Let’s begin with these points:
- We must live our life carefully so that we are NOT a stumbling-block!
- We must operate in such a way that we do not offend or confuse or do anything that could turn people away from the the Lord’s way.
- We must remember that our life, our attitude, our words, and our actions impact other people in a way that draws them to the Lord or repels them away from the Lord.
Next, let’s cover this point:
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
The essence of this verse is that if the nature and Spirit of Christ is not reflected in our way of thinking, attitude, relating, interacting, behavior, and operating…then we are going to be in trouble come Judgment Day.
If we fail to exhibit the Spirit of Jesus Christ, then the Bible is making it plain to us that we are NOT Christ’s…no matter how much we may claim we are a Christian.
Now, let’s continue by pointing out two of satan’s favorite strategies:
- Create discord between church goers…so that people will backslide…or go to a lesser church…or churches will be split up into smaller splinters and thereby lose their unity and power.
- Use people who call themselves Christians and who love to proclaim that they are Christians to turn people away from Christianity…by their misconduct…so that as people in the world “experience” so-called Christians…as people in the world have an encounter with a so-called Christian…they walk away with the opinion that they don’t want anything to do with Christianity.
That brings us to this:
Romans 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
This verse is telling us that we each need to be paying attention to our own witness and influence…and carefully monitoring ourselves…to make sure that we are exhibiting the Spirit of Christ…so that we are not in one way or another turning someone away from the Lord.
Moreover, this verse is telling us that we each have a full-time job minding our own witness…a job that is so demanding that we don’t have a lot of time left over to concern ourselves with judging how others are living their lives…and IF any one of us is spending very much time judging how others are living, then probably, we have already started failing at managing our own witness.
But, if we ever do get to the place where we have time enough to mind more than our own witness…then the Bible gives us instruction on what we are to do:
Isaiah 57:13 …but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;
14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.
15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Note that God does not dwell with those who are busy judging the life and actions of others…nor does He dwell with those who are a stumbling-block to others. Rather, He dwells with those who are humbling themselves into the Spirit of Christ.
And from there, IF and WHEN we get ourselves fully immersed into the Spirit of Christ, THEN we can seek for ways to eliminate stumbling-blocks that are causing people to be turned away from the Lord’s way.
Let’s continue on…
Matthew 18:3 …Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”
First, notice God’s proclamation to us: “woe to the person who is an offender who turns anyone away from the Lord.”
Now, backing up a step: what is a very young child like relative to other people…while they are in the age-bracket of true innocence?
Specifically, they are not jealous or envious…they are not insecure…they have no malice…they feel no offense…nor do they offend…they are not hurtful…they are not selfish…they are not dishonest…they are simply pure love…and when they interact with you, there is nothing there except happiness, joy, appreciation, and acceptance.
Wouldn’t you agree that is how we are to be as ambassadors of Christ?
Let’s have a look at another accounting of these scriptures we are talking about here…
Luke 17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”
So, “take heed to yourselves”…which means the first and BIG responsibility that we each have is to watch out for our own witness and how we affect and impact other people.
But, if some person does us wrong, we are to rebuke that person…and there is a proper process the Bible gives us for doing that…namely, we are to confront the person one-on-one…and if that doesn’t work, then we bring in a spiritually-minded brother or sister as a third-party witness and mediator…and if that doesn’t work, then we bring the matter before the entire church…and if that doesn’t stop the problem, then the church is to evict the individual.
The point is, we are not to let people continue on being offensive…we cannot continue to support or be affiliated with a negative witness to the name of Christ…because there is too much damage and fall-out that can happen…there are too many souls that can end up lost when such people are left unchallenged.
So, the message the Lord has for us here is that we better be careful…we better watch our attitudes and our spirit…we better watch our words and our actions…because these things CAN and WILL have far-reaching effects and consequences…effects and consequences that can be far greater than we ever imagined they would be…in a moment of unthinking foolishness…or emotionally-driven outburst.
Now, let’s consider this topic of not offending or being a negative witness from a different angle…sometimes, a given thing may not be wrong for us personally…or, it can even be good for us…but it can still be a stumbling-block to someone else that causes them to fall away from the Lord.
Romans 14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of.
Romans 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
1 Corinthians 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
We must recognize that people are at differing levels of understanding and knowledge in the Lord…and that one person with a greater knowledge CAN inadvertently cause another person with lesser knowledge to be turned out of the way if they aren’t careful and thoughtful about what they say and do.
We must each BE CAREFUL AND THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW OUR WORDS AND ACTIONS CAN AFFECT AND IMPACT PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW OR UNDERSTAND WHAT WE KNOW AND UNDERSTAND IN THE LORD! We must think bigger than our own self. We have to think about how what we say and do can affect and impact other people. We have to think about how what we say and do can draw people to the Lord…or repel them away from the Lord.
1 Corinthians 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
The point is, we must think bigger than our own self. We have to think about how what we say and do can affect and impact other people. We have to think about how what we say and do can draw people to the Lord…or repel them away from the Lord.
Let’s now go deeper into one aspect of our topic here:
2 Samuel 12:14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
Sometimes, the very reason that people find themselves unable to get the victory over certain things in their life…is because God is recompensing them for their offenses and for the negative effects and consequences of their attitude, spirit, and/or actions. Sometimes, the very reason that people find themselves unable to get the victory over certain things in their life…is because God is recompensing them for their offenses and for the negative effects and consequences of their attitude, spirit, and/or actions.
Bottom line, any time our life fails to be a positive witness for Christ, WE are personally going to suffer…and it is God who will see to it that we do!
Let’s consider a similar set of scriptures…
1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
First, these scriptures tell us that if we want to be blessed, then we have to live our life in a way that pleases God…
Second, as 2 Peter 3:9 tells us, “The Lord is not willing that any should perish”…God doesn’t want anyone to be lost…and to this end, the Lord wants us to live our lives in a way that supports and furthers this objective.
That is why we must do our best to live a sanctified and honorable life…that is why we must do our best to live clean and holy…that is why we must do our best to be loving towards people…that is why we must do our best to carefully avoid defrauding others…because if we fail in any of these areas, we turn the Lord into an avenger against us…as a function of us hindering…or working against…the work of the Lord.
Now, let’s move to the opposite side of our topic: we must be bigger than being offended at others.
We must not be that kind of person who is touchy…who is easily offended…who has their feelings hurt all the time.
The Apostle Peter states the mindset that we are to have…
“Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.” — Mark 14:29
Jesus goes even further and tells us that He gave us His teachings so that we are forewarned and forearmed and thereby able to rise above being offended…so that we avoid the fallout that comes from being offended.
These things have I spoken unto you that ye should not be offended. — John 16:1
Next, let’s go to another aspect of not being offended…
If we are off-track in some way…if we are doing something wrong…if we make a mistake…and someone confronts us about that…then we need to be mature enough…developed enough…and spiritually-minded enough that we can receive instruction and reproof.
Proverbs 19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.
Proverbs 15:31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Galatians 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
Proverbs 9:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Proverbs 15:10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
Proverbs 15:32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
Proverbs 13:18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
Psalm 81:11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Jonah 2:8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
Zechariah 7:10 …let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
Zechariah 8:17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.
The point that should be clear to us from these scriptures is that we are not to resist correction and reproof…because correction and reproof will make our life better!
Conversely, if we resist correction and reproof, then we make our own life worse!
If we are easily offended, then that shows we are not very deep in the Lord. If we are easily offended, then that shows we are not a very strong person and we are not very spiritually minded.
Moreover, if we are easily offended, we set ourselves up to be taken down by satan.
Let’s consider some related verses from the Bible…
Proverbs 14:17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly.
Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath
From these scriptures, we see that there are two parts:
- There is the matter of how we respond to others.
- There is the matter of how we manage and handle our own selves.
So to conclude, let us remember:
- We EACH are responsible for keeping our mind clear of ANYTHING that will derail us from the path of God’s blessings and ultimately eternal life in Heaven.
- And…to the best of our ability, we EACH are responsible for NOT offending others lest we turn them away from Christ.
The Apostle Paul summed it up like this:
Only let your conversation [and your actions] be as it becometh the gospel of Christ … with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”. — Philippians 1:27