Where is your brother Abel?

The terrible depths to which humanity sinks can be found as early as the first book of the Bible, Genesis. While I do not interpret scripture literally, the divinely-inspired story exemplifies a great problem in the world today.

8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?"
"I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"

Lesson 1: Giving God a sarcastic answer is probably not a good idea. More importantly though, like Cain, God asks us the same question. Where is your brother Abel?

Think on this. Whom do we put off, thinking that they are not our responsibility. About whom do we answer God, "Am I my brother's keeper?"

Here are some examples of Abel in our lives:

1. Human rights victims in countries like China or Sudan
2. Underpaid factory workers in developing nations
3. That kid at the other lunch table who no one sits with

So, what do Chinese prison occupants, Indonesian Nike employees, and that kid with no lunch money have in common? A lack of lunch would probably be a common theme, but there is a more important connection: The system tells us it is okay to disregard these individuals.

The system relies on our ignorance, and our fear of responsibility. It tells us that we have the right to get ahead of everyone else, that we are entitled to the best of the best. With that mentality, starving people thousands of miles away matter less to us. "It is unfortunate for them," we might say, " but at least I managed to get ahead in life." Put bluntly, this is the wrong mentality. We are our brothers' keepers, but how do we fulfill this role?

Charity is a good start. Despite what many idealists might argue, money goes a long way in solving problems. Money is only part of the solution though. What the world needs is awareness. The world needs people willing to shatter the ignorance that the system covers us in, and willing to, as Ghandi once said, "be the change you wish to see in the world." That's two ideas, so let's start a list.

1. Give Charity
   
2. Raise Awareness

What else? A big step is Mission. Traveling in the name of Christ to another place, and working to make life better for the people living there is one of the greatest acts of love a person can participate in. Mission is long, it is hard, and it is exhausting; however, the love and grace you receive for your efforts always surpasses whatever effort you put in. Add it to the list...

1. Give Charity
2. Raise Awareness
3. Do Mission

The next step? Considering that a true Christian spirit is one that is welcoming and open to everyone, as Jesus was, approaching the world with a welcoming attitude is essential. Looking out for your brother might just be as simple as loving and respecting the people who harm him.

1. Give Charity
2. Raise Awareness
3. Do Mission
4. Be welcoming

One final idea. One cannot possibly fix the world unless he has fixed himself first. The final step in being your brother's keeper is the conscious act of being mindful of yourself, and your relationship with God. Without the love of Christ, we cannot hope to overcome the system's grasp on society. Without being in command of ourselves, we cannot possibly persevere through the millions trying to tear our brothers (and sisters, by the way) down.

1. Give Charity
2. Raise Awareness
3. Do Mission
4. Be Welcoming
5. Be Mindful

On a parting note, it may seem an overwhelming task to save the world. Does it seem that way? Good, because you're correct to feel this. The powers of sin and death hold this world tightly, and the masses have already surrendered. Though I would normally close with a biblical quote, I will instead turn to popular culture to conclude this entry. In the movie, "The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King" the stereotypical "good guys" face a monstrous army, outnumbered to a simply ridiculous degree. The good side's leader, Aragorn attempts to inspire his army before the battle in which they are all certain to die.

I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of Men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the Age of Men comes crashing down, but it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand.

Some would say the courage of men has already failed, but I disagree. All it takes is a few people willing to stand up for their beliefs to start the change in the world, to turn the tide back toward God. Like Aragorn's army, we also must fight. Some modern Catholic theologians speak of "spiritual combat", a never-ending war with the devil. We are called to fight this battle, to fight against whatever YOU call evil in the world. Satan, temptation, lies, mutated human nature, the system...any name will do. Fight it, defeat it, and the world will already be a better place.