I had been contemplating something, a thought I found worthy of noting and sharing. It has a great deal to do with the concept that we ought not put a stumbling block before our brother, or encourage sin, but rather that we should encourage righteousness.
The classic example in scripture, posed in Romans 14, is the manner of Christian liberty. The example given deals a lot with meat sacrificed to idols. While this did not convict some Christians, it certainly convicted others. One man's liberty was another's sin. It caused the Gentile who was so used to doing this to worship his former god, to consider that perhaps he was still worshipping his former god. Thus he was guilty in his heart of breaking the first commandment because his unconvicted brothers in Christ preferred their liberty over his conviction.
Primarily, however, I think this issue addresses the commandments that pertain to other men. God does not encourage us to sin; yet how capable we are of encouraging others to sin! The commandments which pertain to men, being summarised as "love your neighbour as yourself," I think, are the ones Christ cited in Matthew 19:18-19. (There is an interesting reason he cited the ones he did, but I won't enter that tangent.)
What about "honour thy mother and father"? Perhaps we do this; we do well. Yet do we encourage our brothers to do the same? Moreover, what about those of you who are a mother or father. Do you, (while obeying God,) make yourself? Scripture admonishes the father not to provoke his children to anger. So on one side, the child must honour his parents, but I think it is also fair to say that the parents must raise and treat their children in a way that makes them honourable, with both love and dicipline, being honest and not deceptive, being rational and not emotionally driven.
Another example, (and I am speaking to my female friends primarily here.) It is commanded of us not to commit adultery, and Christ said that for one to so much as look at a woman with lust is adultery. It is easy for us to say, (and call it liberty,) "I will dress how I want. Men need to protect their eyes."
Oh, but God forbid any of us say that! For inasmuch as a man ought not look at a woman with lust, a woman should not make herself appealing this way. Why tempt your brother in Christ? Or don't you know that flashing cleavage and showing too much leg or midriff is all it takes to make a man's mind into a battlefield? Well, now you know and are without excuse.
If hatred is as bad as murder, do not provoke your brother to hate you! If it is a sin to covet, then do not build up yourself in a way that makes you enviable! And if is sin to steal, do not give your brothers in Christ reason to steal. Christ Himself says that we ought not refuse those who beg to take or ask to borrow. It is sin to speak a blessing on a person who is in need, yet not supply that need if it is within our means. It is not an excuse not to "feel" like doing something. How often I have seen people refuse to do small favours with no good reason.
It is a sin to bear false witness -- to lie. I think some people do this without even thinking, because it is a compulsive habit to them, and that is incredibly unfortunate. Yet there is another side to this, because again, a lie can be provoked. If you ask a loaded question, will a person not be tempted to lie? This also has application to gossip. Do you listen openly when a brother speaks out against another? You do not know if he speaks the truth; ask for evidence before you open your ears to juicy gossip and cause your brother (and yourself) to stumble.
These commandments are summarised as such: love your neighbour as yourself.
Do you make yourself lovable, though? Do you accept love from others? Do you accept gifts when offered? Do you speak to your brother and fellowship and tell them how you are doing?
Or do you draw back, presume that life is one-sided, and think that you can somehow love another without giving them an opportunity to love you back?
Despise none, but do not be dispicable either. Steal nothing, but neither be stingy. Do not lust, but neither be an object of lust. Love, but do not refuse love, either. Do not sin, but do not cause your brother to stumble, either -- for such would not be loving your brother, and in doing so, you have also sinned.
I understand that in some things, we can only do so much, and in others, we have reasons for holding back. We cannot be accountable for every single thing. Yet far too often, I think, we do not make ourselves lovable simply because we are too proud. And I do not think there has been a greater downfall of man than that.
The classic example in scripture, posed in Romans 14, is the manner of Christian liberty. The example given deals a lot with meat sacrificed to idols. While this did not convict some Christians, it certainly convicted others. One man's liberty was another's sin. It caused the Gentile who was so used to doing this to worship his former god, to consider that perhaps he was still worshipping his former god. Thus he was guilty in his heart of breaking the first commandment because his unconvicted brothers in Christ preferred their liberty over his conviction.
Primarily, however, I think this issue addresses the commandments that pertain to other men. God does not encourage us to sin; yet how capable we are of encouraging others to sin! The commandments which pertain to men, being summarised as "love your neighbour as yourself," I think, are the ones Christ cited in Matthew 19:18-19. (There is an interesting reason he cited the ones he did, but I won't enter that tangent.)
What about "honour thy mother and father"? Perhaps we do this; we do well. Yet do we encourage our brothers to do the same? Moreover, what about those of you who are a mother or father. Do you, (while obeying God,) make yourself? Scripture admonishes the father not to provoke his children to anger. So on one side, the child must honour his parents, but I think it is also fair to say that the parents must raise and treat their children in a way that makes them honourable, with both love and dicipline, being honest and not deceptive, being rational and not emotionally driven.
Another example, (and I am speaking to my female friends primarily here.) It is commanded of us not to commit adultery, and Christ said that for one to so much as look at a woman with lust is adultery. It is easy for us to say, (and call it liberty,) "I will dress how I want. Men need to protect their eyes."
Oh, but God forbid any of us say that! For inasmuch as a man ought not look at a woman with lust, a woman should not make herself appealing this way. Why tempt your brother in Christ? Or don't you know that flashing cleavage and showing too much leg or midriff is all it takes to make a man's mind into a battlefield? Well, now you know and are without excuse.
If hatred is as bad as murder, do not provoke your brother to hate you! If it is a sin to covet, then do not build up yourself in a way that makes you enviable! And if is sin to steal, do not give your brothers in Christ reason to steal. Christ Himself says that we ought not refuse those who beg to take or ask to borrow. It is sin to speak a blessing on a person who is in need, yet not supply that need if it is within our means. It is not an excuse not to "feel" like doing something. How often I have seen people refuse to do small favours with no good reason.
It is a sin to bear false witness -- to lie. I think some people do this without even thinking, because it is a compulsive habit to them, and that is incredibly unfortunate. Yet there is another side to this, because again, a lie can be provoked. If you ask a loaded question, will a person not be tempted to lie? This also has application to gossip. Do you listen openly when a brother speaks out against another? You do not know if he speaks the truth; ask for evidence before you open your ears to juicy gossip and cause your brother (and yourself) to stumble.
These commandments are summarised as such: love your neighbour as yourself.
Do you make yourself lovable, though? Do you accept love from others? Do you accept gifts when offered? Do you speak to your brother and fellowship and tell them how you are doing?
Or do you draw back, presume that life is one-sided, and think that you can somehow love another without giving them an opportunity to love you back?
Despise none, but do not be dispicable either. Steal nothing, but neither be stingy. Do not lust, but neither be an object of lust. Love, but do not refuse love, either. Do not sin, but do not cause your brother to stumble, either -- for such would not be loving your brother, and in doing so, you have also sinned.
I understand that in some things, we can only do so much, and in others, we have reasons for holding back. We cannot be accountable for every single thing. Yet far too often, I think, we do not make ourselves lovable simply because we are too proud. And I do not think there has been a greater downfall of man than that.
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