HOW CAN YOU HELP A "PRODIGAL"" CHILD?

How Others Can Help

What about a youth who is not disfellowshipped from the Christian congregation but who has become weak in faith?  "If one member suffers," wrote the apostle Paul,  "all the other members suffer with [him]."  ( 1 Corinthians 12:26)  Others can take an active interest in such a youth. Of course, a measure of caution is needed, since a spiritually ailing  youth could adversely influence other young ones.  (Galatians 5:7-9)  In one congregation, well-meaning adults who wanted to help some youths who had become spiritually weak invited them to gatherings to play popular music together.  Though the youths readily complied and enjoyed such sessions, their influence on one another eventually led them to cut their ties with the congregation.  ( 1 Corinthians 15:33; Jude 22, 23) What can help heal the ailing child is, not social gatherings with  no spiritual direction, but association that helps him to cultivate a tasted for spiritual things.

When a youth who has left the congregation comes back to the Kingdom Hall or attends an assembly, think of how he may feel.  Should we not show the welcoming attitude  of the prodigal's father in  Jesus' parable?  (Luke 15:18-20; 25-32) A teenager who left the Christian congregation  and later attended a convention stated: "I thought everybody would ignore a person like me, but the brothers and sisters approached me and welcomed me.  I was deeply moved."  He began studying the Bible again and was later baptized.

Next time: Do Not Give Up

Watchtower, 2001