Stumbling Block or Offended.

It's recently been on my mind the subject of what constitutes stumbling blocks in the bible. From going through what I could find, it seems to be referring primarily to two things, either causing someone else to sin, or trying to get someone else to violate their conscience.

Would I be correct in thinking this is different than someone just getting "Offended", say by a t-shirt graphic they don't approve of, or in a more extreme case if someone demands I wear a suit at church.

How far do you consider enough when it comes to accommodating these two types of complaints? At what point do you say enough?

Greek word for Stumbling Block

Strong's Concordance
skandalon: a stick for bait (of a trap), generally a snare, a stumbling block, an offense
Original Word: σκάνδαλον, ου, τό
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: skandalon
Phonetic Spelling: (skan'-dal-on)

Definition: a stick for bait (of a trap), generally a snare, a stumbling block, an offense
Usage: a snare, stumbling-block, cause for error.
HELPS Word-studies

4625 skándalon – properly, the trigger of a trap (the mechanism closing a trap down on the unsuspecting victim); (figuratively) an offense, putting a negative cause-and-effect relationship into motion.

4625 /skándalon ("the means of stumbling") stresses the method (means) of entrapment, i.e. how someone is caught by their own devices (like their personal bias, carnal thinking).

["4625 (skándalon) is the native rock rising up through the earth, which trips up the traveler, hence, of Jesus the Messiah, to the Jews who refused him" (Souter); "properly, the bait-stick of a trap, a snare, stumbling-block" (Abbott-Smith); "the stick in the trap that springs and closes the trap when the animal touches it" (WP, 1, 46).]

thanks. those translations help, it does sort of imply some level of deliberateness on behalf of the causer, and some sort of pre-exisiting weakness on the stumblee.

Stumbling blocks could be things which people do not see that causes them to fall, both literally and figuratively.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Ps 119:105

• "..when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die:" Ezek 3:20
• "Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD. " Lev 19:14

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Ps 119:165

1 Peter 2:1-8
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Proverbs 3:23
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

Isn't the context written a topic of faith, such as causing another's faith to falter? We are to help the lame to walk, rather than take out their knees.

These verses support the assertion I offered. If a man has weak legs and you take out his knees, what hope have you given him to run?

These days it seems that many people are looking for excuses be offended. Most times, offences are taken, not given. Christians must take the risk of upsetting people. The truth hurts but it also sets free.

We need wisdom. For example, I am OK with drinking alcohol if we remain unaffected. I was youth leader for a while at one church. I quit drinking completely to avoid giving a wrong example to the group.

Jesus was the "Stone of stumbling and the Rock of offence" (Romans 9:33). Just saying that Jesus is the only way to God will infuriate billions of people. We should not be overly sensitive ourselves, neither should we go out of our way to be offensive.

We do need to remain humble and not demand "our rights". If, for example, you disagree with the dress policy of your church, you can either comply, ignore the policy or simply find another fellowship.

One well known America preacher was told he could not preach in one church because he had a short sleeve shirt on. I personally find this ridiculous as the American constitution gives people the right to bare arms. So the congregation missed out on God's best because of religiosity that has no biblical basis.

Our response to situations should be according to love. I know that it's far from easy at times. We need grace and wisdom from God to deal with some.

The answer is given in Romans 14:13: Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

So any word or action on your part which may cause another Christian to sin would be a stumbling block. Then we have 1 Corinthians 8:9: But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.

First of all we need to recognize that there are stronger (or more mature) Christians and there are also weaker (or less mature Christians). While today food offered to idols is not generally an issue (other than in Asia or other parts of the world), Paul uses that as an example.

So the stronger Christians says that the idol is nothing, and eats that food, whereas the weaker brother believes that the idol is real and that food offered to idols must be shunned. So what should the stronger brother (or sister) do? Reject that food altogether because of the weaker Christian.

This principle could be applied to many other contemporary situations.

The question and replies already here make me think of a few critical lessons God has emphasized to my fellowship and myself.

1) Get out of the drama triangle. I recommend reading up on this more but let me give you some highlights. The drama triangle involves unhealthy ways of relating to others or even to ourselves that are all based in prideful lies from Satan which are pervasive in our culture. This involves dishonest representation of ourselves and others as victims, perpetrators, and/or rescuers.

The main significance to your issue being that we should differentiate between real victims and people who are playing victim. Along with this, it isn't your job to rescue others from things they can rescue themselves from, or things that really are their responsibility to deal with even if not immediately solvable.

One possible clue is if you are driven by guilt instead of compassion. Jesus loves a cheerful giver rather than one who feels under compulsion for a reason.

2. Fighting deception is deception. What this means is that it is impossible to sort through mixtures of truth and error directly, therefore we will never get anywhere but to our own deception by trying to sort through others' deceptions. Instead, look directly at the truth. Throw out deception (any mixture of truth and error) entirely and look to God for how to proceed starting from what you know - God will show you what you really need from there. This might offend others along the way, but get over it - you don't need to save them from all discomfort - that is false rescue. This leads to a third point...

3. Don't worship pain. I.e. Don't give it undo power over your decisions. Pain is simply a tool designed by God for the preservation of life and is good in proper placement. It is simply meant to be an alarm, not final judgment. For example, if you stuck your hand in a fire, the pain would warn you that harm is being done. This should not be final judgment, though, like if you were pulling a child out of a flame (sidenote: a real victim), it would be worth the cost. Similarly, don't look to automatically save others or yourself from all mental discomfort. It may emotionally hurt to watch others suffer for their own bad choices, but their pain may be necessary to bring them to repentance. Therefore it isn't loving to try rescuing them from things like the discomfort from their decision to be improperly offended.

Paul too had to learn this lesson. He wrote in ‭2 Corinthians 7:8-11:

I liken it to the passage from 1 Thessalonians, Chapter 5:


11Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

12And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

13And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

14Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

15See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

16Rejoice evermore.

17Pray without ceasing.

18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

19Quench not the Spirit.

20Despise not prophesyings.

21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

22Abstain from all appearance of evil.

23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If we hold to these goals, we will not be or present a stumbling block to other believers.

Amen he uses a few other examples also

“Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭14:1-2, 5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

someone who believes they need to keep the sabbath law and tbat this day is different from others and someone who thinks every day is the same as the next and doesn’t feel an obligation to o ey a sabbath law . These days we make this a conflict and reason to argue and reject one another

“ he doesn’t keep the sabbath so he’s wrong “ or “ he tries to keep the law to be saved so he’s wrong “

when we do this we’re judging someone God is already dealing with because they believe in Jesus and belong to him now. Paul is telling us not to be in conflict over these differences in ideas but to accept one another and like your saying if it was an issue and someone refused to eat a certain food being offered to an idol as was common in rome at the time , and I was a guest I also should refuse because it may offend thier faith and cause some conflict between us over a matter that is not significant to God

a much of the design is to keep a a peace between maby people who don’t all understand and know the exact same things , while they fellowship and discuss and share Gods word and become closer and closer in understanding his doctrine

just like the adults in a family dont expect the babies in the family to know and do what the adults know and do . Mature Christian’s should also recognize some know less and maybe some others know more and so we shouldn’t be like Pharisees heaping up everything we know and understand on them as an ultimatum where is they don’t agree completely with us they are a heretic and don’t belong instead we should embrace them based on belief in Jesus and then keep discussing in a peaceful manner until light forms