I'm excited. I'm excited because we had a whole bunch of people baptized and welcomed into membership of Rock Church at our North Shore campus on Sunday. I'm excited because they poured the footings for the pavilion yesterday (Have you heard how hard it is to get a contractor right now?) And I'm excited because I believe we are entering a season of opportunity. For a number of reasons that I'm about to share, I believe we are entering a season of increasing openness to the gospel and to the Christian Church.
For years we have been told that people just aren't open to the gospel anymore, particularly millennials. Over the last 10 to 15 years I've read more research studies and articles than I can count, all predicting the demise of the church in America. And many are assuming the Covid will accelerate the decline. But I have to be honest, that's not at all what I am seeing and it is certainly not the message I'm hearing from God. In fact, I believe the very opposite is true. I would be the first to admit that we are seeing an end to “cultural Christianity,” the idea that everyone goes to church because that is what is culturally expected.
But in its place I believe we are entering a time of genuine spiritual seekers who truly desire a relationship with God. And if anything, I think Covid has amplified that. Coming out of this strange season where so much, in worldly terms, was taken away, I believe more than ever people are seeking that which is eternal, that which is enduring and cannot be stolen from us.
I also believe that after this extended time of isolation, more than ever people are seeking the kind of human contact and community that the body of Christ provides. I think we are all discovering more than ever how important true community is. I'm also convinced that coming through the intense division of the past few years, people are starved for a place of kindness and unconditional love. The kind of love that is experienced in Christian community.
For all these reasons and more, I believe we are in a time of heightened receptivity. In other words, now more than ever is the time to invite, the time to share. In the words of Jesus, the fields are ripe for harvest. More than ever, people are seeking what the church alone provides. Don't be fooled by the naysayers. We are seeing first-time guests every week at every campus. There are people all around us that are just waiting to be invited. Be bold. Extend an invitation. Share the hope of Christ. Now is the time.
I pray you all have a blessed week. I look forward to us being together in person or online this Sunday as we continue our series on prayer.
Love you all.
Pastor Steve