But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 1 Corinthians 8:9
A good number of young Christians attend our annual conference every year, most of them the growing and grown children of parents who have been in Assembly fellowship for many years. These young people are familiar with and comfortable with the way things are done in our Assemblies. They are also familiar with the prohibitions and restrictions that have grown up around us over the years. What makes it interesting is when they are joined by somebody who has come from an entirely different background. Such a person often questions why we do some of the things that we do, and how we find Biblical authority for those things. These people see Christians in other circles doing things that we would be uncomfortable with, and they have no concerns about joining those other circles when they find it convenient. Because they see nothing wrong with those associations, they often convince other young Christians to join them. In doing so, they will often lead some young Christians out of Assembly fellowship and into denominationalism. Such stumblingblocks are dangerous.
If all of the Christians, young or otherwise, had a firm grasp of the Word of God, especially those things that pertain to New Testament principles of gathering, there would be very little to entice anyone to leave our Assemblies or to have anything more than casual fellowship with those who are outside. But – and some of the fault may be ours, not theirs – many of the younger folk have only a slight understanding of those truths and principles. They are in the Assembly because their parents are, and they have not much conviction of their own. They are easily stumbled by those who challenge how and why we function as we do, for example, by those who see nothing wrong with joining in an evangelistic effort with those who are disobedient to the Word of God. Many of the denominations, for example, have exciting and vibrant programs for young people, programs that are high in entertainment value and low on spiritual value. This stumblingblock trips up far too many who are unprepared for the temptation.
Those who are in responsible positions in our Assemblies need to grasp the responsibility for properly teaching the flock of God. The more of the Scriptures that the Lord’s people know, the less likely they will be to be stumbled by outside attractions, by worldly pleasures, or by unscriptural ideas. By reducing the numbers of those who are weak in the faith, we reduce the numbers of those who will be stumbled because of ignorance of the truth. But there is a responsibility on those who are in need of being strengthened. Young Christians need to learn and take an interest in Assembly doctrines. They need to immerse themselves in the Bible readings, and read books by sound Assembly writers. If those who are weak will learn God’s truths, fewer will stumble.
We all have a responsibility to not only uphold the truths of Scripture but also to learn those truths and teach them to others. If we do, stumblingblocks will disappear. -Jim MacIntosh