Stumbling Block or Light of the World?

I became a believer in 1978, at a time when Pastor David Wilkerson’s ministry to gangs, prostitutes, alcoholics, and drug addicts was going, and growing strong.  Many people are familiar with his book, “The Cross and the Switchblade”.

I am deeply saddened by his death in a tragic car accident.  Pastor Wilkerson lived his life in service to those the WORLD says, “Write them off, put them away!” Yet God’s WORD says, “They are made in My image and they are precious to Me.”

Pastor Wilkerson’s life has had a profound affect on my own life and, especially, the way I view ministry and my calling to the Deaf harvest field.  Jesus died for the last, the lost, the least.

My mother, after waking up in her own vomit, hugging a toilet, finally called AA to get the help she needed.  My wife’s mother was an alcoholic and died of cirrhosis of the liver.  Good news regarding our moms, they both became believers in Jesus Christ before they died.  We will be together forever!

Rhonda and I celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary in New York City, and we had the privilege of attending Pastor Wilkerson’s church, Times Square Church.  He preached a powerful message on marriage and family.  He emphasized love–defining love as when you behave in a way that is in the best interest of another person instead of doing what you have a right to do in Christ. This chapter from God’s Word explains.

1 Corinthians 8  (The Message)
Freedom with Responsibility

1-3  The question keeps coming up regarding meat that has been offered up to an idol: Should you attend meals where such meat is served, or not? We sometimes tend to think we know all we need to know to answer these kinds of questions—but sometimes our humble hearts can help us more than our proud minds. We never really know enough until we recognize that God alone knows it all.

4-6  Some people say, quite rightly, that idols have no actual existence, that there’s nothing to them, that there is no God other than our one God, that no matter how many of these so-called gods are named and worshiped they still don’t add up to anything but a tall story. They say—again, quite rightly—that there is only one God the Father, that everything comes from him, and that he wants us to live for him. Also, they say that there is only one Master—Jesus the Messiah—and that everything is for his sake, including us. Yes. It’s true.

7  In strict logic, then, nothing happened to the meat when it was offered up to an idol. It’s just like any other meat. I know that, and you know that. But knowing isn’t everything. If it becomes everything, some people end up as know-it-alls who treat others as know-nothings. Real knowledge isn’t that insensitive.

We need to be sensitive to the fact that we’re not all at the same level of understanding in this. Some of you have spent your entire lives eating “idol meat,” and are sure that there’s something bad in the meat that then becomes something bad inside of you. An imagination and conscience shaped under those conditions isn’t going to change overnight.

8-9  But fortunately God doesn’t grade us on our diet. We’re neither commended when we clean our plate nor reprimanded when we just can’t stomach it. But God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a fellow believer still vulnerable to those old associations to be thrown off track.

10  For instance, say you flaunt your freedom by going to a banquet thrown in honor of idols, where the main course is meat sacrificed to idols. Isn’t there great danger if someone still struggling over this issue, someone who looks up to you as knowledgeable and mature, sees you go into that banquet? The danger is that he will become terribly confused—maybe even to the point of getting mixed up himself in what his conscience tells him is wrong.

11-13  Christ gave up his life for that person. Wouldn’t you at least be willing to give up going to dinner for him—because, as you say, it doesn’t really make any difference? But it does make a difference if you hurt your friend terribly, risking his eternal ruin! When you hurt your friend, you hurt Christ. A free meal here and there isn’t worth it at the cost of even one of these “weak ones.” So, never go to these idol-tainted meals if there’s any chance it will trip up one of your brothers or sisters.”

I close with this prayer that I’ll call, “The No Stumbling Block Prayer”,

God, grant me the serenity to accept my responsibility,
Courage to exercise my freedom in You,
And wisdom to know the difference.