Question: R U Your Brother/Sister's Keeper?

[WISDOM]

Scanning the Board often brings many thoughts to my mind.  Sometimes I share them with my best friend..my wife (smile).  Other times I keep them between the LORD and I.  Throughoput the Bible, our FATHER seems to show a genius for asking probing and sometimes embarrassing questions.

JESUS asked HIS disciples, "Whom do ye say that I am?"  Questions of divine origin continually penetrate the souls of men.  GOD never asks superficial questions just to pass the time of the day.  Thousands of years earlier HE asked Cain three questions:  "Why are thou wroth?  Why is thy countenance fallen?  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?" (Gen 4:6-7)

Then came the question to test the full manhood of Cain, "Where is Abel thy brother?"  Keep in mind....our FATHER didn't ask it because HE didn't know Abel's whereabouts.  The all-knowing LORD, who knows the timetables of the motions of millions of star, surely could keep track of the slow movements of one of HIS earth creatures.  Remember..Abel's soul had already slipped into the presence of its CREATOR.  In HIS omniscience, our FATHER could have recited the total theological explanation of what happens to a man/woman's soul when they die, but HE chose not to do this.

Relating PROPERLY to other men/women, regardless of blood relationships, is one of the greatest tests of man's moral character, and once he/she becomes a Christian it is imperative to be able to do so.  Cain flunked the test!  He took the easy way out...he lied, "I know not."  He knew his brother's body was in the exact position it fell when he murdered him.  He probably spent considerable time viewing what happened to Abel, since he hadn't seen any other person die previous to this.  Possibly he had even covered the body with leaves, fearing his act would be discovered by man or beast.  But in his lying to our FATHER, he presented a problem that forced the question he asked to have only one answer.  How could our LORD answer him negatively?  "Am I my brother's keeper?"  WHO ELSE COULD BE??

As a Christian man/woman, would YOU resort to lying in such a vital matter?  Are YOU honest enough to positively answer "Cain's question"?  How many personalities of others have YOU "murdered", and then lied to the LORD in the way you conducted yourself afterwards?

Am I my brother's keeper when it comes to someone whose skin pigment is different than mine?  Am I my sister's keeper when it comes to the underprivileged of the world?  My personal world??  Am I my brother/sister's keeper when their political/religious philosophy doesn't mesh with mine?  Or am I their keeper simply when they agree with me??  How about only when he/she and I enjoy equal or nearly equal social status???

The consequences of a positive answer to "Cain's question" will lead anyone professing to be a true born again Christian to a new view of stewardship of life, a new view of race relations, and a new view of charity.  Ask yourself as members of the Body of CHRIST, of this Board, or just "lurking" this Board, are YOU equipped to face the consequences of the Christian answer to this burning social and moral question that spans centuries and calls for present APPLICATION?

Be careful now how you respond...I mean it, search your heart.....why?   YOU might have to give more of your money to missions if you answer it properly.  YOU might have to forsake the racial prejudices you've cherished in the past.  YOU might have to show a new compassion to the world's needy (possibly your next door neighbor), even to those in a nearby big city slum.  Hey, YOU might even have to rethink any bigoted philosophies YOU have held and propagated....hear the SPIRIT speaking.

In my opinion, Cain wasn't a man any longer...no more than Adam was when he chose to blame Eve for his own actions.  Cain's manliness disappeared in the crucial hour, if perchance he had any previous to this encounter with GOD.  This question has a way of separating the men from the boys....the women from the girls.  Oh yes, YOU are your brother/sister's keeper.

ACT Accordingly!

[Adstar]

What are you talking about here Wisdom?

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

[WISDOM]

Hello Adstar:

As members of the Body of CHRIST you and I have a responsibility of looking out for one another in a spiritual sense.

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings Wisdom,

Not to get too far off track, but don't you find it interesting that Cain & Abel KNEW to give a sacrifice and also what "sacrifices" were acceptable to God? It becomes clear, I think, that Cain was very much into the world and Abel looked forward (to the resurrection?). They were both taught by Adam and it was Abel that offered an animal as a sacrifice because of its "shed blood" - life for life, as we know it. Do you suppose Adam instituted the "blood sacrifice" since he was originally clothed with an "animal" skin in the garden? We aren't given much early on, but as we move along in the scriptures we see a clear connection of Christ's sacrifice all the way back to that initial covering.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[WISDOM]

Hey DE:

You made some very good, thought provoking points, which I really hadn't pondered on.

[Perrin556]

Greetings Wisdom:

As I read your post the words of 1 John 4:7 come to mind:

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."

God by his Spirit has given all believers the capacity to care and love fellow siblings in Christ.  This love is not some intellectual theory, but is Christ in us.  "We love him because he first loved us"V.19  

I agree that your challenge searches one's soul and we at times are guilty of indifference to other christians.  The Lord Jesus put great value on the worth of others and the seriousness of stumbling or harming other members in his body.  

I thank God for those who mentored me when I was young in Christ and those who continue to provide mutual support and encouragement on the road home.  

Peace in his name

Robert

[WISDOM]

Rob:

Thank you bruh, for a well-timed post.  Our FATHER wants us to fully understand that HE is a 24/7, 365/66 day a year Living GOD who is involved in every facet of our spiritual growth.  All too often we forget this...sometimes as in the example of this thread, "strategically".

Excellent selection of 1 John 4:7..  I also thank you for seeing the "challenge".  It includes us all.  

Likewise concerning the mentoring of my walk.  I too am most thankful and have mentioned it to the LORD countless times.

[WISDOM]

What are you talking about here Wisdom?

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

Adstar:

Has your question been answered, bruh?

[Adstar]

Yes wisdom.

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

[traveller]

Wisdom, I think that you hit one out of the ballpark with this one! Excellent food! Excellent!

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