From the desk of Pastor Ben

The Evil of the Stumbling Block

“It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!”         (Matthew 18:7b-c)

The world today is under God’s curse (the word “woe” is a term of cursing and condemnation) because of its sinfulness, but also because of the stumbling blocks it constantly places across believers’ paths. The mass media, especially the ever-expanding numbers of Internet sites and blogs, are relentless at sending forth false and corrupt messages and images that seek to pull God’s children into sin. In fact, the world seems to delight in victimizing those who follow the Lord.

It is inevitable that such ungodly influences will come and continue until Christ returns. But Jesus further emphasizes that, unless they repent, it will be horrifying for those who place stumbling blocks before others. He had already declared the gravity of such offenses by saying it was better for the guilty person to drown. Better off dead if someone has caused Christ’s precious believers to sin. But now, He asserts that being a stumbling block can bring on divine judgment.

Many years ago, a young Christian man at our church remorsefully told me he had recently gotten drunk. I figured out by his story that his brothers and others had forced alcohol down his throat until he was intoxicated. The worst thing for him was not the intoxication but the guilt it brought afterwards. He felt ashamed and responsible and he was wondering if Jesus would forgive him. I assured him that our Lord had forgiven him and that the guilt really belonged to his abusers. They were the ones who needed to repent and escape God’s judgment.

Ask Yourself:
Think of the many ways the young and impressionable are being deceived on any number of fronts in our culture today. How can you be a barrier of protection for them, helping them see truth in the midst of such destructive lies, helping them avoid the trap of being drawn in deeper?