What if I stumble?

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today

Is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips

Then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle.

That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."

What if I stumble, what if I fall?

What if I lose my step and I make fools of us all?

Will the love continue when my walk becomes a crawl?

What if I stumble, and what if I fall?

• From "What if I Stumble", by DC Talk

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A while back some dear brothers had decided to have a party in a more "secular" fashion. In particular, it involved some people getting wasted on alcohol. As I was in a position to respond, I decided to write an email about it. After reflecting on it, I thought there were some things that would be useful for other Christians to think on and contemplate about, since it addresses issues that are very prevalent to our generation these days. Too many Christians live very ordinary worldly and lukewarm lives.

[Please note: This letter was written to Christians who profess they follow Jesus. Most of what is written below would not apply to non-Christians, simply because they haven't declared to follow Jesus yet; if you're not playing the game, you can't break the rules, so-to-speak. So this is not a high-and-mighty criticism of "pagan ways", but simply a letter to tell Christians to walk the talk.]

And so here it is:

…[some introductory words]…

But have you thought about the spiritual consequences of such an exercise?

So what has happened? Not much right? A few people got a bit drunk. Doesn't really matter right? You may have even stayed sober and simply enjoyed the night with your friends. Not too bad, considering that it could have been much, much worse, and other people have done much worse things.

But I need you all to look at it from a spiritual perspective, to look at it through the eyes of Christ Himself. What happened that was so bad last night? It wasn't really the act of getting drunk that is disturbing. It's the fact that you are proactively defying the Will of God, as proclaimed in the Bible, ignoring it so that you can do what you want. In short: Sin.

We all know what God's standard is. I have made it quite clear, even if you hadn't known about it already: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. " (Ephesians 5:18) Drinking is a good thing, and when used appropriately can greatly help people celebrate important life events. But the Bible is very clear: do not get drunk.

Now, you might turn around and say that, "I didn't get drunk!". In fact, maybe even none of the Christians got drunk. But we were still enabling, even encouraging people to do so (in order to have a "good time"). Even if we weren't the ones sinning, the message we shouted out last night was "God's standards don't really matter; just have a good time with your friends, that's more important. In fact, you can't even really have fun by sticking to God's standard; you can only have real fun by straying from His will".

How can that be a good witness to the goodness of God (Acts 1:8)? How can we say that we agree that His Will is "good, pleasing and perfect" (Romans 12:2)? How can we tell our non-Christian friends that Jesus is LORD when we ourselves don't even want to submit under His Lordship (Romans 14:11)?

Do you see what has gone wrong? We have basically thrown away an incredible opportunity to witness to non-Christians about how important we feel our God is. In fact, we may have thrown away future opportunities; we have disqualified ourselves from having any authority in saying that God's ways are indeed good.

We are living in a world where Christians are way too willing to compromise on God's standards. That is why we are losing our power to convict the world; Christians are no different to non-Christians, so why bother with the change? We're uncomfortable with showing the World that we love Jesus' way more than the World's ways, because it might bring shame and ridicule. And so we compromise. Getting "just a bit drunk" becomes ok and normal. Getting into compromising situations with your girlfriend, even sleeping with them, becomes ok. Downloading (ie stealing) songs and movies from the internet becomes a "culturally acceptable practice"; after all, "everyone does it".

"But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." (Matt 5:13) Without its distinctiveness, Christianity is useless. Christianity without Christ is pointless; it cannot change the world. The Gospel should bring fire to anyone who drinks deeply of it: Either a fiery opposition to it, or a fiery devotion to it; not this pathetic lukewarmness that we have become all-too-familiar with in this generation.

While the Gospel proclaims God's grace in allowing us to be saved no matter how sinful we are, it also calls us to turn around  (aka repent) and live to standards that are humanly impossible (without the Spirit in you). Have a closer look at Ephesians 5: "But among you there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving… For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light… and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do  in secret… Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is… (and then read on to the end of vs 20).

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:23-27)

It goes even stronger than that: "But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother (ie, calls himself a Christian) but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat." (1 Cor 5:11)

My dear brothers, I am sorry to bring this Word that is so difficult to swallow. Believe me, I do not want to bring you this sort of pain. But the Desire of the Gospel means that I need to be able to put Christ first, even if it threatens the relationships that I cherish the most in this world.

… [Some more personal messages edited out]...

The Lord bless you and keep you, may His light shine upon you forevermore. May His love fill you to overflowing so that it cannot help but spill out into the world as a witness to His goodness to you, now and forever. May you become Salty and Bright. (Not salty wet ;) )

With the deepest love,

YBIC

Vincent

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I hear You whispering my name

You say, "My love for You will never change"

What if I stumble, what if I fall?

You never turn in the heat of it all

What if I stumble, what if I fall?

You are my comfort, and my God