Recently, I have pondered the outworkings of our programs in welfare and Christian education. In doing so, I recalled a recent devotion that I gave to the Senior Leadership Team and Melton staff about the scandalon, a part in a basic animal trap.
I am fascinated that the elements of this simple animal trap have technical names. The operation of the trap is simple. As illustrated in the picture, the animal walks in to eat the bait, and the hunter pulls the cord that removes the vertical stick, thus dropping the box onto the animal.
The technical name for the vertical stick in the trap is the ‘scandalon’. Its root is the Greek word skandalidzo. From this we derive the English word ‘scandalise’. ‘Scandalise’ means to offend, to put a stumbling block in the way, to entice into sin, or to cause a person to begin to distrust.
Skandalidzo is a very common word in scripture. It appears 44 times in the New Testament and is used 19 times in the Gospel of Matthew. It is translated as ‘stumbling block’ (Chapter 16:23), ‘offence’ (Chapter 11:6), ‘falls away’ (Chapter 13:21), and ‘deserters’ (Chapter 26:31).
In Matthew, the disciples of John the Baptist were sent to ask Jesus, “Are you the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” (11:3). This is quite an extraordinary change of heart. John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus and even baptised Him (Chapter 3). John knew that Jesus was the Son of God. Yet here, in a short space of time, John is questioning Christ’s identity as the Son of God.
Somehow, John had become offended. Offence, in most cases, is a question of an unmet expectation.
The reason for John’s offence is not stated. I wonder if John thought he would be a central player in the ministry of Jesus. They were cousins, after all. John was proclaiming the way for Jesus, but events did not transpire that way. John was not even chosen to be one of the disciples – from chosen herald to not selected as an Apostle. In fact, John is sitting in gaol while Jesus is moving in great power.
There is great danger in being offended. “An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars” (Proverbs 18:19).
The trouble with being trapped in a box is that you cannot lift the box off by yourself – that is why it is a trap.
Humility of character cushions us and protects us from taking offence. Forgiveness is the only antidote.
These are hard lessons to learn. It is best to learn them as a child.
The range of our programs and approaches works quietly yet deliberately to help our students understand these powerful truths.