By Douglas V. Gibbs
Growing up I was taught that the Holy Bible is largely a history book. Later in life, my personal investigations proved my childhood lessons to be true. The stories contained in the Holy Bible are filled with important lessons, and some doctrinal passages, but the stories are primarily historical accounts of actual events. Mixed into those passages are also prophetic statements regarding the coming of Jesus Christ, and others regarding the future of Israel, and what is often referred to as "the end times."
Science has verified many of the stories, as has various archaeological finds. Whether you believe in the existence of a Christian God, or not, the evidence supporting the accuracy of the Bible's historical text is overwhelming.
Non-Christians tend to misinterpret Scripture, applying a doctrinal context to passages that are nothing of the sort, or by attempting to interpret passages without using corresponding supportive passages, or taking in account the context of the passage. Sometimes, the interpretation by non-Christians doesn't even come close to the context, or what was stated in the original text.
The term "My Brother's Keeper" is one such example. Though Christianity teaches we should be loving, kind, giving, and charitable, there is no passage that indicates it must be mandated through government, or that we should be our "brother's keeper." In fact, there is no place in the Bible where we are doctrinally commanded to be our "brother's keeper."
"My Brother's Keeper" comes from the story of Cain and Able, two of Adam and Eve's sons. Cain, out of jealousy of his brother, murdered Able. When confronted, he denied the action by saying he didn't know the whereabouts of his brother, and then asked, "Am I my brother's keeper?" In other words, "am I supposed to be so responsible for my brother that I am supposed to always know his whereabouts?" The passage is in no way a command that we should be our brother's keeper.
In turn, Jesus never taught we must be our brother's keeper. It is our brother's responsibility to take care of himself. Like salvation, if a Christian desires to be giving, the choice must be voluntary, and the result of a decision made with both the mind, and from the heart.
Christians understand the context of the story of Cain and Able, and the "brother's keeper" passage. They understand why Cain said what he said. The lesson is as elementary for Christians as is learning the ABCs for school children. However, in a recent townhall meeting, Obama claimed he's a Christian because of the precepts of the teachings of Jesus Christ - but being one's brother's keeper is not one of the precepts of Jesus' teachings as Obama claims.
I desire to take Obama at his word that he's a Christian - not that it should matter. Liberals normally are the first to argue that there should be no religious litmus test in politics, yet they are defending Obama's self-proclaimed Christianity. But if Obama was truly a Christian, wouldn't he understand the context of the term "brother's keeper?"
Apparently, Obama does not understand it, because he indicated that being one's brother's keeper is one of the precepts of Jesus' teachings, and that is simply not true. Then again, every time Obama speaks of his supposed Christian faith, his deceptive nature becomes glaringly clear. I want to take him at his word he's a Christian, but his ignorance of the faith makes him look like a liar.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Obama says he's Christian by choice - Los Angeles Times
Bible Accuracy - Basic Bible Knowledge dot com
Science Proves the Bible - Truth For The World
The Geology of Noah's Flood - Healing The Land
Cain and Able - Light Unto My Path
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