Are You A Stumbling Block?

Referenced Scriptures: 1 Cor. 8:9, Romans 14:13

"I'm not hurting anyone!" I've often made this statement while foolishly attempting to justify my actions. I think we've all said it at one time or another. I had soon come to find out that my actions do in fact impact everyone around me. Recently in revisiting this topic I found it very interesting that Paul instructed both the Corinthians and Romans of the importance of their actions in each of the letters he wrote to them (1 Corinthians 8:9 & Romans 14:13).

So how can my actions hurt someone else? There are many ways a few examples may include, my words, my attitude, how I drive, my work ethic, etc. As you can see all these areas if not handled correctly can either help others or hurt others. Let's say I choose to cut someone off in traffic and stare them down; how does this show them the love of Christ? On the other hand, let's say I choose to allow someone into my lane in traffic; did you ever think that maybe that person has just had a horrible day and that small act of kindness just gave them a glimmer of hope.

Depending on who is around fellow believers or a non-believer every one of our actions hold significant amount of weight. To a non-believer our negative actions (as believers) can push them away from God and that is why you hear the world label many Christians as hypocrites. To a Believer in Christ, our actions can be the difference of them getting closer to Jesus or falling into temptation and potentially sin. A couple of specifics that constantly seem to come up are really gender-based.

With Men what I see a lot is the need to fit in with the other guys at work and participate in all the racy and off-color comments and jokes. Now if a Christian man indulges in this and participates in it; how does this help advance the Kingdom of God? What does this show the non-believers about you being a professing Christian? Better yet what does it show to the other Believer that you didn't even know was there and has been watching you and knows you are a professing to be a follower of Christ?

 

With women, the predominant one that is consistently out there is how they choose to dress. Tight, low-cut and revealing clothing can trigger a plethora of impure thoughts in most red-blooded American men Christian or not. Men are very visual and because of this women, especially Christian women, need to be sure they are not presenting themselves as a source that could potentially cause a fellow brother in Christ to have impure thoughts. A scenario on this one is very similar as the one above. Let's say you are a professing Christian young lady and you decide to wear a low-cut top and go to the store and your Pastor sees you in it; do you realize the potentially dangerous visual image you are leaving? Same scenario, you wear a low-cut top to the store and a non-believing man sees you that knows you are a Christian; what does this do to their perception of the integrity of Christian woman? How does this change their perspective of you?

Our actions and how we present ourselves as followers of Christ have an eternal impact to a world all around us that needs Jesus. So we, as His followers, need to consciously make decisions and choices of integrity. It's sometimes hard to believe that just going along with the crowd poking fun at one of the "different" co-workers at work could really matter but it does. So yes, I was convicted in this area and I have repented and made the decision not to participate I these type of things no matter how harmless they may seem.

Someone is always watching you; what will you let them see?

Take Care & God Bless,

-E