Paul called on young Christians in the church he had founded at Corinth " ... carnal, as babes in Christ ... " (1 Corinthians 3:1-2). He kept pointing out all the things they were doing spiritually infantile. Not surprisingly, The new believers were immature. What is special about this is that Paul is writing instead of being there to tell them in person.
Paul left the new believers to stand alone when he knew they were ready - not when he or they felt they were ready. Above all, these believers in Corinth were part of a highly promiscuous and decadent culture. They had to overcome more obstacles than most believers. Paul went and left anyway when Christians were still babies! He called them children, but still the left.
Paul acknowledges that the Corinthians are saved and sanctified, they say they are older, encourage them by saying they have every gift needed to be a fully functioning church, and then calls them children.
The Corinthians were not doing very good things. They were jealous of each other and were divided into factions. Paul heard that immoral. They were fighting not just with each other in the church, but even they were taking to court.
Amid all their problems and immaturity, why Paul went and left?
I think there were two reasons. First , although they were believers immature there were many other places where there were no believers simply because nobody was there to talk about the offering of Christ. Paul realized that there was a greater need in those new places.
Second, Paul left early because realized that was not his responsibility to guide them to maturity. He said he and Apollos planted and watered, but God was responsible for getting people to grow spiritually (1 Corinthians 3:6).
Paul would not left were saved as soon . stayed with them until they understood the basic principles of the teachings of Christ. And when they left they wrote letters to encourage them or correct them in whatever they needed. Also sent to disciple believers.
Paul, one of the earliest and most productive mission of the Christian church, the man whose teachings are a big part of our New Testament, did not stay long and did not feel that the new believers had to be so mature and as he was able to make them work without it.
Whether we feel comfortable with this or not, the method worked!
"The Great Omission", Steve Saint.
"The Great Omission", Steve Saint.