My Brother

[335 words] “Afterwards the LORD asked Cain, “Where is Abel?” “How should I know?” he answered, “Am I supposed to look after my brother?” (Genesis 4:9 CEV) In 1964, a young woman was stabbed and raped outside her Queens apartment while witnesses observed and did nothing. The perp even left and returned to resume stabbing her. The New York Times claimed that 38 witnesses observed this crime and did nothing. One of those witnesses later said, “I just didn’t want to get involved.” Clinical experiments show that witnesses are less likely to help a crime victim if there are other witnesses. The more witnesses, the less likely any one person will intervene. This was later called “The Bystander Effect,” which became the force that resulted in the 911 system. I speak to my church family: The answer to Cain’s question is an unequivocal “YES!” Christian brothers and sisters have a…