How can I know if I’m being a stumbling block to someone else?

Romans 14:13, 20-21So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. . . . Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.

A stumbling block, simply defined, is something that would cause people to fall or regress in their faith. In the New Testament, this is usually an issue between a stronger, mature believer and a weaker believer. The newer or weaker believer may have come out of an environment where certain activities were associated with idolatry, depravity, or specific sinful behavior. While not sinful in itself, an activity was tainted to the new believer because of its association with sin—specifically, in this case, eating or drinking certain foods.

Galatians 5:13You have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

1 John 2:9-10If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.

If we determine that we are, in fact, possibly causing another person to stumble, then we should be willing to give up the offending activities, at least in the presence of weaker brothers and sisters. While we know that those activities are not sinful and we are free to indulge in them, we should not flaunt our freedom if it will harm someone with a weaker conscience.