I.
Introduction.
A.
This doctrine, as some doctrines can be, is a subtle doctrine to
understand and apply.
B.
The believer, who is –V or not grasping the elementary doctrines and
making the correct applications with regard to them, will not be able to
correctly grasp and assimilate this doctrine.
C.
Generally, most Christians only perceive the concept of the stumbling
blocks as applying in a negative or sinful way.
D.
However, Scripture makes it clear that there are legitimate and
non-legitimate stumbling blocks.
E.
Stumbling exists in various degrees.
F.
There exists a form of stumbling from which one can recover or one of a
permanent fall from which there is no recovery.
G.
When dealing with the concept of stumbling and stumbling blocks, one
must identify both the subject (the cause of stumbling/stumbling block) and the
object (the one who stumbles).
H.
In every case, the one who stumbles is always culpable for their own
stumbling.
I.
Due to the doctrine of volition, each member of the human race is
ultimately responsible for themselves.
Mat.18:8-9
J.
The one who causes the stumbling may or may not be at fault and/or may
or may not be sinning..
II.
Vocabulary.
A.
Hebrew.
1.
lv;K' – verb; used 64x; means to stumble, to waver or
stagger, to cause to fall. When followed
by a B, it
indicates the thing against which one stumbles.
a.
!Alv'Ki – noun; means a stumbling or a fall.
b.
lAvk.mi – noun; used 14x; that which anyone stumbles
against, a stumbling block, offense.
2.
@g:n" – verb; means to strike or
smite, used of the foot striking something that causes one to trip.
3.
@g<n< - noun; used 7x; a striking; most often used of a
plague or blow delivered by God; used 1x
with #1b (rock of “offense”) above to indicate a “stumbling stone” in
Isa.8:14.
B.
Greek.
1.
prosko,ptw – verb; used 8x; means to strike upon or against something,
to stumble; used of rain “pelting/bursting” against something.
a.
pro,skomma – noun; used 6x; means a stumbling block, an
obstacle in the way that if struck with the foot causes one to trip or stumble,
an offense.
b.
proskoph, - noun; used 1x; means an occasion of stumbling, an
action that caused another to stumble or trip.
c.
avpro,skopoj – adj.; used 3x; in the active sense it is used of
having nothing to strike against, not causing to stumble.
2.
ptai,w – verb; used 5x; in a transitive (action of the
subject takes a direct object) sense it means to cause one to stumble or
fall. Intransitively, to stumble or
fall.
3.
a;ptaistoj – adj.; used 1x; means not stumbling, standing firm
or securely.
4.
skandali,zw – verb; used 30x; means to put a stumbling block in
another’s way, to cause stumbling.
a.
ska,ndalon – noun; used 15x; literally it is used as the
trigger or stick that activates a snare or trap. It is any impediment placed in the way of
someone that causes him or her to stumble or fall.
b.
This family of words is where our term “scandalize” originates.
III.
Definition and description of applying stumbling and stumbling blocks
in the spiritual realm.
A.
The physical realities of walking and the potential for striking the
foot against some object that is capable of tripping the individual are used to
portray spiritual realities.
B.
Walking is a conscious and deliberate action taken to move one from one
place to the other and so implies both motion and progress towards a
destination.
C.
Walking is an ongoing action common to all normal humans, and so is
used in scripture to describe the lifestyle of the positive and the
negative. Eph.2:2 cp. Phi.3:17,18
D.
Walking comes to mean the pursuit of a course of life and how one
behaves or conducts themselves.
E.
As a stumbling block/stone causes one to trip in the physical realm, in
the spiritual realm the stumbling block is that which produces a reaction
(stumbling or taking offense) and becomes a hindrance to others in their “walk”
in life causing them to trip or fall by the way.
F.
Sometime the stumbling block is sinful and it causes the +V of life to
stumble; and sometimes the hindrance is righteous and it causes the –V of life
to stumble.
G.
Adjusted believers should be made aware that they will experience
stumbling and be even sinful stumbling blocks to others in their Christian
life. Jam.3:2
H.
This does not mean we have a license to be such, but is a reality of
the Christian battle with the STA. See Doctrine of the OSN/STA
IV.
Types of stumbling blocks.
A.
Legitimate stumbling blocks.
1.
There are situations that the stumbling block and the one placing it
are righteous and in line with BD.
2.
God the Father has constituted His Son, Jesus Christ, as a stumbling
block to those who are negative.
Isa.8:14-15 cp. 28:16; Rom.9:32-33 cp. Luk.3:34; 1Cor.1:23; 1Pet.2:7-8
3.
God has designed His plan so that BD is a stumbling block to –V, to
include believers. Joh.6:60-61; Mar.4:17
(believers are in view)
4.
The cross is a stumbling block to the pride of the legalist. Gal.5:11 cp. 6:12
5.
God lays stumbling blocks without sin (testing) for –V knowing that
they will fall over them due to their rejection of His plan. Jer.6:16-21; Eze.3:19-20 (Ezekiel’s
commission)
B.
Non-legitimate stumbling blocks.
1.
These are circumstances in which the stumbling block and the one
placing it are sinful.
2.
False teachers and the false doctrine that they teach are a source of
stumbling. Eze.44:9-12; Mal.2:1 cp. 7-9;
Mat.16:6,12; Rev.2:14-15
3.
STA activity can be a source of stumbling for those inside and outside
the local church. 1Cor.10:32 cp.
Act.24:16; 2Cor.6:3
4.
One’s own STA can cause him or herself to stumble. Eze.14:3-4; Mat.18:8-9
5.
Making an issue out of non-essentials before a weaker believer causes
that believer to stumble.
Rom.14:13,20-21; 1Cor.8:9
V.
Reasons for personal stumbling.
A.
Just as a lack of light in the physical world may eventuate in
stumbling, spiritual darkness produces stumbling. Pro.4:18-19; Joh.11:10; 1Joh.2:11
B.
Arrogance. Prov.16:18; Jer.50:32
C.
Failure under GAP.
1.
Failure to listen to the truth.
Jer.6:19-21
2.
Failure to believe and apply the truth.
1Pet.2:8
D.
Religious reversionism.
Jer.18:15
E.
Inordinate attraction and infatuation with the cosmos. Psa.73:2-16
F.
STA activity. Hos.5:5 example of
STA activity rationalized and not dealt with.
G.
Failure to apply under love/FHS.
1Joh.2:9-11
H.
Persecution. Joh.16:1
VI.
God has made provision so that the believer need not stumble.
A.
He has provided BD to prevent stumbling. Psa.119:165; Pro.3:13-26
B.
The adjusted communicator attempts to brief those under his charge as
to the realities of the A/C so they may avoid stumbling. Joh.16:1
C.
Therefore, it is occupation with the truth that mitigates against one
stumbling. Joh.11:9-10
D.
Faith-resting situations to the Lord instead of pursuing your own
course of action and attempting to advance or deliver yourself prevents
stumbling. Isa.40:27-31
E.
The doctrine of Separation keeps the path clear of
impediments/obstacles that would trip the believer. Pro.4:14-19 cp. 1Cor.15:33
VII.
Degrees of stumbling.
A.
Just as one can catch their foot in the physical realm for any number of
reasons, so spiritual stumbling can occur in a number of ways. Jms.3:2
B.
The believer is to pray for God’s deliverance from any situation that
would permanently cause him to fall.
Mat.6:13
C.
There are various degrees of stumbling i.e., from losing your balance
momentarily to a stumble that produces a complete collapse and fall.
D.
The positive adjusting believer is supported by the Lord and can
recover from any stumble. Pro.24:15-16
E.
An example of losing your balance would be reacting to the prosperity
of the cosmos. Psa.73:2ff
F.
However, you are to bring doctrine to bear on the matter, rebound your
foolishness and move on. Psa.73:17ff
G.
More severe stumbling occurs when one does not bring doctrine to bear
on the issue and runs with the STA.
Mat.26:30-34
H.
If one does not bring forth and apply BD that they have, some
situations may eventually do them in.
Luk.8:13-14; 1Tim.6:9
I.
Failure to make the MAJG is a permanent form of stumbling. Phil.1:10 (“blameless/without stumbling/avpro,skopoj)
J.
The anti-dote to avoid fatal stumbling (reversionism) is to sustain the
virtues of spirituality throughout life.
2Pet.1:10b cp.vss.5-7
K.
To stumble over another’s violation of the law of love does not get the
believer off the hook as far as any excuse for not making the MAJG.
L.
Failure to believe in Christ as Savior equates to an eternal, permanent
and really painful fall. Mat.11:6 cp.
Rom.9:32-33; Act.13:38-41
M.
National and personal reversionism leads to the fifth cycle of
discipline and the sin unto death (SUD), called stumbling. Eze.14:7-8; 36:15; Jer.6:15; 46:6; 50:32;
Dan.11:19
VIII.
Stumbling and the Day of the Lord (Tribulational and 2nd
Advent period).
A.
Unbelievers are called stumbling blocks and will be purged at the 2nd
Advent. Mat.13:41
B.
Believers will stumble under persecution. Mat.24:10
C.
National
IX.
Concluding observations.
A.
Stumbling blocks such as human viewpoint, persecution, etc., are daily
parts of life in the cosmos.
B.
God must allow volition to run its course, so under His permissive will
He must allow stumbling blocks.
C.
This does not mean that He approves of those who cause sinful or
unrighteous stumbling.
D.
In fact, those communicators responsible for being unrighteous
stumbling blocks are under woe and especially on God’s hit list. Mat.23:13-16,23,25,27,29
E.
A special curse is placed upon anyone who causes +V to stumble. Mat.18:6,7; Luk.17:1-4
F.
All unbelievers and the stumbling blocks they produce will be removed
at the 2nd Advent. Mat.13:41
G.
God is able to sustain the positive believer and protect him from the
fatal misstep. Pro.24:16
H.
We are not to express inordinate joy when evil befalls those who oppose
us. Prov.24:17-18
I.
Truth is said to stumble when one does not isolate their STAs and
pursue BD. Isa.59:12-15
J.
The only way to completely ensure that we are not a source of
unrighteous stumbling to others is to be in FHS and apply BD. 1Joh.2:10
you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,
to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,
be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time
and now and forever. Amen