The Concept of Stumbling
In this sermon, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains the concept of stumbling from a deep spiritual view. A stumbling block occurs when a person causes another to fall into sin or doubt, whether intentionally or not. Christ warned strongly about it: “Woe to the world because of offenses, and woe to that man by whom the offense comes.”
Summary:
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Definition: Causing others to fall through word, action, teaching, or bad example.
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First Stumbling: Satan caused Adam and Eve to fall by deception.
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Ways of Stumbling: By corrupt knowledge, by bad environments, or by doubtful talk.
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Doctrinal Stumbling: False teachers and heretics cause spiritual confusion and weaken faith.
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Bad Example: People stumble others through negligence, anger, or disrespect in church.
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Church Behavior: Talking during prayer or leaving early sets a bad example and weakens reverence.
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Responsibility of Adults: Adults’ behavior can deeply affect children’s purity and faith.
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True vs. False Stumbling: Beauty or success are not causes of sin; wrong intentions are.
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Biblical Examples: Christ, the Virgin Mary, and saints acted humbly to avoid offending others.
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Avoiding Stumbling: Stay away from evil influences, live humbly, and act from love, not appearance.
Spiritual Essence:
Stumbling reveals how our lives influence others. The Christian must live in purity and humility, being a light to others rather than a cause of their fall. True holiness is not isolation but living in love that lifts, not trips, our brothers.
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