I was reared in the kind of Christian faith that made this category of \u201cstumbling blocks\u201d a big issue. There were lots of things we were told \u2014 mild way of saying it \u2014 not to do because it could become a \u201cstumbling block.\u201d So, let\u2019s see what Paul says about this term.
\nBefore I do that, let me finish some of my story with a little fun (so don\u2019t take this too seriously). The two biggies in my little world were going to movies and drinking alcohol. Some people I knew \u2014 and they had loud voices \u2014 thought movies were hell-holes that were waiting to gobble up little Baptist boys, and the same thought drink of any sort, even a nice glass of Merlot (which name they probably didn\u2019t even know), led in one short weekend to full-scale alcoholism. Let\u2019s not be too funny here (I say to myself), there are problems with alcohol. But, full-scale wars against movies and sippin\u2019 something with your evening meal is not the point of the biblical warnings. Anybody who knew that wine could make the heart glad \u2014 \u201cred red wine, makes me happy all o\u2019 the time\u201d sings UB40 \u2014 knew the difference between measured drink and drunkenness. The world I grew up in didn\u2019t, so it legislated these matters by appealing to \u201cstumbling blocks.\u201d What I\u2019d like to say is that those good and well-meaning folks didn\u2019t stumble over anything, least of all some yellowish drink in a beer can. Stumble \u2026 no way, they kicked those cans into the gutter. (And I know my dad is laughing right now as he reads this, and I don\u2019t think he ever stumbled over a beer can.)
\nNow back to Paul, who got us going \u2026
\nLiving to the Lord, 14:10-12, also means keeping one eye on what you do and the other eye on the impact of your behavior on others. We live in an age of rights and a near obsession with individualism \u2014 everything becomes our choice and volunteerism. Paul would not like this development.
\nPaul\u2019s logic is interesting: he takes the Gentile view of foods (or should we say the Christian view?) that all foods are clean, but that doesn\u2019t mean \u2014 to extrapolate \u2014 Christians ought to be slamming ham sandwiches when with those who have scruples about ham.
\nPaul urges sensitivity and adjustment in light of sensitivity.
\nPrinciple: \u201cFor the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit\u201d (14:17). Wright shows the connection to 5:1-5 \u2014 chase it down, worth thinking about.
\nNow, let me put in an idea here: stumbling blocks are things we do that will trip up our brother or sister in the faith; they are not things with which our brother or sister has a tighter conscience on and that they can\u2019t comprehend why we don\u2019t. Therefore we shouldn\u2019t do something because they don\u2019t. Do you agree?<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I was reared in the kind of Christian faith that made this category of \u201cstumbling blocks\u201d a big issue. There were lots of things we were told \u2014 mild way of saying it \u2014 not to do because it could become a \u201cstumbling block.\u201d So, let\u2019s see what Paul says about this term.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1752],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1773","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-romans"],"yoast_head":"\n