Luke 17

Luke 17:1-4 warns that temptations to sin will come. Things that cause people to fall are bound to take place. However, Jesus makes it clear that we need to be on guard not to be the people that cause this to happen. We shouldn't do things that will draw people to sin, hold on to bitterness, or participate in something wrong. In fact, if we are involved in these things then according to Jesus it may be better to drown yourself. I don't believe that Jesus wants us to commit suicide, what he wants is for us not to be involved in these activities or to repent if we have. 

Along with this warning that the opportunity to sin will come, Jesus also says that we need to help our brothers (and sisters) in Christ who are caught in sin. This includes if he sins against you. "That church did me wrong" may be an accurate saying but the question you need to ask yourself is have you forgiven them? There are sometimes good reasons to move away from a group of people who are in a church to protect yourself from their immaturity (or maybe their hypocrisy) but there is never an excuse to hold on to hard feelings. To quit going to church altogether is like saying a restaurant served you bad food so you will never go out to eat. It's like saying, Walmart did me wrong so I won't shop anywhere again! Jesus warned that things were going to happen. He warned people who did them would be in trouble. He also said when your brother (or sister) in Christ does something to forgive, again and again. 

It would be easy to look at this scripture and say, yes so and so, or that church should listen. However, Scripture isn't there for us to sit in judgment of others, but to have it judge our own hearts. What does this Scripture say to you?

Luke 17:1-4 NIV Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

Photo by Csaba Gyulavári on Unsplash