Don't be siljoked.

Don't be Siljoked.
Matthew 18:6-9
'Siljok' in Matthew 18:6 in Korean Reformed Bible means 'making a false step' If someone makes a false step, his leg will be sprained, or wounded, or die because of cerebral concussion. But we sometimes make a false step or cause people to make a false step. So Jesus says, "Such things must come."(Verse 7)
Have you been made a big false step because of someone? Maybe you hate him who caused you to siljok(make a false step). If I say you to love him who caused you to siljok, what is your response? "Yes, I will love him." Or "No, I don't."
But think. Sometimes you have caused people to siljok. But in this case, people don't remember. Today ask yourself with this question, "Which is more? You caused them to siljok, or be caused siljok by others?" What is your answer? 1. More siljok by others 2. More caused siljok them 3. Around 50-50.
This siljok(hurt) happens between near people, not far people. Near wife and near husband cause each other to siljok. Near parent and children cause each others to siljok. Near pastor and near church member cause to siljok. What should we do in order not to siljok(hurt) or not to be siljoked?
Very simple. Die. That is answer. Dead man is not siljoked. Dead man does not get angry. And dead man has no power to siljok others. He does not hit others. He does not yell at others even if he hears a big insult from others. 'Die' is the truth of Jesus. Is here anyone who have been siljoked(hurt) by others? Remember Apostle Paul who said, "I die everyday."(1 Corinthians 15:31) And think, "Yes, I will die too."
Let's look at today's scripture. Some parent came to Jesus with their children. But Jesus' disciples rebuked them and expelled their children, "Don't come here. Go away." But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them." And then Jesus said, "If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin(siljok)"
In this scripture, 'little ones' means not only children but also the weak or new church comers or all of us. Let's look at the next words of Jesus. "If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."(Matthew 18:6) What does it mean? It means causing them to siljok is terribly bad. So Jesus strongly warns about siljok.
Let me tell you a story about siljok. One child came to the church. The boy was very poor. So his clothes smelled bad. One day Sunday school teacher told him, "Next Sunday, you have to come to the church with clean clothes." But the boy was siljoked at the words. So he never came to the church from that time on. That boy was Park Jung Hee who was the famous president of South Korea. Park Jung Hee told this story before many pastors at the prayer meeting for our nation. It is a really regrettable story.
Today's scripture can be divided into two parts. First part is verse 6-7. And second part is verse 8-9. First part 'siljok' is 'scandalijo' in Greek bible. This 'scandalijo' is the original word of 'scandal' in English. What is 'scandal'? "Scandal' is 'widespread public outrage and loss of reputation'. This word 'scandal' is used in every areas nowadays.
In second part verse 8-9, we can see again the word 'scandalijo'. This word is translated into 'bumjae' in Korean Reformed Bible. 'Bumjae' means to sin. In the first part, 'scandalijo' is used in passive form. But in the second part, 'scandalijo' is used in active form. This means someone who causes scandalijo is bad, and someone who fall into scandalijo is bad too.
For example, someone is badly hurt(siljoked) by others' criticism. But someone is not hurt(siljoked) by other's criticism. Let's take a look at the king Saul. He was not hurt even if he was badly insulted. Some troublemakers despised Saul said to him, "How can this fellow save us?" But Saul kept silent. He was okay. He never revenged onto them.
But when he heard this song, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.", Saul was angry and very upset and hurt(siljoked). In fact, the first insult is severer insult than this song. This means siljok is not only responsible for others but also for himself. Today I ask you not to siljok or not be siljoked. I mean even if you hear insult from others, don't be siljoked(hurt) And how can we avoid siljok?
1. We have to acknowledge the danger of siljok.
People are easily siljoked by a little thing. So we have to be careful of telling word. Especially near people have to be more cautious. If parent insult their children, they are hurt and siljoked. In this case, their children do not come to the church with their parent. It is same between man and wife.
We see many people left church. Why? Because they were siljoked. So I always pray, "Lord, don't let them siljok people or be siljoked. Especially don't let them be siljoked by me." And what is next to avoid siljok?
2. We have to set up the relationship.
In fact, the children in today's scripture is how helpful to Jesus? Maybe bothersome. But Jesus did not want them to be siljoked. So Jesus strongly told people not to cause siljok. As you know we are different. So we might think, "We cannot not match each other. We cannot be friend each other." That's why men and wives divorce.
But look at the people. There is no one who is same as me. Every people are different. Some people are siljoked because of this difference. But look at our body. Eyes and ears are different. Nose and mouth is different. But they consist of one body. If mouth hates nose, that is hating himself. If someone hurt other, that is hurting himself. If someone despise other, that is despising himself.
Rainbow has seven colors. If one color is backslidden, it is no more rainbow. Rainbow needs all seven colors. We have to think other is important. Husband has to think wife is important. And wife has to think husband is important. We have to think your are important. And what is the next to avoid siljok?
3. We have to make resolution and effort.
Without effort, nothing can be accomplished. To avoid siljok, we have to make resolution and effort. We have to pray, "Lord, keep my word and action so that nobody be siljoked.
Let me make a conclusion. Don't cause siljok. Don't be siljoked. Furthermore encourage them. Give them hope. Is here anyone who is siljoked? Please spring up from your siljoking seat. If you cannot stand up by yourself, seek God's help and be man of victory, be man of happiness. Amen!