In the wilderness

The whole Judæan countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him (1:5) 

Many years ago, I visited Judæa. We drove through the barren emptiness of the Judæan wilderness until we entered the sprawling suburbs of Jerusalem. The contrast was quite dramatic. From wasteland to fertile garden, from emptiness to thriving throng. Somehow John's message was attractive to both. Very attractive. All the people went out to him, the whole of the countryside. Even allowing for some poetic license, there must have been crowds. Today our churches are at risk of falling well short of that appeal. The grand buildings attract the rich, the wild worship attracts the young, the beautiful music attracts the erudite. What are we getting wrong?

John's message was a very simple one, repent and be forgiven. John's auditorium was a very open one, the wilderness. John's appearance was a very unique one, wild and free. When being inside is a risk, when listening to the news confuses, when our leaders seem to let us down, maybe we should try John's way again.





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