Evangelism Part III: Hurling Stumbling Blocks.

“Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

Stumbling: To miss one's step in walking or running; trip and almost fall.
Block: Interruption, especially obstruction.

A stumbling block is an obstruction in the path toward God’s purpose that can cause one to trip and fall. Peter in his love, zeal and fear to protect his friend and teacher became a potential obstruction to what God was attempting to accomplish in the life of Jesus.

Peter’s perceived need to defend Jesus had nothing to do with Jesus; rather it was all about Peter.
Peter himself was the stumbling block.

I suspect that is true today. I wonder when and where I have hurled a block in someone’s path. There's a good chance that when I feel the need to defend Jesus that it is more about me than it is Jesus.

This term is used throughout scripture. Paul used it in the context of food laws when the early church often argued and debated over very important matters. In his letter to the Corinthians he tied it into arrogance and knowledge. In his letter to the Romans Paul encouraged folks to stop passing judgment on one another and instead, make up their minds not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in another’s way.

While working as a Chaplain I routinely encountered people who in their journey have been tripped up by those who thought they possessed the perfect knowledge of God and felt an intense need to defend Jesus. I have found this to be equally true in the church. It seems that often in one’s effort to save and protect Jesus and the need to be right or win a religious argument he/she can often become a stumbling block to the work of God.

The same thing happened when Jesus met up with religious authorities who opposed his radical way. Jesus spent a great deal of his ministry overcoming the obstacles in people’s lives that had been put there by religious authorities. There was always someone quoting the law to him and questioning his relationships and methods. He had to seek and save those who had been lost behind a pile of legal religious rubble.

Some folks I’ve ministered to had so many blocks tossed in their path by religious zealots who thought they possessed the “right” doctrine and were out to defend Jesus that a wall had been constructed in their path to God. Often times I have found myself deconstructing the walls built by the blocks that have been hurled into another’s path. Many that I have met have actually been hit and severely wounded by the blocks hurled in their direction.

Based on Matthew’s account of Jesus and Peter, it seems that an effort to defend Jesus can really more about one’s ego about one’s belief--or human things. It often seems to be about control and needing to be right rather than love. The same can be said for Paul’s instruction to the church in Rome and Corinth.

I wonder if too often what is considered evangelism is more like hurling blocks into the path of those on their way to God. Like Peter, I suspect anytime I am on a mission to save Jesus or win a religious argument there’s a good chance that I am a stumbling block to what God may be doing in another’s life.

I wonder how many have made their way to the Church doors only to get there and discover one huge wall of stumbling blocks left by Christians that prevent people from discovering God?