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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | causing to stumble | Matt 18:6 | SteviM95 | 78042 | ||
When Jesus says "whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble..." Is he only talking about false teachings to children? In verse 18:3 he tells us to become like children, in order to inherit the kingdom of God. And then Matthew 18:7-11 do not appear to me to be limited to children. So then, I have always concluded that verse 18:6 applies to anyone who causes any believer to stumble. Is this a common conclusion? Here is why I am asking - I became a christian at the age of 21. I was part of a super small assembly where all of the believers were much more spiritually mature than myself. My previous life included sins that left me open for spiritual attack. The christians I fellowshipped with at first were so much more mature than me that I didn't spend time worrying about causing them to stumble. But now I am meeting so many Christians who are at different levels of maturity that I am getting worried about my affect on their walk. I've always behaved differently around "my christian 'friends'", and other christians. Trying to figure out when its appropriate to relax, and "let down my hair" is becoming a trial. I watch a group of people laughing and having fun, and I want to join, but I'm so afraid of getting into a situation where my exuberance leads me to say or do something that is not appropriate - and instead of being with my friends who can gently admonish me, I will be in front of someone who will be horrified and offended, OR (worse) someone who doesn't realize that my example is not always the best to follow. I once had a man tell me that many christians did not want to adopt children in the state wellfare system because of the spiritual warfare the children's previous lives could bring upon the adopted parents. I was quite offended, but also worried. I remember thinking that if there were christians who would be afraid of those kids, then those christians would be afraid of me too, and would not want me to associate with them or their loved ones, therefore I needed to make sure that someone was incredibly mature and able to cope with me before I could really relax around them. Will someone please give me some practical advice in how to handle my deportment (regarding this matter), and show me other areas of Scripture that will help me? Thank you, Steph |
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2 | causing to stumble | Matt 18:6 | Morant61 | 78056 | ||
Greetings Steph! I think you are correct in believing that Mt. 18:6 can be extended to believers in general, not just children. However, those who cause the stumbling seem to do so with malice and forethought, not just by accident or example. So, how does this relate to your question? Simply this, be yourself. Don't worry unduly about causing someone else to stumble. If you have reason to believe that something you are doing is offensive to another believer (for whatever reason) then do not do that around that believer. But, I don't believe that Mt. 18:6 indicates that we should live in fear that we might cause someone to stumble. You need to learn to trust those with whom you worship. They can help you to learn what is appropriate or not. Relax and have some fun! :-) Just make sure that by fun, you don't mean sin! ;-) By the way, to post a question that everyone can see, just go to the left of the screen and select the option which says 'Ask a question'. This will appear on the homepage for everyone to see. Most of us read all the new questions, so everyone should see it. I hope this helps! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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3 | causing to stumble | Matt 18:6 | SteviM95 | 78472 | ||
Mr. Moran, Thanks for responding. I feel a little silly for posting notes to get some people's attention. Oops. It never occured to me that someone would maliciously plan to cause someone to stumble. When Jesus was talking here, he was talking to his disciples (believers). It seems rather horrific to think that a believer would want to cause a fellow christian to stumble. Do such things happen? Or is it also for nonbelievers who try to stumble Christians (I've known of that to happen) - that they will come into condemnation for that as well as their other sins, if they do not come to repentance before Judgement? I've been bugging my pastor specifically about 1 Timothy 5:22 this week (that's why I asked this question here, he's got alot of people to worry about, so I feel bad monopolizing his time with all of my questions). Even though he clarified that the ones who might come into "sharing" of the elders' sins would be the ones who appointed the elders (keeping the context of that passage in mind), he sent me three sets of verses (which I don't have in front of me right now) detailing particular sins a christian must repent from before we can fellowship with them. Here is the conclusion I came up with on Friday. I must conscientiously avoid those particular sins (always, not just in front of other Christians), because they might cause someone to stumble when they are made known, and if someone comes up with an accusation, I must be prepared to listen, consider, and perhaps change my ways. But, living in fear of causing someone to stumble (I like the way you put it), is not only boring and confining...it gives a false impression of where I am in my walk with Christ. How can other Christians help me mature if they don't know exactly where I am? Thank You for taking the time to read and respond! Steph |
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