When one doesn't attend Lord's day worship for reasons other than sickness, accident or death, we usually hat person is "weak." I think we, mean "weak in faith," or has "little faith." The Bible speaks about "strong faith" (Rom 15:1) and "weak faith" (Rom 14:1). But what does faith have to do with attending worship services? Does one need to have faith to gather with other Christians? Also, if we see Christians participating in things they shouldn't, we consider them weak in faith. But why? The answer is simple: They do not have faith in what God has said.

In Hebrews 3:19, we are told that some of the Israelites could not enter into the promise land "because of unbelief." According to verse 17, they had sinned against God, or they had transgressed and broken God's laws. They did not believe what God had said, so they disobeyed him. By this, we can see that unbelief and disobedience walk hand in hand. Disobedience is a product of unbelief.

Therefore, when brethren fail to obey God's commandments, such as assembling with other Christians (Heb. 10:25), we realize they are lacking in faith or belief in what God says.

Our main desire should be to help them obtain more faith. But how can we help? Can a Christian help others to have more faith? Please consider the following ways we can strengthen the faith of the weak.

1. We can help weak Christians have more faith by visiting them in their homes. The primary objective of our visit should not be to discuss worldly subjects such as politics, inflation, or sports, but we should use the time to discuss the Bible and spiritual precepts The Bible says that faith comes by hearing God's word (Rom 10:17), not men's words. We can strengthen the faith of our weaker brethren by discussing God's word and endeavoring to remove their doubts. The apostle says, "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified" (Acts 20:32).

2. Another way we can help weak Christians is by making a special effort to talk with them before and after church services. Often weak Christians feel intimidated by other Christians or inferior to them. We must help them overcome their feelings of being

"outcasts." The Bible teaches, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor (I Cor 12:22-23).

3. Also, we can encourage the weak by involving them in the work of the church. We should invite them to visit the hospital or go with us to visit other Christians. We should encourage them to become involved in personal work by inviting them to go with us to a Bible study.

4. Finally, we can build up the weak by praying with them and for them. We should pray for them in private that God will help them, as Jesus prayed for Peter. He later told Peter "But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail (Luke 22:32). Also. James exhorts us "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed (James 5:16).

Often, it seems that we condemn the weak for their actions, when in reality we are just as guilty for failing to build them up in the faith. The apostle Paul tells us to "help the weak" (I Thess 5:14) Many weak Christians are dying in their sins, because "stronger" ones are failing to help them. It is said that a lecturer was once asked: "If a ship was wrecked in mid ocean, and only a singe boat as available, and if there were 20 strong young men on board and 20 weakly women, wouldn't it be better for the world if the capable you7ng men saved themselves and let the women drown?" The man answered, "What possible good could 20 such men be to the world?" If we set back and watch while our weak brothers or sisters drown in their sins, what possible good could we be to our Lord?--Apartado Postal 20026, Comayaguela D.C., Honduras, Central Amer.