Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother’s way. (I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean.) For if your brother is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy that one Christ died for by what you eat. Therefore, do not let your good be slandered for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Our scripture passage today is about our witness. Our witness is what other’s see in us. It is that thing that either draws them in like a moth to a flame or repels them like peppermint oil repels insects. In my last blog I spoke to you about whether or not you were headed to heaven and whether or not you were helping others to get there as well.
This scripture passage tells us that we should never put a stumbling block or pitfall in our brother’s way. This means that we should never do anything that would cause someone to turn away from Christianity.
Each and every day we encounter so many people who are lost. They are looking for a pathway that will lead them in the right direction. They are looking for someone to help guide them along the way. The Bible is very clear on the fact that we should be guiding others to Christ and never leading them astray. In Luke 17:1-2 Jesus tells his disciples that temptations to sin are sure to come their way but he says woe to the one through whom they come! He goes on to tell them that it would be better to have a millstone tied around their neck and be cast into the sea than to cause someone to sin.
Yesterday, our Sunday school lesson was about loving others. We know that the greatest commandment is that we should love the Lord our God with all that we have (Deuteronomy 6:5). The second is that we should love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. Galatians 5:14 goes so far as to say that the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
If we love the Lord our God with all that we have then we want to love others. We want to put others first. When we do this, we want them to experience the love of God. We want them to experience the peace and joy that we have found in Him.
In order to do this, it is important that we not put a stumbling block before those that we are trying to lead to Christ. We are to be careful about our witness. Be careful about what comes out of our mouth and careful about what goes into it. If you are trying to talk to someone about their salvation one minute and taking the Lord’s name in vain the next, you just destroyed your witness. If you are inviting someone to church on Sunday morning, but they see you belting back drinks at the bar on Saturday night, you just destroyed your witness.
Our witness is a delicate thing. This scripture passage tells us that if someone considers something unclean then it is unclean. Be sensitive to other’s religious beliefs. They may have been raised in a legalistic environment. You will have to consider these things if you intend to witness to them.
In law enforcement one of the most important things we are trained to do is to always be aware of our surroundings. As Christians, we must do the same. Is that martini worth destroying your witness? You may argue that the Bible does not say that we can’t have a drink, it says that we shall not become drunk (Ephesians 5:18). This is true, but to the person that you are trying to lead to the Lord, this may be the very thing that has them calling you a hypocrite. Certain religions believe that it is wrong to eat certain meats. Some believe that you should never eat pork while some believe that you should not eat meat during certain times of the year.
As Christians, we must tread very carefully. Our greatest job is to lead others to Christ. If you love the Lord and you have experienced a close relationship with Him then you want everyone to be able to have the same. Be careful in your love walk. Be careful not to put up a stumbling block for others. God meets us where we are, try to do the same with others. And always remember that the devil is trying desperately to destroy your witness. Be sure that you don’t let him!
Have a great day!