Stumbling Block

We have all heard the saying, "Do as I say not as I do."

Don't even get me started on how overly hypocritical that sounds...

But what I want to focus on with that quote right now is the idea of, we want to be able to go out and do whatever makes us feel good and not have any retribution for it.

People are always watching us wether we want to believe it or not.

As Christians, we are supposed to be clearly different from those around us. We are to be "IN the world but not OF the world."

People should be able to look at us and see (at least a glimpse) of Christ. If people can't tell you are a Christian by the way you carry yourself, you might want to re-evaluate the way you are living.

People look at Christians and have a picture in their head of what they should act like, and when they see us doing things that we shouldn't be doing they get the idea that, "Hey, maybe we aren't so different after all. They are saved and they are out doing the exact same thing I am doing. So I must be Ok." WRONG! You just casued that person to stumble. and that is not good.

You may be thinking to yourself. "Man, all those laws and what not are Old Testament! I'm under grace now, I don't have to obey that anymore." and to some degree you may be right.

The law said not to eat pork or cut your hair. So does that mean if a Christian get a buzz cut while eating a bacon burger that he is going to go to hell? Not at all.

But Galatians 5:16-18
                        "I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."

What that is saying is basically. We who are led by the Spirit (AKA Christians) are not under the law... but by being led by the Spirit we should no longer find the morally wrong things which the law forbids as fun or OK. By having the Spirit in us we should WANT to obey the law even though we don't HAVE to. When we do something wrong and against God's law we should feel ashamed and convicted, And if you don't I would take a look at yourself in the mirror because the Bible says "When He [The Spirit] comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment." (John 16:8)

The Bible also says in 1 Corinthians 6:12
                       "Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything."

What that is saying is  that yes we aren't bound by the law anymore, but morally do you think doing that is any good for you? Is it going to do anything to help further the kingdom? Is it going to hurt anyone else?

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 8:13
                       "Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall."

The background of the verse was that the meat being fed to them was meat that had been offered to idols. Would it have been a sin for Paul to have eaten the meat? No, because He had not been involved in the sacrifice nor did he believe in the god to which it had been offered. To him it was just meat. But  because of the fact that he knew by eating the meat it might confuse his spiritually younger brother and cause him to get the wrong idea and stumble, Paul refused the meat.

What it all comes down to is your testimony.
Is the way you are living going to cause someone else to fall?
In Romans 14:13 it says,
                          "Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way."

If you know your buddy is a recovering alcoholic, are you going to offer him a beer?
If you know your friend struggles with bad language, are you going to swear around him?
If you know your pal is trying to keep a pure thought life, are you going to constantly tell him dirty jokes and watch inappropriate movies?

No, because that would put us partially at fall if they fall into that sin.

So the next time you want to do something, just take a moment and ask yourself

1. Will it casue someone else to stumble?
2. Will it hurt my testimony?
3. Will it further the kingdom?

If you answered "yes" to the first two or "no" to the third one...is it really worth it?

I love the line in the song "Jesus Friend of Sinners" by Casting Crowns that says:
"The world is on their way to you, but they're tripping over me."
 How true is that in your life today? Are you causing people to trip and fall over you?

"Men stumble over pebbles, never over mountains."

“A good example is the best sermon.”

"For me right now, its all about image. You cant walk around looking like a thug. There are kids out there looking up to me. Ive got to set a good example."

"Be the best you can at what you do because remember there's always a little girl looking up to you thinking she wants to be like you."

  

Live...Laugh...Love
Until Next Time,
Racheal <3