Cain, Equality, Repentance, Penance, and Redemption

Many of us have heard people argue that the lessons presented in the Bible are old fashioned and outdated, especially the Book of Genesis.  The gist of the argument is that a 2,000-year-old book has zero relevance today.

I would argue against that premise.  Many elements in even the earliest books of the Bible still hold profound lessons applicable to us today.  The story of Cain and Abel is an example.

The story of Cain and Abel is well known, but it is more than just a story about jealousy and murder.  It is really a somewhat complex story that even applies to the current state of the world.

Cain and Abel

Presented in Chapter 4 of Genesis, Cain and Abel are the sons of Adam and Eve birthed, “with the help of the Lord.”  The story continues with a description of each man’s sacrifice to God.

“In the course of time Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the ground, while Abel, for his part, brought the fatty portion of the firstlings of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So, Cain was very angry and dejected.”

In today’s world, many see these sacrifices to God as a competition between brothers.  This is a false assumption, as described in the next verses of the story.

“Then the LORD said to Cain: Why are you angry? Why are you dejected? If you act rightly, you will be accepted; but if not, sin lies in wait at the door: its urge is for you, yet you can rule over it.”

The Lord is telling Cain what the real problem is.  God asks Cain to reflect on himself and determine what he must do to be looked on with favor.  Moreover, the Lord tells Cain that he has what it takes if he chooses as he, “can rule over it.”

Unfortunately, Cain takes a different approach. He appears to believe that only one person can be in favor with the Lord.  Instead of looking to make himself better, he lashes out at Abel, taking his life.

Cain wanted his sacrifice to be favored equal to that of Abel’s without considering his own contribution.  This warped vision of equality is still a problem today.

Understanding Equality

Much is being said today about equality, and now equity.  But these words are thrown around without giving these concepts any real thought.  Equity in everything is assumed to be the highest moral value.  However, one should consider the following.

In order to talk about equality we first have to decide what it is that we want to be equal.  For example, are we talking about an equal size piece of cake, equal time to take a test, equal hours of sleep, or an equal number of toys.

Second, all things cannot be equal at the same time.  For example, equality in age is impossible.  My father is older than me, and my son is younger than me.  It is impossible for us to be of equal age.

Consider, too, that a football team has only one starting quarterback.  The team may have two or three quarterbacks, but only one can be the starting quarterback.  There is nothing malicious about this.  This is just the nature of our world.

Not Equal is Okay

Third, lack of equality is okay and often desired.  For instance, I do not like sweatshirts and I do not wear them very often.  So, I do not have an equal number of sweatshirts as my younger daughter who wears them all the time.  That is okay because our choices result in different levels of equality.  I do not think I should be forced to have more sweatshirts, nor do I think my daughter should be forced to have less to create equality.

This is a superficial example but it is applicable to any facet of life.  The same goes for housing, career, free time, etc.  Equality in everything is tyranny because it steals God’s given freewill from us.

Fourth, equality is dynamic.  A three-year-old cannot get a driver’s license, and everyone would certainly agree that this is a good thing.  However, over time, the three-year-old will turn 16.  At that time he or she can get a driver’s license after proving he or she is old enough and has the skills to drive.  Over time, we all have an equal opportunity to try to obtain a license.

The same goes for people’s wages.  When I was in my teens, I was barely competent enough to bag groceries, so I earned the minimum wage.  Decades later, training, education, and experience allows me to command a better salary.  But as a teen, I was not oppressed.  I was being paid a sum of money commensurate/equal to my skills.

Striving to Excel

There is also another aspect of equality that is rarely discussed, but which needs to be considered as well.  Most people spend their entire lives trying not to be equal.  And that is okay.

Why do people go to college or take on an apprenticeship?  The reason is to differentiate themselves from their peers.  In other words, to not be equal to their peers with respect to skills.

Sports is (or at least was) an excellent example of seeking inequality.  Skills override all other considerations.  Michael Jordan is, in my opinion, the best basketball player in history.  He took his God given talents and practiced.  He sharpened and refined his skills.  Jordan worked hard to be better than, not simply equal to, his peers.

However, there is a price.  Spending time refining one’s skills and improving one’s self in one area, means sacrificing time in other areas.  If one chooses to study a foreign language on Friday night instead of going out, the price is lost time with friends.  However, the friends also pay a price.  The price of socializing is not learning a language.

Many point to high-level business leaders with disdain because of their high salaries.  However, these people pay a price to rise to their level in their chosen profession.

I have worked with many company presidents and business owners.  They are interesting and unique individuals, and all have sacrificed much to rise to their levels.  Sacrifices that I am unwilling to make.   Most (not all) have been divorced, and most work extremely long hours.  I do not want to be equal with them because I do not want what comes with the position.  The cost to my spirit, family, and life is too high for me.

Born in the Image of God

Although we cannot be equal in all things at all times, there are some aspects in life in which all of us are equal.

The American founding fathers articulated it very well in the Declaration of Independence.  “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

All of us are created in the image of God.  With that fundamental understanding, all of us should be treated with equal dignity.  Each of us should be given equal protection under the law.  Each of us should be allowed to pursue what makes us happy.  We should not be forced into the tyranny of equal outcome, so that each of us can pursue our own outcome.

And that outcome is not necessarily equality or equity.  As the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” states, “1928 Society ensures social justice when it provides the conditions that allow associations or individuals to obtain what is their due, according to their nature and their vocation” [emphasis added].  While we are all equal in dignity, we are simply not all equal in terms of skills, abilities, intelligence, and wisdom.

A Society Filled with Cains

Unfortunately, many in our culture seem to have the same disease as Cain.  Many lament that they do not have equality of outcome.  But they do so without any real self-reflection as to why.

Of course, when someone points to lack of equality in outcome, the example offered is always success.  No one ever points to a failed business leader, entertainer, or athlete and says they want the same outcome as the failure.

Instead of looking at themselves (as the Lord asked Cain), they look at others’ successes and want to tear others down. Victimhood seems to reign.  Today, it seems, everyone “deserves” more.

This mentality has even taken a spiritual foothold.  Many people want to have favor with God without repentance, penance, and giving up sin.

However, Christ has provided us with a clear pathway to redemption.  First repent, then do penance, then sin no more.  God wants us to sacrifice our sinful desires in exchange for redemption.

As Christians, our mission should be to reach heaven and to bring as many others with us as possible.  In the end, there is only death and judgement and there are two outcomes –  heaven and hell.  We all have equality of opportunity, but God reserves judgement for these two very unequal outcomes.