“Am I my brother’s keeper?” Cain asked God this question relative to his biological brother Abel. God’s answer was aimed not only at Cain, but at all God-professing men down through history. Contrary to Social Gospel theology and socialist society ideology, we are not responsible for our fellow man’s care and feeding. However, true saints ARE responsible for the spiritual example they set before all who know them or know of them. We are responsible for the spiritual walk (life) we present to the world. The Lord’s children are the “light of the world” (Mat. 5:14). Those in the world who are seeking the true God will see and “come to your light” (Isa. 60:3). Being the ancestors of the ancient Israelites, those of God’s true church are His light to the Gentiles (heathen), a few of whom will observe our light-sharing walk, compare it to God’s Word, find that they are identical and embrace our (God’s) way so that they can become children of His light that shines out of His true saints (Jn. 12:36). See Who and Where is Israel? and Israel and the Church: the Covenant Connection. The work of the church is to manifest the life of Christ by obeying His (God’s) Word. In this way we are not only our spiritual brothers’ keepers, but lights to the Gentiles among whom we live.

In order to complete our work we must be very careful about what we do, say and think (which eventually escapes our minds and becomes known). We must “abstain from ALL appearance of evil” (1 Thes. 5:22). We are commanded to “eschew evil” in all of its forms (1 Pet. 3:11). To “abstain” and “eschew” mean to avoid and turn away from a thing so as not to be in any way associated with it. “All appearance of sin” covers a wide range of activities. :All” means every, total and without exception.

This includes the entertainment industry, to which billions of professing Christians are addicted. Yes, I said addicted. Want proof. Sit down in your living room and leave the t.v., radio, magazines, novels, internet, etc. off and away from you. If you find yourself feeling uncomfortable and somewhat “lost” after a little while then you, like a nicotine addict, are addicted. The Lord tells us to “redeem the time” He has allotted us. He designed that time to be used in seeking, finding, learning about and obey Him. Upon my praying for the Lord to deliver me from cop shows and sports programs, He did, immediately and completely. Why? BECAUSE HE KNEW I WANTED ONLY HIM, HIS WAY, HIS WORD, HIS TRUTH IN MY LIFE–AND NOTHING ELSE. I have found that most church people know more about the t.v. schedule than about God’s Word because they spend hours watching t.v. each day and only minutes in His Truth each week. This is not the example God commands us to manifest to the world around us.

We who profess our (God’s) love for our fellow man must live (walk) accordingly. If we claim to be disciples of Jesus Christ we must “walk even as He walked” (1 Jn. 2:6) before those around us. In this way we show our love for Him and fulfill our commission to be both our brother’s keeper and a light to the Gentiles. L.J.