V RaptureChrist Newsletter
December 1, 2013

Look at the biggest political scandals, and what do we see? We see people stealing money, a man cheating on his wife, politicians using government funds for their own personal use, government officials taking too many "vacations" at the taxpayer's expense... the list goes on and on. However, all involve sin.

DC is the capital of scandal. Think of all the stories we see in the newspapers. After the reputation of a politician is tarnished, he will often lose the election and never run again. Scandals have an amazing power of destroying a person's reputation. After the event, you see the person with different eyes. 

Originally, the word scandal meant a trap or a snare. Think of Monica Lewinsky trapping President Bill Clinton. He was nearly impeached for his actions while in the Whitehouse.

Another example of a political scandal involved John Edwards with Ruielle Hunter, his secretary. National Enquirer ran the story of how he was cavorting with her while his wife lay in a hospital bed dying of cancer. However, John Edwards was able to scare off serious newspapers. He claimed that Mrs. Hunter's child was not his, and it was only years later that he admitted that the child was his own. Probably, he will never run for president again.

Another example this year is Anthony Weiner, who was way ahead in the race for NYC mayor. However, a woman came forward and said he was sending her pictures of his male organ. Anthony Weiner apologized and said he was going to stop, but continued doing so under the nick name "Carlos Danger". The comedians had a field day making jokes about him.

Before the scandal came out, Anthony Weiner was way ahead in the political race. His chances of becoming NYC mayor were super. Well, that all changed when more pictures did appear. In fact, he lost the race. People did not feel he was a good man. The political scandal did ruin his career

As we mentioned before, the original meaning of the Greek word "skandalon or skandala"  is "the trigger of a trap." It causes you to fall into a trap or a snare. It does not means STUMBLE, because when you stumble you may walk away. When you fall into a trap you cannot get out easily. 

Skandalon also meant a bent sapling used to trigger a trap for a prey.

Scandal can also mean yelling because animals often yell when they fall into a trap.

It may also mean gossip. This is because people talk about the event that just did occur. Mostly, in almost all instances, a scandal involves sin.

The word's meaning has changed over time, but we must remember that the original meaning is a trap or a snare.

As we discussed already, the word skandala/skandalon means the trigger of a trap. However, we find it is often wrongly translated for us in the Bible.  Let us look at MATT 18:7

Although, in this bible passage, the word "skandala" is translated in three different ways, it is the same word "scandal," which originally  meant a trap or a snare.

Basically, what Jesus Christ is saying to us is - woe to the man who sets a trap or a snare. Let us reread what Christ tells us with the right translation.

MATT 18
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. 6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to fall into a trap, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 "Woe to the world because of its traps or snares. For it is inevitable that traps or snares come; but woe to that man through whom the trap or snare comes!

The word SKANDALA does NOT mean STUMBLE, OFFENSE, or TRESPASS, but to place a trap or a snare - for example, placing cookies in easy reach of a boy and telling him not to eat any, then asking him later on if he stole any.

Word of wisdom for all Christians. Do not create temptation and occasion to sin for someone that is weak in the Lord.