A Stumbling Block
“ If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it’d be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the sea.” — Jesus ( Matthew 18:6 ) Reminds me of some o’ them mob movies I’ve watched over the years … “he swims with the fishes” kinda thing. Jesus ain’t playin when it comes to folks causin other Christians to “stumble” in their walk ! I mean…we can expect a non-believer to act like they do.., stirring up trouble, enticing others to join em in their sin, pulling folks further from the truth of God’s word, etc; etc. … but when it comes to a believer ( a born-again Christian ) to be the one causing the trouble…well, that takes on a whole nother degree of consequences ! If you’re a Christian, it’d be wise to lean in and really listen to Jesus’ statement right here. Some of us think it’s OK to put down other believers … to talk about em behind their backs and to stir up dissension within the “body of Christ”. We’ve done it so much, we’ve grown accustomed to it ! Christians are held to a higher standard of living than the lost. They are carrying around the name above all names ( Philippians 2:9 ), therefore, the responsibility unto GOD rests on their shoulders ( of course, the Spirit of GOD resides within them ). Christians are to love God FIRST … then to love others … especially other brothers and sisters in Christ. If we’re putting each other down, how is that helping anybody !?! If we’re silently harboring hatred towards other believers, how does that build God’s kingdom in a way that promotes love and good will !?! To quote Wiersbe, “ In short, to love other Christians means to treat them the way God treats them—and the way God treats us.” To do any different, or, to oppose God’s truths and commands, is to be a stumbling block and a liar ( 1 John 2:9 ). We can “claim” to be Christlike…sing them hymns to the top o’ our lungs…attend services every time the doors are open, even teach Sunday School and keep the bed-babies, but if we’re knocking down our “supposed” brothers and sisters every chance we get, ( without a repentant heart and a broken and contrite spirit; Psalm 51-17 ) then we’re lying to ourselves and casting a false interpretation of Jesus ! And what did he say the consequences were ? “Better that we were swimmin with the fishes with concrete shoes.” I read a story here lately that went like this : A man who was walking down a dark street one night saw a pinpoint of light coming toward him in a faltering way. He thought perhaps the person carrying the light was ill or drunk, but as he drew nearer he could see a man with a flashlight carrying a white cane. “Why would a blind man be carrying a light ?”the man wondered, and then he decided to ask. The blind man smiled. “I carry my light, not so I can see, but so that others can see me.I cannot help being blind,” he said, “but I can help being a stumbling block.”