Easy Verdict

In our last class Dr. Abernathy pointed out several themes in Dostoevsky's works. One that caught my attention was of suffering being carried by others who were not the direct cause of the suffering. Many characters in Crime and Punishment, such as Sonya, carry the burdens that weigh down others such as Raskolnikov. Later in the discussion the comment was made that if no one intervenes in the life of one doing unlawful acts or mistreatment, that person is just as guilty as the person committing the wrongdoings. This being said, it got me thinking about how that statement can be applied to our everyday interactions with one another. When we, as Christians, see a fellow believer or even an unbeliever struggling, we should not "kick them while they are down" but rather reach down to pick them up. If we ignore their wrong or suffering, we are just as guilty as they are. Christians need to encourage and guide others not mislead and abandon them.