The Bible teaches that Christians have a responsibility to be mindful of how their actions and choices may impact others, especially fellow believers. This concept is sometimes summarized as “not causing others to stumble.”
There are several passages in Scripture that address this idea. One of the clearest is Romans 14:13, which says “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” (ESV)
In this verse, Paul urges the Roman Christians to be sensitive to others’ weaknesses and susceptibilities. He warns against acting in ways that could lead others into sin or cause their faith to falter. The metaphor of a “stumbling block” conveys anything that trips people up spiritually or obstructs their walk with God.
Some key principles we can draw from this and related passages include:
- We should avoid actions that may tempt others to go against their conscience or engage in activities they believe are wrong (Romans 14:13-23). Even if we have freedom in certain areas, we should restrict our freedom for the sake of not putting stumbling blocks in the way of fellow believers who are weaker in the faith.
- We should be careful not to embolden others to do something they believe is sinful by exercising our own freedoms (1 Corinthians 8:7-13).
- More mature believers should be willing to sacrifice their liberties for the sake of those less mature in the faith (Romans 15:1-2).
- We should avoid modeling any kind of behavior, including sinful actions or doubtful practices, that could lead others to follow our example and sin (Matthew 18:6-7).
Jesus also spoke strongly about not causing others to stumble, especially children and new believers. In Mark 9:42, He said “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” (ESV) Here Jesus conveys the seriousness of leading others into sin and warns against putting our own desires ahead of others’ spiritual welfare.
In summary, as Christians we are called to be concerned not only about our own walk with God, but also conscious of how we may impact our brothers and sisters in Christ. This means we should carefully consider whether our practices – even ones we may have freedom to do – could potentially cause those with weaker faith to stumble.
Of course, trying never to stumble others does not mean completely refraining from actions that any other Christian anywhere might have an issue with. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up.” (ESV) Wisdom and discernment are needed to know when accommodation of others is appropriate.
But the general principle remains: we must be willing to limit our own freedoms for the sake of not spiritually harming those God has placed around us. This kind of loving sacrifice reflects Jesus’ own example of laying down His rights for the sake of others (Philippians 2:1-11). Our highest priority should be helping our brothers and sisters in Christ grow in godliness and faith.
Examples of Actions That Could Cause Others to Stumble
To understand how to apply the principle of not causing others to stumble, it can be helpful to consider some practical examples of actions that might have this effect:
- Drinking alcohol: If a Christian with a tender conscience sees another believer drinking, they may be emboldened to drink themselves even if they personally believe it is wrong. Or they may believe drinking is approved in all situations and thus be tempted to drink to excess (Romans 14:13-23).
- Getting a divorce: If a Christian woman sees her Christian friend divorcing over what seem to be trivial reasons, she may be more inclined to leave her own marriage in the face of marital conflict (Mark 10:1-12).
- Skipping church: If an immature believer sees his Christian friend frequently missing church to do other activities, he may assume it’s no big deal to skip worship and start neglecting meeting with the body (Hebrews 10:19-25).
- Dating non-Christians: A Christian teenager may get the idea that interfaith relationships are okay if her older Christian friends date people who aren’t Christians (2 Corinthians 6:14).
- Friendship with the world: If fellow church members see a respected leader compromising biblical standards to fit in with secular culture, they may feel comfortable doing the same (James 4:4).
In each case, one Christian’s freedom or example could influence others to follow in a way that damages their faith. This illustrates the importance of assessing how our choices may be interpreted and perceived by those who are watching our lives.
How to Avoid Causing Others to Stumble
Based on what Scripture teaches, here are some practical suggestions for how Christians can avoid causing others to stumble:
- Ask God for wisdom and discernment. We need the Holy Spirit’s guidance to understand how to apply this principle well in various situations (James 1:5).
- Consider who is watching. Remember you have a responsibility toward other believers who may follow your example. Be aware of how your actions are perceived.
- Make sure your conscience is clear. Don’t participate in activities you personally feel are sinful, even for the sake of others’ freedoms (Romans 14:23).
- Discuss debatable issues with mature Christians. Seek insight from those who are strong in faith and biblical wisdom to assess if certain behaviors could stumble others (Acts 15:1-29).
- Think through secondary effects. Consider how your choices not only affect you but also could open doors for others to rationalize sin.
- Focus on what builds others up. Make choices out of love to edify others and encourage their spiritual growth (Romans 15:2).
- Explain your convictions. Share openly with other believers why you may be abstaining from or restricting certain liberties so they understand your motives and position.
- Limit freedoms when appropriate. Be willing to sacrifice practices that may be permissible to avoid sending the wrong message or tempting weaker believers.
The overarching focus should be whether our use of freedom would help or hinder the faith of others. With sensitivity to this principle, we can avoid needless offense.
Balancing Our Freedom and Responsibility
Trying to balance our personal freedoms in Christ with our responsibility toward others can be challenging. On one hand, we want to avoid rigid legalism and enjoy our liberty in areas the Bible permits. But on the other hand, we need to ensure we don’t use this freedom carelessly at the expense of others’ spiritual welfare.
Several guidelines can help us find the right balance:
- Don’t compromise your own convictions. If you feel something is sinful, don’t do it just because others claim freedom in that area.
- Be willing to restrict freedom, but don’t assume stumbling is inevitable. In debatable matters, err on the side of caution but don’t automatically equate freedom with harm.
- Consider the maturity and background of those you influence. The more immature in faith they are, the more carefully freedoms may need to be restricted.
- Don’t judge others’ motives without talking to them. Seek to understand why other Christians make the choices they do.
- Grant grace and freedom to mature believers. Don’t insist others abide by extra rules not clearly stipulated in Scripture.
- Focus on growth in godliness, not external behavior. Help others develop discernment to make wise choices guided by the Spirit.
With wisdom and humility, we can find ways to exercise our liberty while also looking out for the spiritual good of others. Our aim should be promoting an environment where all believers can grow in faith without unnecessary hindrances.
Objections Some May Have
Some Christians may raise objections to the idea that we need to restrict our freedom for the sake of others. Some potential objections include:
- “I shouldn’t have to give up things I have freedom to do.” It’s true we ideally shouldn’t have to relinquish all liberty. But in specific situations, love may require it (1 Corinthians 8:13). We need discernment to know when this sacrifice is called for.
- “Others’ weaknesses aren’t my problem.” Scripture calls us to look out for others’ interests, not just our own (Philippians 2:4-8). Accommodating weakness can strengthen the church (Romans 15:1).
- “This seems too legalistic.” Avoiding stumbling blocks is not about universal rules but contextual wisdom in sensitive areas. The goal is to build others up, not control them.
- “Their conscience should deal with it, not me.” We should help others grow in their conscience but not tempt them in the meantime (1 Corinthians 8:7-13).
- “I can’t be responsible for how others interpret my freedom.” While we can’t prevent all possible misunderstandings about our actions, Scripture still calls us to discernment about what we model.
In the end, our freedom should be guided by love, not used carelessly at the expense of other believers’ spiritual good. With humility and grace, we can find ways to both enjoy liberty and avoid needless offense.
Biblical Examples
Scripture contains several examples that illustrate the concept of being careful not to cause others to stumble:
- Meat sacrificed to idols: In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul addresses the issue of eating meat sold in the marketplace that had been sacrificed to idols. More mature believers realized idols weren’t real gods so their conscience was clear. But Paul still called them to avoid eating such meat in front of weaker believers who would be encouraged to violate their own conscience (1 Cor. 8:7-13).
- Circumcision of Timothy: In Acts 16:3, Paul had Timothy circumcised before taking him along on his missionary travels. This was to avoid offending Jewish believers, who would have been scandalized by Timothy’s lack of circumcision.
- Paul’s example: In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Paul describes how he was willing to adapt his practices among both Jews and Gentiles for the sake of winning them to Christ. He did not insist on exercising all his freedoms.
- The Jerusalem Council: In Acts 15, the early church leaders decided Gentile believers did not need to be circumcised. But they still set some basic standards to avoid offending Jewish believers.
In each case, Christian leaders made concessions and exercised careful discernment for the sake of not placing unnecessary stumbling blocks before others.
Old Testament Considerations
While the specific idea of not causing others to stumble is not emphasized in the Old Testament, there are some related principles that connect to this New Testament teaching:
- The Israelites were called to be “set apart” from the pagan nations around them, including avoiding practices that would ensnare them in idolatry and immorality (Exodus 23:32-33, Leviticus 18:24-30).
- The prophets frequently warned against misleading God’s people into false worship through ungodly leadership and examples (Jeremiah 23:9-40, Ezekiel 13:1-23).
- Israel’s kings were judged harshly for leading the people into idolatry through their compromising behavior and negligent leadership (1 Kings 14:22-24, 2 Chronicles 33:1-10).
- Solomon’s marriages to foreign women drew him away from loyalty to God and later influenced others to idolatry (1 Kings 11:1-13).
These illustrate the seriousness of setting a wrong example that pulls others away from righteous obedience to God.
Application to Different Types of Christians
The principle of being careful not to cause others to stumble applies across all Christians. However, wisdom may be needed in how it is worked out among believers from different backgrounds:
- New Christians: Should have freedoms limited graciously since almost everything will be new and potentially confusing. Need time to grow in discernment.
- Christians from legalistic backgrounds: May have extra sensitivities about particular activities. Patience and clear teaching on freedom may be required.
- Christians from liberal backgrounds: May need help understanding how certain choices can confuse or tempt those with more conservative convictions.
- Younger Christians: Tend to be more influenced by examples of others. Require thoughtful mentoring on exercising discernment.
- Christians from restrictive cultures: Will need guidance on enjoying freedom responsibly since balance will be new and difficult.
In all cases, mature believers should model wise, loving accommodation of others’ sensitivities and immaturity for their growth in Christian liberty and discernment.
Addressing Confusion or Negative Reactions
Sometimes Christians who exercise freedom in certain areas may experience confusion or negative reactions from others who don’t understand their position. There are a few principles that can help navigate these situations:
- Have patience and extend grace. Recognize that others may come from very different starting points (Colossians 4:5-6).
- Listen carefully to understand their perspective. Ask clarifying questions without being defensive (Proverbs 18:13).
- Explain your views with gentleness and respect. Make it clear you are not trying to justify sin (1 Peter 3:15-16).
- Acknowledge their feelings. Express empathy and care for their concerns without compromising your convictions (Ephesians 4:15).
- Offer to study Scripture together. Inviting discussion can promote unity amid diversity (Acts 17:11).
- Make concessions where appropriate. Be willing to limit some freedom for the sake of their conscience (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).
- Give them time. Allow relationships and understanding to develop rather than demanding immediate acceptance.
With good communication and thoughtful accommodation, we can overcome misunderstandings in a Christ-honoring manner.
Conclusion
The biblical principle to avoid causing others to stumble calls us to look beyond just our own interests as we exercise Christian freedom. Our choices should be guided by how they affect fellow believers who may be watching our example as they grow in faith. With the Holy Spirit’s wisdom, we can find ways to enjoy liberty in Christ while also laying down our rights for the sake of not distracting or misleading our brothers and sisters into sin. Our priority as Christians is the spiritual well-being and maturity of the body of Christ.