We are working through the gospel of John in our staff devotions, and in chapter one I was reminded of the cascading stories of invitation to come and see Jesus. First John says to Andrew, “look the Lamb of God”. Then Jesus invites Andrew to come and see. Andrew goes and brings his brother Simon to meet Jesus. Then Phillip invites Nathanael to come and see Jesus. I don’t think we are meant to miss the power of invitation in John 1. If you have seen The Chosen series, they have made t-shirts with this tag line from the gospel, come and see. 

There are a lot of people with questions about Jesus, and last year we heard the call to reach out to them one at a time. Coming up we have opportunities to invite people to come and see. To come to our Easter services and come to our Alpha dinner. 

The CEO of Crossover Australia, Andrew Turner, wrote in an article sent to me this week, that baptisms in 2023 were up 34% from 2022 in Australian Baptist churches. Andrew suggests that this could be a sign of the turning of the tide in our nation. He wrote: 

As Western culture increasingly becomes a spiritual desert…should we be surprised that spiritual thirst increases? Along with stories of baptisms, I’ve been inundated with stories of ‘gatecrashers’ – people (especially young adults) walking into churches that neither advertised nor invited them – and asking to be introduced to Jesus and Christianity.

Ten years ago the ‘New Atheist Movement’ held the floor among Western intellectuals, but it has died much faster than any church it mocked, and in its place we now see the ‘New Theist Movement’ – including such opinion-leaders as Jordan Peterson, Tom Holland and Ayaan Hirsi Ali (now openly a Christian). 

So are we seeing the turning of the tide?

I am not sure if my response is fuelled by the powerful week of prayer we are in, or from the increasing signs of awakening we are seeing in more and more people, but I believe the tide is turning. There is a thirst for something real, authentic and fulfilling in a time of artificial reality and empty promises. The gospel of Jesus, the love of his imperfect people in the local church shines so stunningly beautiful against this backdrop. 

Our part is simple. Come and see. Jesus work is finished. The cross is empty. 

The Holy Spirit’s work is constant. Lives are turning around. 

God bless, Marty.