Am I my brother's keeper?

Leviticus 19:9-18 (New International Version, ©2010) thank you to www.biblegateway.com

 ⁹ “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. ¹⁰ Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.
 ¹¹ “‘Do not steal.
   “‘Do not lie.
   “‘Do not deceive one another.
 ¹² “‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
 ¹³ “‘Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.
   “‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.
 ¹⁴ “‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD.
 ¹⁵ “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
 ¹⁶ “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people.
   “‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD.
 ¹⁷ “‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.
 ¹⁸ “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.


The quote which I've used as a title comes from the story of Cain and Abel  (Genesis 4).  Cain and Abel are the two sons of Adam and Eve according to the story and when it appears that God has favored Abel over Cain he reacts in jealousy and kills his brother.  God calls Cain to count asking about Abel.  Cain replies with  "Am I my brother's keeper?"  God is not happy, saying, "What have you done?  Listen, your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground!"

What a powerful image we have been given in this story.....'your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground'....a good image for us to hold in our minds as we consider this passage from Leviticus. 

                Leviticus is about the Law - the rule of how to live so to maintain a healthy and righteous relationship with God. It is an interesting read; you'll be amazed at the number of subjects which are covered and the values which are assigned to property and people!  Grasping the structure and philosophy that undergirds the laws in Leviticus will help you get a better handle on the Old Testament.  (I especially note this since too many folks only know Leviticus because of the holiness codes which have been prominent in debates regarding human sexuality.)

Sooooooo, let's put together the story of Cain and Abel and these reminders that our neighbors are significant people in God's eyes.  In a culture where tribal affiliation provided the most important identity and largest obligations, to be directed to care for the neighbor with justice and equity expanded the moral obligations of people of faith.  Failing to act with justice is not a hidden thing, the blood of our brothers cries out from the ground - and God hears those cries.

Many will say....Charity begins at home.  [Of course, it is important that these folks are sure engage in some charity outside their front door.]   I would say that charity (an interesting word that includes the ideas of generosity, love, gift) is learned at home for the sake of the world-the same world in which we too have to live.  Some folk singing group had a song which said,  "don't muddy the waters.  Some day you may have to drink it." 

Of course, for God who calls us into this divine relationship, everyone is our brother, everyone is family, everyone is our tribe - the tribe of the forgiven, called ones.  If our expectation is an impartial, loving, inclusive God, then we need to carry the same expectation of our own faith lives in God.  As we have been given, so we give to others.

In this type of arrangement, charity is an obligation.  It is an integral part of who we are as people of faith.  Even when we aren't feeling particularly charitable, we are called to give back, to lift up, to care for the 'other.'  Even when our charity is minimal, we set aside a portion for others.   Our offerings in worship, our charitable giving outside worship, and the manner in which we conduct our lives is not optional - it is a reflection of our life in Christ. 

I heard a definition of stewardship once:  stewardship is everything you do after you are baptized (come into the faith life).  Everything.  It is what the faith life is about.

What do you think?

And yes, we are our brother's keepers, just in case that wasn't clear.