I think a good understanding of stumbling brothers is in order also. IMHO,
(and I've heard a few pastors who dared to explain this passage), keeping a
brother from stumbling means not causing him to do something he feels is
wrong. Let's use the example of alcoholic beverages. I know people whose
life verse must be "Take a little wine for the stomach." They love to quote
it. However, if I've been raised in a home and church where alcoholic
beverages ranked right up there with abortion and witchcraft, then that
brother would be causing me to stumble if he tried to convince me, "Hey,
it's okay, just have a little social drink." On the other hand, if I had
been raised in a country where the water was poor or for some other reason,
alcohol was regularly served with a meal and I had never batted an eye at
it, I wouldn't be stumbling if I joined him in a drink. I realize this
example alone could be seen as a can of worms, but that's not my intention.
I'm not trying to start a discussion on alcohol and I really hope I don't
see one. I'm just trying to give an example of stumbling/not stumbling.
Here's maybe a better one:
If you watched the Smurfs every Saturday morning and just thought it was a
cartoon and laughed every time Brainy got bonked on the head, then fine. If
your friend comes over to watch TV and says that he doesn't want to watch
the Smurfs because the evangelist at his church said it was evil and he's
afraid of it, then don't tell him, "Aw, it's just a cartoon." Find something
less controversial to watch.
I think that our friend now has to make a decision about playing Magic. If
you've been playing Magic for a while and everytime you sit down, you get a
funny feeling in your gut and you wonder if you really ought to be playing
it, you should decide if it's right or wrong. You're probably causing
yourself to stumble. But if you've always felt it was as harmless as "Go
Fish" or "Uno" (is there a controversy on either of them?) then you were
probably ok. But now you've heard someone say that it is wrong, so you have
to make a choice. You need to research it, study your Bible, and prayerfully
decide if it is going to hinder your relationship with Jesus Christ or not.
I personally have only played it once. That was on the internet. The WoTC
site had a demo and I wanted to know what it was all about. I really didn't
like it that much. I prefer straight fantasy or straight sci-fi. When I see
a knight pick up a laser gun or a cyborg trying to wield magic, I just get
miffed and look for something better to do. I don't care for crossovers
much. But I also know that I can be very (unhealthily) interested in true
magic. I admit I'm intrigued. So I avoid it.
Your call.

----- Original Message -----
From: David L Milner <papabeardm@...>
To: <dragonraid@...>
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 7:15 PM
Subject: Re: [DragonRaid] Re: Magic


> OK, I gotta answer that.  The I Thess. passage does not say, "Abstain
> from anything that could appear to be evil", although countless
> generations of parents have tried to keep their kids from doing things
> they didn't want them to by pretending it did.  It says, "Abstain from
> evil whenever it appears."  I believe the brother who spoke of not
> causing your weaker brother to stumble was closer to the mark.  I believe
> in quoting Scripture, but let's use it correctly.
>
> I am not condemning, just trying to correct in love.
>
> Dave Milner
> For the Kingdom and the OverLord!
>
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