The Apostle Paul described impediments to consensus and unity as stumbling blocks.
Romans 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
In his day, Paul dealt with problems such as these:
- Circumcision: Do you have to be Jewish before you accept the Gospel?
- Meat: Can you eat meat, or should you be vegetarian?
- Idols: Can you eat meat dedicated to idols?
He addressed these points in several of his epistles. In Romans 14, he specifically addressed eating meat:
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not;
and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth:
for God hath received him.
The problem of despisers and judges persists in our day, but recognizing the problems can help us get through them and resolve conflicts.
__________________________
As I've thought about stumbling blocks, particularly with respect to Book of Mormon historicity, I've made a short list that summarizes what I've tried to discuss on this blog so far. I'm making these the focus of my presentations lately. Eventually, I think it will be possible to agree on the basic facts, while leaving interpretation open to individual preferences.
- Two-Cumorah theory
- Reliance on anonymous articles in the Times and Seasons
- Reading things into the text that aren't there (e.g., headwaters of Sidon, etc.)
Romans 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
In his day, Paul dealt with problems such as these:
- Circumcision: Do you have to be Jewish before you accept the Gospel?
- Meat: Can you eat meat, or should you be vegetarian?
- Idols: Can you eat meat dedicated to idols?
He addressed these points in several of his epistles. In Romans 14, he specifically addressed eating meat:
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not;
and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth:
for God hath received him.
The problem of despisers and judges persists in our day, but recognizing the problems can help us get through them and resolve conflicts.
__________________________
As I've thought about stumbling blocks, particularly with respect to Book of Mormon historicity, I've made a short list that summarizes what I've tried to discuss on this blog so far. I'm making these the focus of my presentations lately. Eventually, I think it will be possible to agree on the basic facts, while leaving interpretation open to individual preferences.
- Two-Cumorah theory
- Reliance on anonymous articles in the Times and Seasons
- Reading things into the text that aren't there (e.g., headwaters of Sidon, etc.)
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