My Brother’s Keeper
by Chris Gregor
In one of the oldest recorded conversations, we find a question that still troubles us thousands of years later. When God asked Cain concerning the whereabouts of his brother Abel, Cain responded with another question - “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Within the context of the story, we understand he was attempting to deflect the accusation that he had something to do with his brother’s disappearance… which, of course, he did. And the question was left unanswered.
In today’s culture, we value our personal freedoms above all else. They were hard fought and hard won – we won’t give them up easily. Although we may voluntarily enter relationships that require us to take care of each other, there is an understanding that before the law: I’m responsible for me, and you’re responsible for you… to the point that if someone today utters that phrase “am I my brother’s keeper,” it is taken as an admission of guilt. It’s as if to say, “my actions may have led you to harm, but that’s your problem. No one forced you to follow me.” It’s a dog eat dog world after all.
But the present pandemic has brought this question back into focus. Even people living on isolated islands in the middle of the ocean have contracted the Covid-19 virus. It seems we truly are a part of a global community and that anybody’s actions can have dire effects on somebody else. So once again we debate the necessity to infringe upon personal freedoms for the good of the whole.
In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul dealt with an issue that mirrors our present dilemma. In his time, it was common for people to serve food that was dedicated to a local deity. For some Christians, eating this food would be complicit with idolatry. But other believers saw nothing to be concerned with since the gods were not real and ate the food with a clean conscience. But when the two groups mixed, one person might misunderstand the actions of another and think that the church condoned idolatry. Paul was quite clear that our liberty in Christ should not cause another to stumble (1 Cor. 8:11-13).
There is a burden that mature Christians must carry - to look out for those new to the faith. The exercise of our freedom should never cause harm to another, and sometimes the responsible thing to do is to sacrifice some of our freedom for their benefit. But this is not law...this is virtue. We cannot force people to put another’s needs above their own. It is “Christ in us” which gives us a new perspective and allows us to see someone the way God sees them… an influence that softens our hearts and opens our minds to the needs of others.
This is no less true in our societies. The responsible have always carried the burden for others. They work their job as a calling, not as a paycheck. They go above and beyond what is required of them and end up paying more than their “fair share.” This Virtue has allowed our nation to thrive despite our shortcomings. And it IS a virtue… as long as it is voluntary. When it is forced, it breeds resentment and suspicion. So many of our leaders have resisted issuing “stay at home” orders knowing that enforcement of these conditions will have significant consequences. Our nation works best when the people decide for themselves what to do. And it is the hard working and self-sacrificing that inspire our people - not the politicians.
Are we our brother’s keeper? I’m not sure there is a right answer to that. I think just asking the question means we are already in a bad place. When we are forced to decide between the good of the whole and personal freedom, then we have lost something precious. It is virtue and taking responsibility that will carry us through these times. As it always has.
May God continue to bless those who are willing to carry an extra burden.