It’s hard to believe that former Governor Sarah Palin is again being used as a scapegoat.

Blaming her for McCain’s loss in the 2008 Presidential election was odd since she was initially chosen by McCain to run for the Vice-Presidency. Now, to blame her for the violent actions of one man against another political representative and the group of people who happened to be standing nearby, is ridiculous.

The January 8, 2011 edition of The Wichita Eagle, in an article by David Espo, states that the suspected shooter, Jared Loughner, may have acted alone. So why blame Palin for this tragedy? Regardless of Loughner’s mental state, he was the one who made the decision to attack Gabrielle Giffords. It is he who will be held accountable, not Palin.

Leviticus 16 talks about scapegoating. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was a special service held by God’s people. Animals were sacrificed daily for Israel’s sins. On the Day of Atonement, two goats were sacrificed instead. One was for the Lord, to be sacrificed as a sin offering; one was to be the scapegoat on which were laid the nation’s sins. It would be released into the wilderness.

According to www.enduringword.com, “After the high priest’s sin was dealt with and after the tabernacle itself was cleansed, Aaron then dealt with the sin of the people through the transference of sin and release of the scapegoat…This was a perfect demonstration of atonement under the Old Covenant, before the completed work of Jesus on the cross. Sin could be put away, but never really eliminated. The sin-bearing goat, bearing the sin of Israel, was alive somewhere but put away.”

Although modern Jews still observe Yom Kippur, they typically fast for that day but no longer need animal sacrifices for their sins.

When Christ died on the cross, He took upon Himself the sins of the world. He made atonement for us all as the final Scapegoat. His death ended live animal sacrifices and gave us a direct link to Him. To be forgiven of our sins now, we need only confess them to God and repent.

Blaming others when we ourselves may be guilty – scapegoating – will not hold up in the courts of Heaven. Instead, we will be held personally accountable for our sins, each one of us…come Judgment Day.

“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12 KJV)


Refer to:

http://www.keyway.ca/htm2000/20000502.htm

http://www.biblehistory.net/newsletter/scapegoat.htm

http://fayfreethinkers.com/tracts/scapegoat.shtml

http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/0316.htm

http://www.kansas.com/2011/01/08/1665129/officials-suspect-claims-he-acted.html

http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-st-petersburg/democrats-set-sights-on-palin-to-scapegoat-for-gifford-s-shooting


« »