A Stumbling Block to God's Calling and Purpose

Today’s Scripture reading was 1^st Corinthians 10:12-22 and Matthew 16:20-24. Although I am not an Orthodox Christian, I attempt to keep up with the Orthodox Church lectionary according to the days. And today’s reading revealed to me my need to examine and ask myself:

Am I a hinderance to the ministry of God? Am I sinning in such a way that I am eating from the table of demons and causing hinderance to the ministry of God?

In 1^st Corinthians 10:12-22, we find St. Paul talking about living a life in sin. He warns us that as God’s chosen we should not be like the Israelites who were wandering in the desert during the time of St. Moses. Although they were God’s chosen, Israel still suffered the consequences for offending God. They disobeyed God by walking against God’s statues. St. Paul is clear: when we sin as the people of Israel sinned, we serve and partake of the table of demons.

Idolatry is not just the worship of idols as many would understand by reading this Scripture. Idolatry is anything that we put before God. When we sin, we are choosing ourselves over God, elevating our desires as more important than that of the Lord God. When we sin, we serve the devil and his demons.

In Matthew 16:20-24, we find Christ Jesus rebuking St. Peter for being a hinderance to Him. Prior to that, Christ Jesus had made it known what was to be done to Him by the elders, the Pharisees and the Sadducees; that he was suffer in their hands, to be killed, and on the third day be raised. St. Peter took him aside and said, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you." And Christ Jesus said, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men." And Christ goes on to say, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." 

I don’t know if St. Peter in that moment knew that what he told Christ was an offense. Clearly, it was. What other reason would Christ Jesus use such strong words to refer to St. Peter as being Satan? He clearly offended Christ Jesus and Christ referred to him as being a hinderance or a stumbling block to Him.

A stumbling block for Christ God? How is that possible?

When we sin, we commit idolatry; we are serving and partaking from the table of demons. And when we sin, we are actually stumbling blocks to the purposes of God. We are hinderances to God’s calling and purpose. And when we sin, we offend God and if we do not repent we will perish, just like the Israelites during the time of St. Moses. This is where I see the words of Christ Jesus calling us to follow Him by denying ourselves and take up our cross; in essence, we are to join Him and do what He does - not be a hinderance to Him.

Following the readings of the day, I read chapter 1 of part 2 of The Life Of Repentance and Purity, “If You Know Who You Are, You Will Rise above Sin”. And there couldn’t have been a better chapter to read after the readings of the day. God was clearly speaking to me.

Pope Shenouda III wrote:

“He who practices sin is a son of the devil. He is of Satan and not of God. How frightening! The apostle records for us a fundamental principle: “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God (1 John 3:9). By this standard, my brother, you can measure yourself whenever you say that you are a son of God.”

“You will not be able to remain as a partner to Christ if you walk in sin for the Bible will reproach you with its saying: “What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15). When you sin, it is as if you say to the Lord, “The partnership between me and You has been dissolved. I have searched for another partner. I am now a partner with the devil, and I will not return to be Your partner again!”

“When you sin, are you a partner in the divine nature? Certainly not; you are a partner to Satan, for the Bible says: “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning… In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest” (1 John 3:8,10). When we sin, we forget our great glory and lose our rank. For after God says to us, “You are gods,” He continues: “But you die like men, and fall like one of the princes” (Psalm 81:7). Who is this prince who fell? It is Satan, who previously was an archangel!”

The Life of Repentance and Purity was written as a call for us to truly repent and turn to God for purity. While isolating these paragraphs does the book no justice, they are portions of the chapter that affirmed what unfolded before me as I read today’s reading of Scripture.

Pope Shenouda III also wrote:

“You are a partner to the Holy Spirit – not in essence, but in work. He works in you, with you, and through you for the sake of your salvation and the salvation of other people, spreading the kingdom of God and building the body of Christ. You do not work alone, or else you would be relying on your human capabilities. “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 126:1). The Holy Spirit participates with you in the work. He does not work alone, but takes you with Him so that you may receive blessing. So you are a partner to the Holy Spirit, a partner in the divine nature, in work.

The Holy Spirit always works with you for the good. When you do evil or sin, then you were working alone, refusing your partnership with the Holy Spirit.” Pope Shenouda goes on to cite Ephesians 4:30, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, and Psalm 50:11.

Am I a hinderance to the ministry of God? Am I sinning in such a way that I am eating from the table of demons and causing hinderance to the ministry of God?

Honestly, I ask myself this… And wonder what exactly is it that I’m doing that’s a stumbling block to others and to the purpose of God and what can I do to resolve it. 

Repentance is the first step and changing is the next, by God's grace.