I didn’t know a person could be allergic to oranges.
I knew about Grapefruit. Peanuts. Eggs.
But not oranges.
Allergic Reaction.
Allergies and stumbling blocks are like one another.
They both indicate a weakness, a vulnerability, a susceptibility to harm, to a serious reaction, that could threaten life, health, and well-being.
Stumbling Blocks are… spiritual allergies, maybe?
Idols/Vices?
They certainly are these things.
“Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity. Should I be consulted by them at all?
Ezekiel 14:3
Pick your vice; pick your issue.
Come on. You and I have them.
They don’t need to be obvious, illegal, or dangerous.
They can be anything that takes up too much of our thoughts, our time, our energy, or resources.
Spiritually, they are anything that competes with The Most High.
He wants our undivided attention.
Stumbling Blocks prevent that from happening, don’t they?
Kryptonite.
Something that has the capability to weaken, to hurt us, and to cause an unpleasant reaction, like an allergy.
This is Basic Humanity.
“For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.”
Psalm 103:14
That should be reassuring, right?
The human, flawed experience, however, IS a bit trickier.
He may know we are dusty frames, vulnerable to several different vices and idols…
But do we know that?
Because, after all…
A Stumbling Block would not be so destructive, dangerous, or unhealthy, were it not for the temptation element OF it.
“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.”
James 1:14
Temptation.
We WANT what is unhealthy, dangerous, life-threatening, costly, and distracting.
We WANT what can pull us off course. We fixate ON it.
It’s painful and difficult, as each one of us struggles with those captivating things.
(You know what yours are).
It, however, takes on a Love-Of-The-Most-High tone, emphasizing responsibility and stewardship on a spiritual level.
Now there is gravity.
It answers our cop-out question, uttered centuries earlier…
“Am I My Brother’s Keeper?”
“ …‘Where is Abel thy brother?’ And he said, ‘I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?’”
Genesis 4:9
Uh, yeah you are… or were…
(We know THAT situation did NOT go well).
But wait, there’s more…
“…‘Who are My mother and My brothers?’ Looking at those seated in a circle around Him, He said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of (The Most High) God is My brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 3:33-35
Okay, okay, okay, we get it.
Personal responsibility is HUGE here!
It’s about doing His Will. And Stumbling Blocks are contrary to that Will and Plan.
So much so, Our Savior was not done making His Point about them.
And it got a little intense…
“But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.’”
Matthew 16:2
Peter was just called “The Rock,” the Foundation of The Christian Church, a little earlier.
Now he’s called Satan?
Yep.
Getting in the way of The Most High’s Will. Peter was coming from a place of tearing down, not building up.
“‘But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction...”
Malachi 2:8
Stumbling Blocks.
Don’t underestimate them. I guess that’s the message.
Awareness Or Ignorance?
But to do that, it requires awareness. It requires that we forsake ignorance.
That’s a choice.
We can opt out; we can opt in.
“Therefore let us not judge one another anymore but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.”
Romans 14:13
Years ago, when I was undergoing a course of radiation, I encountered signage in the Cancer Care Unit of my clinic.
These signs, like the Orange sign I encountered today, asked that people refrain from wearing perfumes, cologne, and anything that has a strong fragrance to it.
Cancer patients, especially those undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments, are extremely sensitive to anything that has strong chemical makeup. Like perfume.
Immune systems are compromised and weaker; people are frailer. It’s more difficult to walk and breathe.
This should be a no-brainer for us.
Just like people (you’d hope), wouldn’t dream of chain smoking and blowing smoke rings directly into a cancer patient’s face, one would also like to believe people would see the sign, heed the instructions, and not douse themselves with Chanel Number 5 and Calvin Klein.
But no.
I have been in the waiting room. And, what’s that I detect?
Strong fragrances.
And the sound of someone choking, coughing, wheezing.
Having a reactive response, like an allergy.
Experiencing a form of Stumbling Block.
No, perfume is not the temptation.
It’s the complication, though, complicating a patient’s ability to breathe and be healthy, safe, and comfortable.
Awareness? Ignorance?
How do we explain the perfumed one in the Cancer Care Unit?
They made a choice, right?
What was it?
And why was it?
Did they underestimate the reaction from perfume and cologne?
Did they think that just because they didn’t have an issue with it, no one else would?
“But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.”
1 Corinthians 8:9
Or do they just not care?
Is it more important that they do whatever they want, bypassing anyone else’s needs and issues?
A lack of empathy?
Conscientiousness?
That’s what this whole Stumbling Block thing boils down to: empathy… love.
“The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.”
1 John 2:10
Love for one another. Right?
“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
John 13:34
Isn’t that clearly understood?
It should be, right? As decent human beings?
Don’t hurt someone else?
Be conscientious that someone might have a struggle?
Let’s not make that situation worse and more painful than it already is?
I wonder, post-appointment today, how many people eat oranges within that radiology department?
How many people, despite the sign, still insist on Stumbling Blocks, of the Citrus kind?
Copyright © 2025 by Sheryle Cruse
