The Harvest of Hate
“The sign of Cain” is upon us. The old story of Cain and Abel in the Bible is a story of mankind.
“Am I my brother’s keeper” is the taunting question we hurl at God. And in our killing, our hating, and our jealousy is to be found the horrible, haunting symbol of our brokenness. We hurt, we destroy, we kill, because we are out of relationship with both our neighbor and with God.
Most of us have thought that our major issue is, “What do I have to live on?” Really, the issue is, “Who do I have to live with?” This is where the issue gets sticky.
Some have contended that man is by nature a violent person. Dr. Fredric Wertham says, however, “Violence is no more an integral part of human life than T.B., syphilis, or cancer.” We study these afflictions to prevent them. Animals kill, by and large, for survival. As far as we know, they do not hate, or have spite, or take revenge, or express sadism, or greed. Animals are generally averse to killing members of their own species or killing systematically large numbers. So when we speak of massacres, extermination camps, etc. we should not refer to the “beastial” in man, because the beasts of the field do not do that.
The story of Cain is a story of anger, hatred, and then violence and death. God has given us our brothers and sisters, and the only solution to alienation is love. Life calls for it. Jesus affirmed it…”Love one another,” he said.
But the harvest of hate continues to take its toll. It is hard for us to think of the Cain story as applying to us, but it does. Cain’s problem began with resentment, and jealousy and anger. And that’s where many of us are. But Jesus said, that even if we are angry with our brothers, we are liable to judgment. (Matt. 5:22). It would seem that hatred itself is a form of murder, and is anathema to our Savior.
The total goal of the Christian Church is to be able, someday, to harvest the products of good will and love in our world. We may be a long way from that goal, but it must be the focus of every prayer, and the steadfast purpose of every one who has come to know the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.
The writer of First John says, “Do not be like Cain, who destroyed his brother”. “We know”, he says, “that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love remains in death. Any one who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” (I John 3:14-15)
posted by Francis Geo. Guither at 6:32 AM
3 Comments:
Hello father Francis,
I graduated from U of I in 88, been to Quincy a couple of time to, but home in Arabia now. I was searching for "sign of cain" articles and came opon yours. I have read over 5,000 SF books - but no longer do so for some reason I do not know, wish I had read your books back then.
I have had the Quran's version of Cain and Able on my mind for the last few months. “The sign of Cain” was the crow itself I think - but that is unproven and just my thinking. Thought to bounce it off a knowledgable Christian first.
The story of Able is what most interests me, Cain was nothing, lived and died as nothing best forgoton and unmentioned - but Able is the one who refused to "extend his hand" to harm his brother - that is what I love to learn as he did from his father Adam (pbuh).
Cain's sin was not that he murdered his brother, it is that he commited murder in the first place. Able had full right to defend himself but feared to become like Able in anger - death was the only proper choice.
Cain lives and walks in pride - Able hides and goes away, and when Cain comes he prefers to die than to kill - to this day. Religion is unimportant in murder, Cain can be part of any religion - same as Able. With religion Cain can see himself as inocent as Able however many people he kills - while Able is Able whatever his religion.
Take religion as only one rule "thou shall not kill" - hate and love do not enter into it, for the order is from God and thus to be respected. Able had great fear of God while Cain had no fear of God - that was the sin Able rightly feared.
Peace
Dear friend Nasser,
Thank you for your comments on my Blog. Sorry to be tardy in responding. We have been having different family members, and it's always nice to have them around, but I got a bit behind.
I'm not sure exactly how to respond to your comments. I think we often look at the Bible or the Quran with different eyes, and see different things.
The story of Cain and Abel is one that is part of the Hebrew records of how they first found their faith in the God of Abraham. Abraham (in Gen. 12) is the first truly historical person in the Bible that we can substantiate with other records. He represents about 2,000 years before the time of Jesus. And everything in chapters 2 through 11 of Genesis is a kind of Hebrew catechism where a child might say, "Daddy, how did we begin? Why are things the way they are? Etc.?"
Genesis 1 is a Priestly addition, placed in the Scriptures much later. It is a beautiful, poetic version of creation. Genesis 2, which is part of the "oral tradition" came down from the ancient past. It gives us another version of the creation, and tells us about the danger of evil (sin). "Daddy, how can I know if something is wrong?" And the father replies: "My son, it is a subtle thing. It surprises you, like a snake in the grass." (Gen. 3) And evil will make you believe that you can do things you shouldn't and "not die!" And that "you will be like God", and it "will make you wise"...etc. So, both Adam and Eve got "sucked in"!
And that's what evil tends to do.
When we get to the 4th chapter, we come to the story of Cain and Abel, the first 2 sons of Adam and Eve. Fortunately, they had another son later, Seth (4:25) and Seth had Enosh, and "At that time men began to call upon the name of the Lord." (4:26)
Now, son Abel was the shepherd (a symbol of the Hebrew people). And when they brought their offerings to the Lord, the big question was, "Why didn't God like Cain's offering?" Cain was the farmer who had brought an offering of the fruit of the field. Are we suggesting that God didn't like farmers? No! God certainly is not prejudiced, but the Hebrew people were! And it is probably related to the days (centuries later), when they finally came into the Promised land, and they had to change from shepherding to "farming". And frankly, they didn't know very much about it!
The Canaanites who were already there, had been farming for a long time, and told the Hebrew people that the reason their crops didn't do so well was because they were worshiping the wrong God. They needed to go up to the temple prostitutes, and worship Baal, the god of fertility!
And so, Abel represented the "good guy" and Cain, the farm fellow was the one who led them into idolatry with other gods. (You see, since I was a "farm fellow" too in my childhood and youth, I have tried also to understand this).
What do we mean by "the mark of Cain"? Perhaps it simply meant to the Hebrew people, "going the wrong way!" I guess we speculate and guess and make all kinds of answers, but our faith simply requires of us that we give an offering to God of our best thoughts and loving deeds. I do not have an answer for every mystery, but I believe that the Lord is with me, and that He expects me to give my best to Him.
As a Christian, I recognize that we are divided and different within our various groups, and that troubles me a great deal. There are those who think of the Bible as absolutely every "and, but, if, and or", as the direct words of God. I do not see it that way. It is the sacred record of man's searching to know this God that we worship.
Although yours may be the Muslim faith, I have a feeling that you also are searching to know this God who made and cares for both of us.
I enjoy Science Fiction a great deal. Don't know why you have tapered off in your interest at the moment, but guess most of us have our ups and down. I just hope you have more "ups" than the other.
Sincerely, your friend, Francis Geo. Guither
Peace
I am very tardy person Father, as my blog shows and family is always and forever more important. I am afraid that it takes me weeks to write down mixed up my ideas :)
My faith in Islam is mostly based on language. This is not aproved even by Muslims. Beduins come in only two religions Muslim or infidal, the Quran affects us deeply on a language bases, otherwise we have never had any religion. I am a faith "leach" and love you for your faith and hope to gain from it, your religion is yours and I respect that and I want the Christian perspective n the sign of Cain. I would be insulted if you do not try to convert me for I consider it he "Mark of Able" in a Christian, hope you do not mind it in me either.
The important part of the story of Cain and Able is that Able did not fight. This is what is unique about it - and nice to learn and teach. Permit me to talk from a language perspective, Cain is rude and talks with little word skills while Able is a great poet talking. In terms of today one was a "jock" with a profane mouth, while Able was young poet.
>>"Why didn't God like Cain's
>> offering?"
Cain's offering was an insult by the very offering, even offering all his best belongings would be an insult. He wanted something that Able was not permited (by God) to give him. He treated that offering as a bribe to God to get something. I never knew that Cain was a farmer, and trust American farmers more than most people in America, especialy the Aamish.
The story of Able, I trully love Able - the image in my head is of a young poet with the attitude of a Ghandi. Cain is a very vain and arogant lout unable (unwilling) to either talk or think clearly - Cain's harvest of hate is that he will bear part of the sin of each murder on Earth - for he was the first to do that sin. The causes and reasons of murder are many, Able could have those ideas to with Cain as a tormenting brother but he did not even think that way - just acceptance of things as they were, even accepted when it was his time to die.
“The sign of Cain”
It is a Christian concept more than a Muslim one. It reminded people to leave Cain live for 7 generations. I am guessing that it is the crow, but I might be very wrong, so I thought to ask you about it. I think it is the crow, from a language basis it is important for me to find out first if this idea is acceptable.
I will ask you to forgive my tardiness before hand, but will keep on the subject as long as you are interested.
Best Regards
Nasser
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