And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?

I just came back from 10 days vacation in my hometown in Jakarta. I really missed that place, the food, the people and especially I really did miss the church. My spiritual life grew in this church and I was baptized and filled with Holy Spirit also in this church.

There were many changes in the church, specially the people. Few of my friends told me about what was going on with the church and the people. I felt very sad to hear many people who used to love God and dedicated themselves to God have left the church only because of bitterness against each other.

Genesis 4:3-10
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.

We have heard this verses many times, most of us would underline the context of the verses as the “acceptable offering” by God. But in these verses, I also want to underline verse 9 when God asked Cain about his brother Abel whereabout.

I’m very sure that God knew what was happening with Abel and God told Cain “What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.” But I think God purposely asked Cain to press the importance of brotherhood, and it is our duty as a member of the church to take care of our brothers and sisters.

The biggest problem which I saw in most of the churches is “Gossip”. I have to admit that it is really feels good to gossip, specially talking about the negative sides of other people. But do we know when we talk about the negative side of someone to other people, we have automatically effected the mind of the person whom we are talking to?

Gossip is like a cancer, if we don’t cut it, it will grow bigger and bigger and cause the death. If we keep gossip ruling our lives, it will cause death in our spiritual live and also the brothers and sisters’ whom we are gossiping.

I know some people who left the church because they were gossiped by their own brothers and sisters in the church. Devils use the bitterness against one and another to break the church. By gossiping we are unknowingly been used by the devils to destroying the church.

If we don’t know to speak about the positive sides of our brothers and sisters, it will be much better to keep quite. Sweet words taste like honey, it is a good thing to give appraisal to our brother or sister in the church as this will strengthen the bonding and also strengthen the church.

One day, there will be a time when we have to stand face to face with God, and just like He asked Cain about Abel, He will also ask our brothers and sisters whereabouts. We might ask God, is it our duty to take care of our brothers and sisters or we might ask God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” That’s when God answer us, “Yes, you are. You are your brothers and sisters’ keeper.”