Bulletin Articles
WEAK IN FAITH (Rm.14:1)
WEAK IN FAITH (Rm.14:1)
The weak in faith are not to be confused with the willfully disobedient and rebellious, or with the impenitent, after righteous efforts have been made to lead them to repentance. Nor are they to be grouped with those who must have their own way, and find fault with everything else and everybody else. The weak in faith simply means that he does not have an enlightened and strong faith that comes from hearing and obeying the word of God (Rm.10:17). As we make this distinction, we will be ready to apply the precept: “But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not to doubtful disputations” (Rm.14:1).
When a person first becomes a Christian, he should not be expected to know as much, and have as much conviction as those who have spent years in study and experience. He may not even know what is wrong with denominationalism. He simply believes in Christ, and has done what the Bible says to do for the remission of sins. With patient teaching, he will learn what the church is, and that it is not a denomination.
He will perhaps naturally understand what is wrong with drunkenness, but he may not know that what is called “social drinking” is contrary to the righteousness of the gospel. He will have to be dealt with kindly and patiently while he learns the principles of moral righteousness and godliness. When such a novice tells you that he thinks “people will be saved in all the denominations,” or that “a bottle of beer or a little glass of wine won’t hurt anybody,” what will you say and do? Will you disfellowship him immediately? Will you ignore his comment with a smug feeling that “the poor ignorant man will be lost,” but that it is not your duty to try to explain the matter to him? Will you give him a sound berating? Will you tell him that those matters are his own affair? Will you compromise by saying that “the church may be a little narrow on those points?” Or, will you patiently and kindly begin to show him what the Bible teaches on these matters, being longsuffering, giving him time to learn and develop?
When a man first learns the truth on how to be saved, because of his traditional religious background, he may think that instrumental music in worship is acceptable. Therefore, he may see nothing wrong in joining right in with worship as people use an organ. It may take several lessons and several days to convince him of the Bible teaching which makes this wrong. We cannot permit ourselves to get into a wrangle or “doubtful disputations” with him over this matter or any other, but we can and should exercise patience in helping him to see.
A person comes into our community and considers worshipping with us. He comes from a congregation that has become engrossed in supporting the human institutions of this age, and has gone into the practice of supplying the social and recreational functions and facilities for its members. This person has never heard anything else. He just thought that “that is the way all churches were.” When we learn of this condition, are we going to tell him that “we are not going to have anybody who believes like that in our membership?” Indeed, it would be in order to inform him that we do not engage in those things, and that in time he will be able to see why. Then, if he can stay with us without disturbance or “doubtful disputations,” we may be able in time to teach him, thus bringing the weak in faith to conviction.
--Robert C. Welch
Comments on the above by Lanny: The article above is quoted from a commentary on Romans, called “Obedience of Faith,” by Robert Welch (pages 204-206). I thought that this particular selection was very well written, and full of great wisdom – a wisdom that, I fear, many of us have lost. It seems that some brethren have forgotten that we all need time to grow in the faith. Further, we need to realize that our brethren are not always “on the same page” with the Lord. But if we’re patient with one another, and seek the truth, we can eventually come to one accord (Ph.1:27). It is my hope that you will find this little article as enlightening as I did!
