Stumbling blocks among Christians

In the Bible in Romans chapter 14, it says in the last part of verse 13 that Christians shall not put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of another Christian.

What does this mean? A stumbling block, an obstacle and a hindrance indicate things that will make another person to fall. In Christians terms, falling refers to wrongdoings or sins. The last part of verse 13 therefore surely says that a Christian should not behave in a way that will cause another Christian to do something wrong. I believe that this also includes not to remain silent if we see that another Christian is about to do something wrong. Putting such a stumbling block is actually wrong, whether it is a direct attempt to cause another Christian to fall or it is an indirect attempt by not stopping another Christian who is on a path that can lead to a fall.

Chapter 18 in the gospel of Matthew shows us how to deal with a person who has done something wrong or is about to do something wrong. In verse 15, it says that you should go and show him his fault, between you and him privately. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. It means that the case is solved and closed. 

In verse 16, it says that if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed and upheld by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he then listens, the case is solved and closed.

In verse 17, it says that if he does not pay any attention to them, then you should tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, you can let him be to you as a non-believer.

If you observe a Christian who is on a path that can lead him to fall, you have a responsibility to deal with it according to Matthew 18. But you cannot skip verses 15 and 16. You cannot assume that he would not listen to you. Jumping straight to verse 17 could actually cause the church to deal with him as if he had not listened to you. If skipping verses 15 and 16 and instead making a list of the increasing wrongdoings would be similar to putting a stumblig block in his way which would be a behaviour that is not according to the intention in Romans chapter 14, verse 13.