Stumbling Blocks

July 30

Ezra 5-6

Psalm 86:5-10

Proverbs 19:10-11

I Corinthians 8

Stumbling Blocks

“But see to it that this authority of yours does not become a stumbling block to the weak.  For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be built up to eat things sacrificed to idols?  For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.  And in that way, by sinning against the brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.  Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again—ever, so that I will not cause my bother to stumble.”  I Corinthians 8:9-13 LSB

The topic of stumbling blocks can be a difficult topic in the church because some people use it to enact and enforce legalism.  Jesus strongly condemned the Pharisees for their legalism in His day and there are many Christian denominations and other religions who have used legalistic rules, regulations and expectations to control their people and to maintain power throughout the ages.  So where is the line between legalism and liberty?  Paul clearly says that we are no longer bound by the dietary regulations and many of the other religious practices of the Jews.  We are guided by the Holy Spirit and we walk in freedom.  That does not mean that we are free to sin and act in ways that are not godly.  Galatians 5:16, 18 explains, “But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh…But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.”  I Corinthians 10:23-24 says, “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable.  All things are lawful, but not all things build up.  Let no one seek his own good, but that of the other person.” Our motivation is the key. 

The standard for our conduct should not be a list of dos and don’ts but rather the standard should be love for God and others.  “And He said to them, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the great and foremost commandment.  And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”  Matthew 22:37-38 LSB  If we love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, our greatest desire will be to please Him with our actions.  We will conduct ourselves in a way that is pleasing to Him and we will be in communication with Him regularly so that He can lead and guide our actions.  If we love our neighbor as ourselves then we will desire their good even if that means inconveniencing us or that we don’t get to do something we would desire to do.  If something we do would cause someone to sin, we should willingly forego doing it because we want what is best for them.  Our love for others makes us willing to lay down our rights for the sake of others.  If our motivation is to please God and to love others, He will honor our desire and give us clear direction about the things we should do and the things we shouldn’t participate in.  It should be noted that Paul is saying we should strive to please God and to protect those who are weaker spiritually, not that we are to worry about pleasing other Christians who have different ideas about acceptable behavior and are trying to control our actions.  Let the Holy Spirit be your guide.