Some of the lessons that God appoints for His people to learn from time to time are the lessons that come with scandal. Whenever a situation arises within the Christian community that shocks, grieves, angers, or scandalizes the people generally, we have to remember that this also is from the hand of God. And because it is from the hand of God, He expects us to be good stewards of it.
First, scandal reminds us, in particularly vivid ways, of what would happen to us apart from the preserving grace of God. A strange mixture of fear and gratitude is appropriate.
At the same time, it teaches us that God in His severe mercies has not written off those who have fallen. We are people of the new covenant, and not only does this mean that we are a forgiven people, it necessarily brings with the corollary that we are a forgiving people.
Third, when situations like this arise we are called to follow the Scriptures carefully, and not to construct deductive syllogisms with what we think are scriptural premises. The qualifications for fellowship and leadership are not the same, and the Bible tells us precisely what to don when scandal erupts among those in a position of leadership. When someone betrays a trust, and then loses a position of trust, this is not the same thing as a lack of forgiveness.
Scandal also teaches us that God, in His sovereign and decretive will, wants our enemies to be able to gloat and point at us. This does not excuse them, but rather provides us with an opportunity to model for them the response that they are refusing to offer to God. What are we to do when something happens in our midst that the word of God condemns? If we want non-believers to repent, one of the things we should do is show them how it is done.
And last, scandal gives us the opportunity to believe the Word of God—all things work together for good for those who love God. And so we turn to Almighty God, believing Him.