The Bible tells us that we should not be a cause for another person to sin and stumble on their faith. Being the cause of one's fall is a terrible thing.
The Lord Jesus Himself explained the gravity of the matter. According to Luke 17:1-3, "One day Jesus said to his disciples, "There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. So watch yourselves!"
Knowing that being the cause of one's sin is a grave offence. We must look for ways to avoid doing it. To help you identify which behaviours to avoid, here are some ways you can cause others to sin without you really knowing about it.
1. When we provoke others to anger
Anger easily grabs a person's common sense and restraint, then throws it out the window. When we willingly or unwittingly provoke a person to anger, there's a possibility that the person will be tempted to do something sinful and regrettable. Sure there's forgiveness, but there's also the offence. Worse, you caused them to sin, and thus the guilt falls on you, too.
Ephesians 6:4 says, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord." Although it specifies dads, the principle can also be applied to how we treat women.
2. When we refuse to correct a fellow believer in sin
Jesus said in Luke 17:3b, "If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive." When we just allow that brother to keep sinning when we actually know that what he is doing is wrong, we are actually supporting his wrongdoings. Proverbs 27:5 says, "An open rebuke is better than hidden love!"
In reality, we will be held accountable for the rebuke we've withheld. James 4:17 says, "Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it."
3. When we involve them in some wrongdoing
This is common among those who are lazy or busybodies who waste their time gossiping and doing nothing fruitful. When we involve a fellow believer in our foolish habits such as gossiping, being lazy, grumbling and complaining, or when we invite them to do something we know is wrong, we actually deliberately cause them to stumble!
Think about King David, who ordered Joab to put Uriah in the area where the battle was fiercest so that he'd be killed (see 2 Samuel 11). The Lord was so displeased with David for committing adultery and plotting murder. In the process, David also involved others to sin, too.
