Stumbling Block: July 3, 2013

Sometimes I think really hard on that verse about "not being a stumbling block" to others. Ya know... the one that basically suggests that if my actions cause others to stumble (sin, be offended) then I, myself, have sinned. Man-oh-man! That is SO difficult to keep in my head! But, here's the deal: some people/whole denominations use this verse as a tool to condemn/control others. If my way of worship differs from their views, bam-throw this verse out there and poop-I'm done for. What's happening is some folks are so trapped it tradition that they cannot read the Bible without hearing a preacher/momma/daddy's voice. They can't look at the words and make meaning from it. The Holy Spirit cannot speak to their hearts, because they read the Bible with minds on lockdown. Somebody else has already told them what to believe and anyone who doesn't come to their same conclusion is a stumbling block to them. It's really sad, and it is beyond judgemental to believe there is only one way to worship. Did you know that Jesus went to worship at the temple? Guess what? There were instruments in temple worship!!! That's fight folks! It is very possible that before the church was persecuted, instruments in worship had been so commonplace that no apostle ever dreamed they'd need to give permission to the future body to have instrumental worship!!! Perhaps the writers of the New Testament were never trying to answer all the questions that we try to make the Bible answer. They were taking notes on miraculous happenings, they were writing letters to parts of the body in different cities trapped in sin, they were buliding each other up! They were NOT thinking about what day to have communion each week when they wrote it down in their notes, they were NOT instructing folks to meet three times throughout the week, heck-they weren't even intending to show us what "church" should look like. They were simply living in tune with the Spirit and taking notes!!!! Every single "church" scattered throughout the cities looked/worshipped differently. There was no "one-size-fits-all" way of worship, and there never was. Did you know, I've actually had folks say that a wreath on the church door is a stumbling block? Even if it was donated, someone might think you used church funds for it and that is NOT what church $$ should be used for-therefore the wreath is a stumbling block! Somebody show me that Scripture, please!! Aren't we being just a smidge judgemental by making this a "stumbling block!" I think what I'm saying is, we as Christians, have got to be careful about what we deem a "stumbling block." If your church traditions assume all other practices are stumbling blocks, it's time to re-evaluate. Re-read the New Testament. Stop listening to someone's beliefs in your head and stop trying to answer every question in life with a Biblical answer. Yes, the Bible is God's Word. But, the writers of the New Testament were not trying to condemn everybody by having us point fingers about stumbling blocks. If the Bible is not explicit on a certain topic, don't assume your way is the right way. Lord knows I've been a stumbling block and never even knew it, how is that possible?!