Scandal! Scandal! Scandal!

Well, here we go again. Another public figure embroiled in the middle of a tawdry tail of sex and deceit. John Edwards, former democratic candidate for the presidency of the United States, is the most recent individual being added to an ever increasing group of men in public life who have eaten of the forbidden fruit of adultery. By his own admission, Mr. Edwards had an "affair" in 2006 and decided that "being 99% honest is no longer enough."

My point in writing about this is not to condemn Mr. Edwards; his judgment will come from God. My point is to remind us that these kinds of public scandals drew scathing words from our Lord. In Matthew 18:7, Jesus said, "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!" The phrase "stumbling blocks" comes from the Greek word "scandal." It literally means "to cause someone to fall." That's the missing point in the News Media's coverage of this whole sordid story -- this scandal will cause many to fall because it is just another blow at the fidelity of marriage. It is one more excuse for people to see marriage as a relic of the past that has no sanctity about it for even "good guys" slip up every now and again. Every time a public figure's "adultery" is thrown out for public consumption it rots our collective sensibilities toward the holiness of marriage. People are no longer shocked, disturbed, or bothered -- we simply want the juicy details. Shame on us!

But more to the point; shame on the "man through whom the stumbling block comes!" Is there forgiveness for Mr. Edwards? Through Jesus Christ, there is! However, I pray that Mr. Edwards will direct his attention to Matthew 18:1-10, and as a result, stop airing his sin-stained laundry out in sight of the world. His concern ought not be damage control in relation to his reputation, but it ought to be damage control in relation to those who will think just a bit less about faithfulness in marriage because of his public scandal.