When the tomb of the great medieval conqueror Charlemagne was opened, the workmen found not only the man who once controlled over half of Europe, but they were startled at the scene that greeted them.

Clothed in elaborate royal garments, still sitting on a throne, were the remains of the Holy Emperor of Rome, and something unexpected. Those who buried him in the year 814 placed a scepter in one bony hand and an open Bible on his knee. A cold, lifeless finger pointed to Mark 8:36: "For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"

It is not known if Charlemagne requested this pose or if those closest to him decided to make a powerful statement of his failures to the generations that followed. It is known, however, that the great conqueror was depressed at the end of his life for not fulfilling his earthly goal of world domination.


There is a big difference in placing trust in things we can see that are temporary, and the things of God, that are unseen. “For the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” – 2 Corinthians 4:18

Martin Luther said, “I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”


There is a loud voice in many of America’s churches saying, “If you have enough faith, God will make you prosperous.” There is a problem with this message – it is not consistent with the Bible. 

A minister visited a poor church in a poor third world country and spoke with a member of the church who had recently heard a faith based wealth recording that was exported from America. The message was not good news to the devout believer in Jesus Christ. He came away believing that since his town was poor and his church was poor and he was poor, that he did not really believe in Jesus.


Is this the good news of Jesus Christ that is for ALL PEOPLE?

American Pastor David Platt, author of the book Radical, stated in a 2010 PBS interview, “This idea that if you believe God, have enough faith, that he will give you health or wealth or prosperity… It’s not the good news that Jesus preached. More than health and wealth, Jesus I think gives us a picture more of a homeless and wounded gospel, and even the New Testament church is not a picture of prosperity theology. It’s a picture of adversity theology, persecution, struggles, poverty, helping one another out.”


How many of the original disciples were rich? None.

True, there are a few Bible verses and human examples that one can focus on to sift out a message of prosperity, but the good news of the Bible is Salvation through Grace. Yes, God’s Grace can, but does not always equal health, wealth and prosperity. Look at Peter’s first letter, “In this [good news] you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes…” – 1 Peter 1:6-7. Due to their abundant faith, early believers were chased from their homes, killed, tortured, and had all of their riches confiscated. Peter tells them their faith is for salvation, which is more precious than gold.

Christians still face persecution. Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani serves in Iran and has been in prison for over 1000 days. He is sentenced to die for simply being a Christian and refusing to renounce Jesus as his savior. If the message of health, wealth and prosperity were true, Pastor Yousef’s faith is weak.


There are Christians around the world that go to church every Sunday, knowing that they may be attacked and killed. Yet their churches are full. Is the gospel of wealth and prosperity “working” for these people, or is their faith rooted in something deeper?

On the flip side, if a wealthy person were presented the idea that God would make them rich if they have faith in him, they would probably say, “I am already rich. I don’t need God to be wealthy.” Where’s the good news? It’s OK to be rich and love God, but God has much more to offer than fleeting wealth.


Peter explains the good news of the Bible – not wealth, but the love and of God in the hope of Jesus: “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls..” – 1 Peter 1:8-9

Pastor Jay Merritt

“Take the stumbling block out of the way of My people." – Isaiah 57:14

I was walking along an old city street when I nearly tumbled head over heels after my toe struck the edge of the sidewalk that had been upturned by the roots of a nearby tree. The dangerous obstruction reminded me of the term used in the Bible that causes people to fall off the path and away from faith in God – stumbling blocks.

As believers, we should always be on alert to remove stumbling blocks from the path of those who are not strong in their faith, and to not be a stumbling block ourselves. We must be careful about heaping up rules that believers must follow to avoid temptation, and also avoid the other extreme of encouraging them to explore all of their liberties found in Christ, to the point of leading them into temptation. 

Instead, we must let the Holy Spirit do His work, and not get in the way.

Remove Stumbling Blocks

Jesus said, “whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.” Mark 9:42

We must continually and fearfully evaluate the way we live and act to make sure we do not cause people to turn their eyes from Jesus’ perfection and onto our imperfection.


Unfaithful Leaders Become Stumbling Blocks

"You have departed from the way; You have caused many to stumble at the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi," Says the LORD of hosts. – Malachi 2:8

Leaders of God’s Church, have a huge responsibility to teach God’s truth and not personal opinion. Leaders also must lead blameless lives so they do not send their flock off a cliff. 


Hypocrites in the Church are Stumbling Blocks

"… you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” – Matthew 23:28

There are too many “phony Christians” who are turning people away from God without realizing it. Telling your children to “do what I say and not what I do” is hypocrisy. Praising the Lord and then cursing with the same tongue is hypocrisy. Greeting a fellow believer with a warm smile one moment and then telling the next person you meet some gossip about them is hypocrisy. STOP IT!


Watch Against Becoming a Stumbling Block

“…let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.”

“…do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

“It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.” - Romans 14:13, 16-17, 21

Please realize, as you work in the church, there are many people who come from many backgrounds, who have many struggles and personal convictions. Just because you feel it is OK to drink alcohol, don’t encourage others to do so, even in jest. If you feel that eating meat is like eating poison, don’t argue with a believer who needs it. Likewise, if you are a meat lover, don’t starve your vegetarian guests. If you smoke, don’t smoke in public, so you don’t entice or offend others.


Love Prevents Being a Stumbling Block

“He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.” – 1 John 2:10

In ALL things, use a huge measure of God’s Grace, rather than beating your brother down with the Law. Each of us can find faults and can be found to be at fault, each and every moment of the day. The more we get to know each other, the more we know that we are all imperfect and in need of a perfect savior.

Let Jesus Be Offensive, Not You

The true stone of stumbling is Jesus. We are simply called to tell people about Him. For some He is a stumbling block, to others, He is foolishness. To believers, Jesus is the Christ – the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:23-24). Some will reject Him. Others will accept Him. Our job is to clear the path for Him, and step aside.

Jesus is the stone that we must allow ourselves to come crashing down upon - the Rock that must knock us to our knees. Isaiah, Peter and the Psalmist called Him a “precious cornerstone, a sure foundation” (Isaiah 28:16, 1 Peter 2:6, Psalm 118:22), and a “stone of stumbling” and a “rock of offense” (Isaiah 8:14, 1 Peter 2:8).


Pastor Jay