A Scandulous Trap
Heidi McLaughlin
When you see the word “scandal” what images come to mind? Perhaps blackmail, betrayal, money laundering or adultery? It’s quite shocking that the source of this word is none of those portrayals. In fact the word “scandal” comes from the Greek word “skandalon” which is the root of the word offense.
How is an offense scandalous?
Let me explain. Skandalon is the trigger of a hunter's trap that holds the bait. When we consciously or sub-consciously take the bait of offense, we trigger the enemy's trap and become the captive. Offense runs rampantly these days and it seems like people get offended over everything they don’t like or agree with. And when we’re offended we often feel hurt, we create our own stories of unfairness and build up walls to protect ourselves from the pain. We begin to nurture and rehearse the injustice and this gives Satan a foothold to wreck scandalous havoc in our spirit.
Therein lies the trap.
Of course, I also get offended and I’ve discovered something about myself that is scandalous. Offenses come from a deep hidden sense of pride. Pride?
Offenses come masked as wisdom but are rooted in pride.
I cringe when I realized it was my pride that:
Made me think I was smarter than the other person. (They should have known better)
Had expectations they didn't fulfill.
And on and on. When we feel overlooked, not heard, wrongly judged or misunderstood, we are bent on establishing who is right and who is wrong. Because surely we’re smarter.
In Matthew 24:10 (KJV) Jesus warns about the end times and says: “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” Does that have a familiar ring of our daily global news?
When I realized it was the sin of pride that caused me to feel offended, it surfaced the ugliness of my self-righteous indignation. I needed some serious soul searching for the root of my pride. I needed to find discernment to know what is worth fighting for and what is not. Often we find ourselves confused on this issue because of our self-serving nature that needs to be seen and heard.
I pray that God will let me see myself through this verse: "Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.” (Colossians 3:13).
I pray that I do not run from important issues, but that I do not let offenses be bait for the enemy of Satan to cause scandal in my soul. Lord have mercy.
