No Stumbling Block

 My parents were dear souls.  They were very self-disciplined in many ways and practiced what they preached to their children first and then before others.  I'm talking about those issues that could be a stumbling block, that we'd trip over and consequently, quite possibly miss out on Christ and salvation.

Like Paul told the Corinthians,

"We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited" (2 Corinthians 6:3 NIV).

Take drinking of alcoholic beverages, for example.  The only such drinks my parents would imbibe were one tiny sip of wine every Lord's Day at the Breaking of Bread meeting (otherwise known as communion or the Lord's Supper).  

Why?

They didn't want their children using their practices, even if in moderation, as an excuse to go all out in uncontrolled manner.  I know some may say here, well one needs to teach self-control along with drink and all else.  Well, this was my parents' conviction. Other people may operate otherwise.  I respect my parents for what they did in this regard.  No doubt they wouldn't have wanted to discredti their ministry either by drunkenness or other out-of-control practices.

Recently, I listened to two different preachers on the topic of "Is Drinking A Sin?"  My focus wasn't exactly on answering this question but it relates.  Both of those brothers-in-Christ state that they were "abstainers".  

Why?

Reread the 2 Corinthians 6:3 verse again and take special note of...

"...so that our ministry will not be discredited."

Both men were very aware of what could happen and they wished to avoid being discredited due to lowered inhabitions and potential, subsequent unbecoming behavior.  They wanted to have all their faculties in tact to be able to govern their family and their church.  They did not want to put any stumbling block in anyone's path either, giving no one licence, because of them, to go on a drinking spree.

It seems I keep talking about drinking.  I'm using it only as an example.  There are plenty of other ways to mar one's testimony.  Brothers and sisters-in-Christ, let us each live circumspectly before our loving Heavenly Father and in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Let's honor Him with our lives lived for His glory.  

Put no stumbling block in anyone's path.

                                                     ~ERC  October 2022~

Based on 2 Corinthians 6:3 NIV.

Sing, Yield not to Temptaion, along with Steven Anderson, Worship Videos.