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To Stumble

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Servent, Dec 13, 2010.

  1. Servent

    Servent Member

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    It seems I was not able to get anywere in the alcohol thread so Ill ask it here.
    If for any reason you caused someone to stumble (To fall in there christian walk) would it bother you and what steps would you take to correct the problem.
     
  2. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    I had someone come to me and they were very jealous of my home. Now, my house is no great shakes but it's nice on a nice piece of property. She told me that she struggles with the jealousy and that we're so "lucky" that we have this place and why doesn't God bless her that way too? Should I sell my home?

    I also had someone that I spoke to about her bad relationships and she said that she struggles because she sees people with happy marriages and so it's causing her to not be content in her singleness. She will then strive to find a man - any man - and continually falls on her face because she's not dealing with decent guys. Should we divorce or be miserable?
     
  3. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    I'll stick to your OP instead of giving examples to confuse the matter.

    I don't think we should walk on eggshells, and some will be offended by whatever we do, no matter what. For instance, in College we rented a house. After, we bought a home. The payment was actually less to buy, than was rent. 40-50 less per month. We had someone in church get angry over this. That's just being petty.


    If I know a brother or sister, being weak in faith, would become offended by my liberties, I would not do this in the presence of either.
     
  4. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    If someone came to me and said that something I said or did (or both) was causing them to stumble, I would discuss it with them; ask for the scripture that supports their viewpoint; show the scripture that supports my viewpoint.

    In other words, try to follow Romans 14 (causing a brother to stumble) and Matthew 18 (if someone has an offense) as much as possible, and hopefully either restore them or be restored myself (Galatians 6:1).
     
  5. Amy.G

    Amy.G New Member

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    Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.


    If we know we are causing a brother to stumble, we should put them first and just stop whatever it is we're doing. No need for a big discussion about why they're wrong and I'm right. Just stop.
     
  6. Servent

    Servent Member

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    Thank you I do not understand why some have to make a simple question so hard. On that note I will stop
     
  7. North Carolina Tentmaker

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    Yes it would bother me. I would talk to them and try to understand their difficulty. I would also examine my own life and what I was doing that was offensive.

    But would I sell my house or stop whatever it was that was offensive? That is a big DEPENDS Servent.

    Here is a good example. Once when I had my children in a Christian School I had someone tell me that I was a stubbling block to them. By segregating my own children I was sending the message that I did not care about the public school kids and being unchristian. I explained why I did what I did, but I did not change my actions. Now fyi, over the years my children have gone to Christian Schools, they have home schooled, and right now they are in public schools, including public college. At at each time I believe I followed the spirit and did what was right for my children. I will not apologize or change when I am convinced I am following God's will. I don't think you should either.
     
  8. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    :praying: :applause: :thumbsup:
     
  9. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    Not quite that simple, in context of the examples provided by Annsni. Behavior, whether actually sinful or perceived as sinful, is what we can stop.

    One church I attended, the pastor actually referred to my relatively new Suburban as a "$90,000 car." He didn't discuss it with me personally, and I chose not to respond to it in any way. I can't do anything about anyone else's covetousness, except perhaps remind them of the 10 commandments and see if there's anything I can do to help them (remembering Galatians 6:1 again).

    (I ended up selling the suburban to a family with 5 kids under the age of 10...my wife was pretty upset that I sold her car without really discussing it with her...oops...but it would have been interesting to see the pastor's face when that family drove up to church in the "$90,000 car"....)
     
  10. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Then I should sell my house and get a divorce? Those were not hypothetical situations but real ones.
     
  11. Amy.G

    Amy.G New Member

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    Of course not. I think some of you are going overboard just to argue and be disagreeable.

    What do you think Paul meant when he talked about making our brother stumble?
     
  12. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Kinda like the Jets coach did to the Miami running Back? LOL....now thats stumbling.
     
  13. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    Ya think?

    It's hard to get a whole entire thread going, let alone one page of it, without someone doing that.

    When someone can't answer, they resort to mockery, use a slough of verses that don't have anything to do with the subject, then come back with another smart answer pointing the finger, name calling implications included.

    Not that this is ann, but it is definitely others.
     
  14. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    ohhhh, that is laughable.....do you think I hurt his feeling? LOL
     
    #14 Earth Wind and Fire, Dec 13, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 13, 2010
  15. John Toppass

    John Toppass Active Member
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    I do not think that either of your examples even remotely relate to the OP.

    While I do not see it as sinful to consume alcohol, I find it hard to believe it is God's will that I go to the icehouse for the purpose of drinking in public lest my testimony becomes tarnished.
     
  16. Allan

    Allan Active Member

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    There is a biblical distinction you seem to have left off... if they think it is sin..

    The examples you gave illistrate they were upset about things but 'not' that they thought it was a sin, at least in your examples.

    That is the qualifier.

    Once it is known, there should be a discussion between the two.
    What is most important to understand about our liberty in Christ is to comprehend not just that we can do.. but more so what we can give up... for love. We see this epitomized John 3:16 yet many forget about 1 John 3:16 as well. It is from this understanding we see why Paul says he will not do (whatever the person considers is sin) so long as the endures/continues. And granted, this does not apply to those things which we know God has commanded us to do.

    Lastly, as with Paul's decision, that is what "he choose" to do FOR THE SAKE OF his brethren spiritual growth in Christ, it was not a command. Yet we do find him telling others to follow Him as he follows Christ. Christ laid down not only his physical life for us but his life in general for our sakes. Dieing to himself for our sakes and as we read 1 John we see this not only of Christ but also what should be the normal way of life for believers as well.

    The question we need to ask ourselves is how far will go, or as 1 John says "lay down our lives" for the/our brethren. I find it odd that the vast majority of believers ask how little do I have to do and not how much, for your sake.
     
    #16 Allan, Dec 14, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 14, 2010
  17. Luke2427

    Luke2427 Active Member

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    What would you say if they did?
     
  18. Allan

    Allan Active Member

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    Regarding Ann's post.. that is like asking what if Jason or Freddy Kruger were real and not just horror movies.
     
  19. Luke2427

    Luke2427 Active Member

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    No it isn't because it is not unreasonable. It is perfectly possible and I would say probable that these people in Ann's story are real and really believe that for Ann to be a Christian and live in a nice home is a sin.

    The question is- how far do we let this weaker brother business go?

    I think for the sake of the church in Corinth in that culture at that particular time it was not unreasonable to abstain from meat offered to idols in their presence.

    But in this culture to expect every Christian in everywhere in America to abstain from any use of alcohol whatsoever because there are many ignorant Christians who do not understand what the Bible teaches on the matter- I think that is unreasonable.

    And it is not going to cause those Christians to stumble- it will just give some of them something more to gossip about. For the others who would not gossip they will be plenty strong enough to not be caused to stumble by seeing a brother drink responsibly.
     
  20. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    My former pastor and I used to joke about going to the bar and we would always get a good laugh out of it. Then a new member started coming, and having been an alcoholic - thought it was wrong for us to joke about - so we no longer did it in his presence.
    Salty

    btw, the pastor has been an over drinker in his military days
     
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