“What does it mean that we are not to cause others to stumble?”……The concept of not causing others to stumble is found in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8. In these chapters, Paul talks about personal convictions and our responsibility to our fellow believers in Christ. He highlights numerous topics over which believers have disagreements-food, drink, and sacred days. In Paul's time, the disagreements were mostly concerning Jewish law versus the new freedom found in Christ. We experience much the same type of disagreements today, even over the same topics, to which we could add things like body piercings, tattoos, clothing style, movies, video games, books, and alcohol/tobacco. These are all areas for which the Bible does not provide specific instruction and yet are areas in which many feel conviction. Some of these things can lead to worldliness, sin, impurity or even just become an obsession/idol. But, on the flip side, legalism and avoidance of anything the world has to offer can also become an idol. ……Paul tells the Romans, "So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brothers way . . . So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin" (Romans 14:12-13, 22-23, NIV). Paul is telling us to enjoy our freedom in Christ, but along with that freedom comes the responsibility to protect those around us who have doubts about that freedom. ……The example of alcohol is relevant here. Alcohol is not inherently evil, and the biblical prohibitions are not against drinking but against drunkenness. But someone who tends toward alcoholism very often knows he must not drink at all and believes others shouldn't drink either, even in moderation. If a Christian has a friend who is convinced drinking is wrong, then drinking around that person may cause him/her to "stumble" or trip up. The Greek word for "stumble" gives the sense of stubbing one's toe. As Christians, we are forbidden to do anything that may cause our brothers and sisters in Christ to stub their toe, spiritually speaking. Stubbing the toe can cause a person to fall in the spiritual sense, or to damage or weaken their faith. In all things, the important lesson is to "make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification" (Romans 14:18). In this way, God is glorified, believers are edified, and the world sees in us "righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).

“What does it mean to be a stumbling block to someone else?”……In the midst of a series of laws regulating the treatment of others, we find "Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD" (Leviticus 19:14). Obviously, putting a rock or brick in front of a blind person is cruel, but the New Testament takes the practical adage and turns it into a spiritual metaphor.……After Peter rebuked Jesus, denying the crucifixion would take place, Jesus said, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s" (Matthew 16:23). Peter, under the influence of Satan, tried to distract Jesus from what He had come to do. He tried to make Jesus "stumble" in His path to the crucifixion. Paul reiterates the idea: "├ö├ç┬¬but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness" (Corinthians 1:23). The idea that the Messiah would be crucified was a stumbling block to the Jews-something that tripped up their beliefs of what the Messiah would be like.……But most of the time, a "stumbling block" refers to something or someone that keeps another from a relationship with God. In Matthew 18:5-7, Jesus says, "And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!" Just as it would be better to chop off one's hand than to sin (Matthew 18:8), in the Kingdom perspective, it would be better to drown than lead a child into sin. Similarly, in Romans 14:13, Paul points out that God alone judges; we are not to judge others but be concerned that we are not the ones leading them into the sin we're so concerned about.……Stumbling blocks also arise when the path is a little more ambiguous. The mature Christian life allows some freedoms that seem contrary to an obedient, disciplined faith. The Corinthians were concerned about eating meat sacrificed to idols. Modern issues include drinking alcohol in moderation or dancing. "But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak" (1 Corinthians 8:9). Our liberty is not worth another's walk with God. If something God allows would lead another to sin, we need to avoid it. We are given great freedom as Christians, but the greatest is the freedom to consider others' welfare over our own. ……Refraining from being a stumbling block means not leading another into sin. How we accomplish this depends on the situation and the hearts of those around us. The security we have in God's love and provision, both now and eternally, allows us to show concern to those who are weaker-those who need specific encouragement to understand who God is. In some situations, that means living in those freedoms to exemplify that God is a God of grace. In others, it means disciplining ourselves to building up weaker believers and not pushing them into a liberty they're not ready for. But, always, it means not encouraging another to act in a way the Bible specifically identifies as sin.