Equip

My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) (1 Corinthians 1:11-16 NIV)

The people whom Paul baptized in Corinth did not have good Israelite names.  Their names were Greek and Roman.  They were Gentile converts to the faith.  When a Jewish man or woman was baptized, Paul was working with someone who already knew the Old Testament Scriptures.  When a Gentile was converted, the starting point was much earlier on the path.  Gentiles were non believers, agnostics, and polytheists.  Paul had to start from step one with many of them.  That’s why he spent so much time there.

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. (Acts 18:9-11 NIV)

Later, when Paul left and wrote back to the church at Corinth, he wasn’t complaining about people who should have known better.  He was working with people who did not know what it looked like to walk together with God.  They needed to be taught.  They needed to be equipped.

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. (1 Corinthians 1:17-21 NIV)

It seems so strange to read Paul’s words, saying he was not sent to baptize.  Arguably, Paul was one of the most effective evangelists of all time.  He saw baptisms, though, as a piece of the whole picture.  He was sent to meet people where they were and equip them to grow.

How about you?  Do you meet people where they are in their walk together with God?  Do you equip them to grow?  Are you being equipped?  How?