause someone else to stumble. Example, I’m out with a friend and he drinks an alcoholic beverage. I choose not to drink, but I see a few people in the room we both know. I then proceed to tell my friend who is drinking that he better stop because he may cause someone to stumble. I’m not sure I should be in that position to tell him that, maybe he needs to hear that from the Lord. It can get out of hand. One time I had a guy at church tell me I needed to shave my beard because I looked like a hippie and I may cause one of the church followers to stumble looking that way…seriously!

So what do we do…always fall on this side of grace and love!