What happens when?
What happens when?
1. I cause another to stumble?
2. A conflict over freedom's arises?
If I am ever the cause of someone else stumbling or I am the stumbling stone, what happens next?
If we are at this point a few things could have happend.
1. We passed judgment on another.
2. We have exercised a freedom in Christ unwisely.
3. A combination of both.
Romans 12:18
"If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."
No matter what has happend, we have sinned against our brother. We must appologize and ask for their forgivenness.
Trust me, this will be one of the hardest things you have to do in your life!
Why?
1. It is hard because of Pride. We will want to get our point across that we were not sinning while listening to music or watching a movie. But, we must not let that get in the way, we have cause our brother to stumble...that is the sin! Or, we have judged them for their conviction, that is our sin!
Just because the initial action was not a sin, doesn't mean that through the course of the disagreement we have not sinned against our brother.
2. It is hard because we don't separate the issues. What is first confronted is usually one the surface issue, there are usually deeper issues at hand...i.e. stumbling blocks and judgment.
From here, once you have appologized and asked your brother to forgive you:
1. Unity may be restored....
2. They may ask follow up questions.
If Unity is restored great, wonderful...
But, if they ask:
1. Have you repented of your sin?
2. Do you understand why we believe that you were sinning?
This is a tough situation. If you truly care for them, you can let them know where you are truly at. But answer them truthfuly!
Let them know that you may not share their full conviction in that area, but you are sorry for offending them and being a stumbling block to them. Let them know that (if this is the case) God is working on you in that area.
You don't need to tell them the full extent, just that God is working.
Always appoach in humility and love!
Proverbs 10:12
"Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses."
1 Peter 4:8
"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."
In Christ,
David
1. I cause another to stumble?
2. A conflict over freedom's arises?
If I am ever the cause of someone else stumbling or I am the stumbling stone, what happens next?
If we are at this point a few things could have happend.
1. We passed judgment on another.
2. We have exercised a freedom in Christ unwisely.
3. A combination of both.
Romans 12:18
"If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."
No matter what has happend, we have sinned against our brother. We must appologize and ask for their forgivenness.
Trust me, this will be one of the hardest things you have to do in your life!
Why?
1. It is hard because of Pride. We will want to get our point across that we were not sinning while listening to music or watching a movie. But, we must not let that get in the way, we have cause our brother to stumble...that is the sin! Or, we have judged them for their conviction, that is our sin!
Just because the initial action was not a sin, doesn't mean that through the course of the disagreement we have not sinned against our brother.
2. It is hard because we don't separate the issues. What is first confronted is usually one the surface issue, there are usually deeper issues at hand...i.e. stumbling blocks and judgment.
From here, once you have appologized and asked your brother to forgive you:
1. Unity may be restored....
2. They may ask follow up questions.
If Unity is restored great, wonderful...
But, if they ask:
1. Have you repented of your sin?
2. Do you understand why we believe that you were sinning?
This is a tough situation. If you truly care for them, you can let them know where you are truly at. But answer them truthfuly!
Let them know that you may not share their full conviction in that area, but you are sorry for offending them and being a stumbling block to them. Let them know that (if this is the case) God is working on you in that area.
You don't need to tell them the full extent, just that God is working.
Always appoach in humility and love!
Proverbs 10:12
"Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses."
1 Peter 4:8
"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."
In Christ,
David
posted by Mark 1:17 at 9:24 AM
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