The topic of stumbling a brother comes up often and as
usual, it is usually twisted / pulled far out of context. Before
we look at the biblical context, let me show you an unbiblical
context men will often use to defend their own sin regarding
stumbling.
I was reasoning with a man ( a street preacher ) who claims
Christ but he had 'obvious' false/sinful ways about him. We
covered the gospel and many topics and when we got to
biblical dress, he said this. " I won't dress biblical as to not
cause others to stumble as people don't want to dress
biblical today". ( he is a rapper and dresses very worldly....)
Is this a good biblical exegesis of God's Word?
No it is not and let me explain why.
The stumbling verse is found in a letter to the Roman body. In
Romans 14, Apostle Paul says:
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.
Now, if we pull this out of context it looks like we
should never do anything that will EVER stumble
others but that just cannot be true and here is why.
When we read scripture in context....
1) God calls us to OBEY His Word fully, Him, God
first and we do not ever let men affect what we are
to obey per the Word. Read Acts 5:29
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
If we let people dictate what offends or stumbles
them, then we cannot carry bibles, preach
repentance or any of the many commands that God
has ordained but the world does hate! No, we are to
OBEY God even if others get angry at us. That is
called persecution. See 2 Tim 3:12
2) The proper context of this section of scripture is
knowing that it is ALL about... FOOD and Holy Days which are both "liberty issues" not a direct command.
( read on will you? )
14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
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:
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
If we just read what the stumbling is about in
Romans it clears up the entire matter. Paul is
dealing with the Jews and Gentiles coming into one
body. The Jews were taught (in the Torah) to not
dealing with the Jews and Gentiles coming into one
body. The Jews were taught (in the Torah) to not
eat pork and the gentiles had no problem eating it.
Paul was just telling them to not cause a brother to
stumble, here is the key, where God's Word gives
us liberty in.
***This stumbling in context was ONLY about
food ( or holy-days like the Sat Sabbath )...
We today are NOT under any direct commands on
what we eat today. In that liberty, we don't force a
brother to eat pork if he has decided not to or
you may stumble him in a area that he has liberty. This has NOTHING to do with clear commands we ARE to obey like in our dress, the gospel, how we talk, who we associate with and the many other doctrines ( doctrine means instructions in holiness ) found in the Holy Word.
Jesus said teach them to OBEY all He commanded.
Matt 28:20
Most people, like this worldly
rapper, use the stumbling issue to twist it out of
context to NOT HAVE TO FULLY OBEY themselves
or to not get their worldly feminized homes in
or to not get their worldly feminized homes in
order and it is shameful/sinful.
Note:
Stumbling a brother has to do with tempting him to
something he has liberty in. It in NO WAY means
you "should not" obey all of God commands to make
others feel good about themselves/their sin.
Note:
Stumbling a brother has to do with tempting him to
something he has liberty in. It in NO WAY means
you "should not" obey all of God commands to make
others feel good about themselves/their sin.
How are you doing at walking in all of God's
commands or do you twist the truth to stay in sin
and disobedience yourself calling it liberty?
Here is article on Liberty which is an area
people also twist way out of context:
See the gospel to eternal life here:
Here is articles showing the truth on dress for ladies and men:
Study in context folks, repent and OBEY the gospel
to holiness and eternal life to come!
God be praised
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