Stumbling Blocks

[ddc101]

:cry: Heres the scriptures:

Rom 14:12-19
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
(KJV)

Matt 18:6-7
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
(KJV)

Luke 17:1-3
1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
(KJV)

Though we may not agree with what another pastor or church of the apostolic faith teaches in every areasometimes more harm can be done than good in trying to get them to see things our way.Especially if it causes loss of confidence in the ministry that God has set over a particular congregation.Many times more can be lost fighting over the baby than we meant to lose as saw the woman who stood before King Solomon.Sometimes it is better to let the baby live rather than be torn apart.lv sis.c

[tufluv]

AMEN!!!

[ddc101]

Sometimes we may be having a bad day but I wonder if we realize how much our countenace can be a stumbling block.I mean when we go in public are we smiling? I would hate to go to a church where the members act as though they are miserable.
Some people look like they could eat you up if you even said hello.Another thing whats the deal about apostolic people not saying hello when they see another member of the house of God out shopping or eating? We need to knock off unfriendliness because its a big stumbling block to sinners and saints as well.lv sis.c

[nightwatchman]

Sis. Cooper,



VERY GOOD POINT........ :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup:

[foreverblessed]

Ddc,

Good post.

I am not exactly sure why, but when I am deep in thought, or spacing it, (which I do quite often! :cool: ) I for some reason get told I look like I am mad enough to kill someone. I evidently set my jaw in some weird way. :confused: Oh well, after being told this several times by family, and even strangers in stores asking me what was wrong, I have learned to paste a smile on my face when going out in public. I still sometimes slip up.

It is very important to show that we are happy and blest people. I think it is just as important as making sure we are clean and well dressed. We represent the King.

[Thelordisone]

"For it is necessary that there be quaralings among you so that those that are approved may be manifest!!"

In His Name!!

[ddc101]

I thought about this thread today when I went out shopping.
There was a lady from one of the churches in a nearby city out shopping.It is one of the very strict churches.I made it my point to go to her and say hello. She was out with another lady who obviously did not go to church.They were gossiping in loud voices where all could hear.I looked for a place to run and get away from them lest anyone think we were associated.I know people are weak and it is easy to get tempted to gossip but Lord help us no to be a stumbling block to those who are looking tword the church.We need to be focused on Jesus at all times.Even while shopping.lv sis.c

[BroDane]

Sis Ddc, I found your post to be most excellent, To it I add:

Ro:1:28: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;Ro:1:29: Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Ro:1:30: Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Ro:1:31: Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

I find it interesting that God says one who debates has a reprobate mind...

Just a thought

[ddc101]

Brother Dane,
I hadn't seen that about the reprobate mind.Wow that is deep.lv sis.c

[celeste]

I thought about this thread today when I went out shopping.
There was a lady from one of the churches in a nearby city out shopping.It is one of the very strict churches.I made it my point to go to her and say hello. She was out with another lady who obviously did not go to church.They were gossiping in loud voices where all could hear.I looked for a place to run and get away from them lest anyone think we were associated.I know people are weak and it is easy to get tempted to gossip but Lord help us no to be a stumbling block to those who are looking tword the church.We need to be focused on Jesus at all times.Even while shopping.lv sis.c


Great post, Sister Cooper,
Now, we're claiming we are apostolic (or pentecostal of some sort), cutting our hair (short for women) after all these years being apostolic, would then be a [U]stumbling block[U/] for those who we want to win for the Lord?
Questions were raised on that issue...

just asking,
celeste

[jesusonly238]

Sis. Cooper,
Great post! Wish I had done this six years ago!

celeste,
If we calim to be a holiness people, and then do something that is against that standard, then yes, it would be a stumbling block to our outreach. That is why holiness must be maintained at all times. this goes for men and women as well. We must be holy in Jesus Christ if we are to reach out.
But, holiness is an inward transformation as well. So, our holiness must be outward and inward. You take my life as an example. Though, I now know that my salvation up until a few weeks ago was not valid, I did not have a holiness inwardly, though I may have dressed it outwardly. It takes both.
We must love, and be loving, but be real with the brethren. There are issues which should not divide us, but should not. May we fall on our face before Jesus Christ and restore that which we lost inour hatred.

[ddc101]

Sister Celeste,
Is that all your hair? I am impressed at how beautiful.Amen.Lv sis.c

[cg6098]

Sometimes we may be having a bad day but I wonder if we realize how much our countenace can be a stumbling block.I mean when we go in public are we smiling? I would hate to go to a church where the members act as though they are miserable.
Some people look like they could eat you up if you even said hello.Another thing whats the deal about apostolic people not saying hello when they see another member of the house of God out shopping or eating? We need to knock off unfriendliness because its a big stumbling block to sinners and saints as well.lv sis.c
I agree. I used to see people from the church I was attending at the time and we aould never say hello. I would get offended. After a while I realized that most of them were waiting on me to initiate the conversation. NOw when I see them I smile and talk to them and they talk right back. True concern and a friendly disposition will definitely bridge the gap.

[celeste]

thanks, Sis C.

jesusonly238, thanks for sharing.

Now then, how can we explain to the babes in Christ what we did then is unscriptural or rather than just of an apostolic standard?

just a thought..
celeste

[cg6098]

Sis Ddc, I found your post to be most excellent, To it I add:

Ro:1:28: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;Ro:1:29: Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Ro:1:30: Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Ro:1:31: Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

I find it interesting that God says one who debates has a reprobate mind...

Just a thought
Sometimes debate is a means of discovering truth, if done in the right spirit. " The mark of superior minds is th ability to disagree without being disagreeable".(Zig Zigler)

I believe debate is necessary if we are to defend what we believe and point out the error in someone's doctrine if it is not scriptural. For instance, I worked with a Baptist worship leader whose father was a Baptist minister. We differed over the doctrine of tongues. I went to the 14th ch. of 1st Cor. andshowed him the scripture. He couldn't say anything. I almost had him converted, but his dad talked him out of it over the weekend. Maybe debate means something other than engaging in a persuasive arguement in the original Greek. Having said that, it can be injurious if done in the wrong spirit and can cause bitterness and resentment. Check out the link at the botom of this post. There are several studies on this very topic. I find it to quite interesting. we are always moving toward more Light and the revelation of more Truth and that sometimes happens by engaging in a persuasive arguement. (read the study 'you think you are always right', it's pretty good)

[NanaRenan]

I am not exactly sure why, but when I am deep in thought, or spacing it, (which I do quite often! :cool: ) I for some reason get told I look like I am mad enough to kill someone. I evidently set my jaw in some weird way. :confused: Oh well, after being told this several times by family, and even strangers in stores asking me what was wrong, I have learned to paste a smile on my face when going out in public. I still sometimes slip up.

It is very important to show that we are happy and blest people. I think it is just as important as making sure we are clean and well dressed. We represent the King.
This is so true, FB....

In fact, I think that if we're battling/worrying/whatever over something that causes us to be lost in thought -- we need to take a moment and "steal away" in prayer...to at the very least set up a song of praise in our heart.

That's not the time to go out in public...because we DO represent The King.

Think -- would the US Ambassador in any country go to a meeting with the people he is sent to with a scowl on his face?

We are emissaries every hour of every day!!

[FedwaySHE]

Sometimes debate is a means of discovering truth, if done in the right spirit. " The mark of superior minds is th ability to disagree without being disagreeable".(Zig Zigler)

I believe debate is necessary if we are to defend what we believe and point out the error in someone's doctrine if it is not scriptural. For instance, I worked with a Baptist worship leader whose father was a Baptist minister. We differed over the doctrine of tongues. I went to the 14th ch. of 1st Cor. andshowed him the scripture. He couldn't say anything. I almost had him converted, but his dad talked him out of it over the weekend. Maybe debate means something other than engaging in a persuasive arguement in the original Greek. Having said that, it can be injurious if done in the wrong spirit and can cause bitterness and resentment. Check out the link at the botom of this post. There are several studies on this very topic. I find it to quite interesting. we are always moving toward more Light and the revelation of more Truth and that sometimes happens by engaging in a persuasive arguement. (read the study 'you think you are always right', it's pretty good)




Debate helped ME find the truth. if it is done in a right attitude, and someone is truly seeking the Lord, IMO, debate can be very helpful.

And of course, if done with a wrong attitude, debate can be a stumbling block.
I've tried to maintain this thought with my brethren and sisters in numerous discussions, "Agree to disagree"..