My dear readers,

The Doctrine of “Stumbling” Explained 

Many have misapplied the doctrine of “stumbling” – being a stumbling block. For example, during the battle for the perfect Bible (Verbal Plenary Preservation [VPP] issue), one of the proponents of the anti-VPP doctrine, after he had exhausted all his attacks, said that if I believe the Bible is perfect, he would be “stumbled”. Therefore I should not “stumble” him and I should concede and believe the Bible has mistakes! Such strong-arm application of the doctrine to coerce a person into believing a lie is diabolical. There are also others who, perhaps dubiously, use it to win arguments and get their way after they have exhausted their arguments. The Bible clearly teaches the doctrine of stumbling. It is a good doctrine, for it came from God. Applying it correctly will help believers live a holy and godly life pleasing to God. It will also help others not to be stumbled but to build up their faith in Christ.

The often-cited verses to support the doctrine of stumbling are 1 Corinthians 8:13 and Romans 14:13.

With regards to Christian Liberty -- The context of 1 Corinthians 8:13is in1 Corinthians 8:9-13: “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.”

God used 1 Corinthians 8 to 10 to teach the doctrine of Christian liberty. If a Christian eats food that has been offered to idols unknowingly, and someone tells him that he has eaten food offered to idols, has he sinned? The Bible says that he has not sinned as the idols are nothing. There is only one living and true God. But if a believer does not want to eat food offered to idols out of fear of idols, he is doing so for the wrong reason. Idols are no gods. All things on earth are given by God to His children to eat with thankfulness. However, when they know that the food has been offered to idols, they must not eat. Their faith might be strong enough, but they must not eat because of a weaker Christian's faith. To eat or not to eat certain foods will not draw us closer to God or drive us farther from Him, therefore do not stumble the faith of fellow believers because of food. The application of this doctrine here is when it comes to non-essentials that do not impact our walk with God in Christ, we forgo them for other believers' sake.

What happens if a Christian is forced to choose for truth’s sake, is he to offend a believer or an unbeliever? He must choose to offend the unbeliever. This is taught in 1 Corinthians 10:28-33: “But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”  

In this scenario, the Christian has to offend the host who invited him to his feast. He cannot eat his food as they have all been offered to idols. In this way, he can also share the gospel of Christ with him. If the believer decides to eat the food offered to idols and if there are other believers present, he will be a stumbling block to the other believers because some of them might have weaker faith. The weaker believers will be stumbled in the truth of the gospel. In the case of the unbeliever, he is offended because of an untruth. His error has to be corrected by the gospel shared. The doctrine of stumbling applies only when truth is compromised and not an untruth.

With regards to Christian Judging -- 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.” The context of Romans 14 focuses on different preferences, such as food and holy days. Like the Jewish believers, some might hold on to eating only clean food, whereas Gentile believers might wish to eat all foods, but all must show consideration for each other. Another issue is that some might regard certain days as holy, and others do not. Still, both groups must show consideration and sensitivity to one another’s faith. These are non-essential issues that will not impact the believer's faith and walk with Christ. For example, if a believer does not wish to attend the Christmas Eve service and another wants to, they must not judge one another. The one who wants to attend does so unto the Lord. The one who does not attend must also do so unto the Lord.

The soul that sins shall die – The cause for sinning is not relevant when God judges. For example, Adam blamed Eve who blamed the serpent but all three sinned against God. They were judged by God regardless of how they fell into sin. The result is that the sinner has sinned. The soul who sins shall die. The one who says he is stumbled must remember this. He must refrain from pointing fingers at the one whom he claims has stumbled him. By blaming others it does not make him less of a sinner, neither does it justify his sinning. Unbelievers may think this way. Children of God must not think this way but must own up to their sin. The child of God has no one to blame but himself. He alone decided to sin. Once he admits that he alone is to be blamed, he must repent and seek God's forgiveness in Christ. Of course, the one who stumbled others has sinned against God. God will judge him accordingly.

The doctrine of stumbling helps all believers to be considerate in exercising the Christian liberty they received in Christ. No one should use this doctrine to win an argument or to coerce someone to submission. When one has been stumbled for righteousness’ sake, teach him the truth and correct him so that he will no longer be stumbled. If the believer becomes a stumbling block for liberty’s sake, he must make greater effort to stop stumbling others. He must give up his liberty for the sake of Christ and the weaker brethren.

Food for Thought – Can anyone force you to sin?