Stepping Stone Or Stumbling Block

Being a stumbling block entails a violation of another person by influencing them in a negative manner, condoning something wrong by consent or silence whereby you violate your own awareness of right and wrong. We can create a stumbling block by a behavior or attitude that causes another to sin. It is my hope that I never do or say anything to cause anyone to stumble. Stumbling blocks involve exercising liberty in a way that hurts a person who is much weaker and defenseless to participate in something that dishonors them, denigrates them and their integrity. Prime example, we teach our children to tell what we call white lies to cover for us without thinking of the seriousness of lying, we ask our friends to cover for us, there are those of us who minimize taking supplies from work, getting over on someone by any means necessary, using profanity, or hanging out when you should go home…the list could go on. We should empower and encourage those who are weaker, without sufficient conscience to make the right choice and those who lack the self-control to live mindfully by the word of God.

1 Corinthians 8:9-12 (ESV)

But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so, by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.