Basic Christian Behavior - Part 3 "Don't Be a Stumbling Block"

So far we've talked about Love as God designed it and respect for each other. The last part of basic Christian behavior is to not be a stumbling block or distraction. So what do I mean by stumbling block? Have you ever intentionally or unintentionally tripped someone? Come on now, we probably all have. Have you ever been walking down a hall or sidewalk and your looking at someone of the opposite sex and you run into something, totally embarassing yourself? (Of course I'm talking about the un-married. Right? Unfortunately most of us have.

Let's look at the the first example of tripping someone up, but spiritually speaking. If you knew someone was an alcoholic, would you offer them alcohol? How about if you knew someone was allergic to peanuts would you offer them a chocolate and peanut butter milk shake (my favorite)? I would hope your answer would be no. Whether intentionally or not, we can cause someone to sin (trip).

• Matthew 18:5-9
  5"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
  7"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! 8If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

• 1 Corinthians 10:31-33
  31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. 1 John 2:9-11
  9Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him[a] to make him stumble. 11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

Ladies, knowing that most men battle the sexual temptation, whereing clothes that reveal more than they should can can cause a man to sin or stumble.1 Christians, going out to protest at a homesexual or Pro Abortion rally showing hate and telling people they are going to Hell is a stumbling block. We do believe those things are wrong according to God, but speaking hate is wrong and not how Christ would treat them.

For me and my ADD mind, stumbling blocks (distractions) are everywhere. Has anyone seen the movie "Up" where the boy and old man are talking with the dog and the dog sees a squirrel and in the middle of the conversation says "squirrel" and totally zones out. That seen describes me. We can create our own stumbling blocks (distactions) or create them for other people. A good example of this is when I am teaching my youth group and some of the kids are talking or using their cell phones. They, and the people around them, are distracted from hear what God has to say to them. When we are to busy (we all struggle here) to spend time with God means we are distracted.

Whether intentionally or not, we can be a stumling block or distraction others in their relationship with Christ. We need to be careful of how our walk influences others beacuse they are watching you.

Have a blessed week.

Steve