Gold Coast pastor on Easter 2024

“There is much more openness in this current generation than in previous generations that may have been burnt by organised religion.” See the details.

A Gold Coast pastor says Easter has become “wildly commercialised”, but it’s meaning remains the same.

Pastor Josh Wood said the Christian tradition was the very message of the faith itself.

“Easter is the message,” the Zion Church pastor said.

“John 3:16 For God so loved the world he gave his only son and whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

“It’s the most well known verse for a reason – because it’s the gospel in one verse.”

The religious holiday symbolises sacrifice and rebirth – with the Christian belief marking the death and resurrection of the son of God, Jesus Christ.

In what has become a celebration of faith, hope and renewal for many, Pastor Josh said Easter continued to attract many locals to places of worship.

Christian cross on hill outdoors at sunrise.

“Christianity and Christian traditions have still carried through even though they’ve been wildly commercialised,” he said.

“But there are still a number of people that have some kind of a belief in God or are at least open to the concept,” he said.

The Burleigh-based pastor said aside from Easter, he had seen a general resurgence within the city to the Christian faith.

“People are searching and people are disillusioned – some people feel disenfranchised, especially in a post-Covid world, so people are looking for truth, they’re looking for hope and they’re looking for answers,” he said.

“We’ve gone through that post-Christian stage and we’re finding there’s a lot of people who have grown up in secular homes that are coming to faith.

“There is much more openness in this current generation than in previous generations that may have been burnt by organised religion.”