Anonymous Asks (367)

“Am I my brother’s keeper?”

The question was glib and rhetorical when Cain asked it of God. He meant something like “Why would you ask me where my brother is? Ask him.” Of course, God knew where Abel was and why he couldn’t answer: Cain had just killed him in an envious rage.

So why are we asking ourselves a question that was first mouthed by a murderous liar trying to deflect?

It’s a Good Question

Well, because it’s a good question, and I ask it of myself on a regular basis when I step over yet another sleeping body on the downtown pavement or refuse to make eye contact with the local meth addicts when they approach my driver’s side door at the stoplight by the grocery store. What I’m asking myself is “Am I responsible to fix this? What’s my role as a Christian with a person so far down and out that there’s a serious chance he’s dangerous?”

I do not kid. Recently, a pair of police officers warned my old landlady not to roll down her car window at night for anyone downtown. They were investigating a series of apparently random stabbings in which would-be Good Samaritans were seriously injured. I’m smart enough to see that sort of thing coming and keep myself out of harm’s way, but I’m also just Christian enough to hurt for my fellow man when he’s in a rough spot and to feel a sense of responsibility to try to ease his situation when I can.

Brothers and Neighbors

Of course, the meth addict tapping on my driver’s side window is not my brother, is he? He’s certainly my neighbor, if there’s any chance I may be able to show him mercy or compassion without getting myself killed in the process. That’s a judgment call everyone has to make for himself. Those of us who have ongoing responsibilities for the care of wives, children or other helpless people may be excused for being slightly more cautious than I am getting to be at my age. A single man in his sixties has liberty to take risks that a nursing mother does not. I will not be anyone’s judge for not putting him- or herself in harm’s way so long as each does what they are able.

But that word “brother” is just a little stronger than “neighbor”, isn’t it? It implies a duty of care such as Cain had to Abel and such as you and I have to our own family members. For the Christian, that term is exclusive to our earthly families and to our siblings in Christ. The word isn’t used in scripture any other way.

A Christian Duty of Care

Am I my brother’s keeper (and my sister’s, of course)? Absolutely and always. To walk away when my brother is in need is to live in the spirit of Cain.

If he’s my Christian brother, for me to say to him, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled” when I have it in my power to meet his need is to demonstrate to the world that my so-called faith is dead. It does not produce the works that living faith produces.

If he’s my brother according to the flesh — if he’s one of my own, or even a member of my household — Paul says I am denying the faith and am worse than an unbeliever if I cannot find it in my heart to meet his need.

Could you look at yourself in the mirror after that? I couldn’t.

Where the Buck Stops

So, yeah, I’m my brother’s keeper. So are you. Logic and worldly wisdom would tell us to pawn off such responsibilities on government, charitable organizations and your local church. The word of God tells me the buck often stops with you and me … personally. If my brother is in need and he’s in my headlights, the onus is on me to look for an answer for him.

Cain was an awful person, but he asked an important question, even if he didn’t mean it quite the way you and I do.