07/05/2023
*The Movie: Jesus Revolution*
The movie is powerful, poignant and provocative – especially for Christians. It points towards the urgent need for a Jesus Revolution today for our churches, our society and ourselves.
Without spoiling the plot, Jesus Revolution tells the story of a strait-laced pastor, Chuck Smith whose world is turned upside down when he encounters a hippie street preacher, Lonnie Frisbee – The Chosen. The pastor opens the door of the church to all regardless of their differences. Some elders of the church objected and left.
Along the way, a teenager named Greg Laurie comes to faith in Christ after looking for answers in all the wrong places (same with many youths today). They are into drugs, s*x, and cultism because they are looking for something – that missing link which only God can give. Sadly, no one is reaching out to them.
This movie is a microcosm of the ‘Jesus movement’ revival that began in the U.S. in the late 60s to early 70s and swept around the world.
As a follower of Jesus, why do I think we need a Jesus Revolution today?
First, the film holds a mirror up to our churches and asks us to honestly consider if we are an open or closed door to those who are different from us, but who Jesus calls us to welcome in.
Watching this film, it was easy to laugh along with Kelsey Grammer’s character (Pastor) who complains that what the hippies “really need is a bath.”
It was easy to judge the congregants who looked with curiosity, shock and even disdain as hippies filled the pews opposite. It was easy to cheer when the old pastor finally ‘got it’ and invited the shoeless bell-bottomed drifters into his dusty old church and started himself dressing more hip. We’d be just like him, right? Opening the doors wide.
*Let’s not be so quick to think so highly of ourselves.*
*Are our churches an open door – or a closed door – to those searching for God? For those most in need? For believers who look, dress, talk and act differently from us?*
In James 2:1-4 we’re cautioned about this very thing:
_"My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favouritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"_
*Many – but not all – churches seem to have a fairly homogenous look and feel in Nigeria. Whether it’s in the style of preaching, worship music, venue, Bible versions, socio-demographics or even the race of those in attendance.* Doors are closed to other styles and individuals, even if the Holy Spirit was using them for His work in the congregation or calling them to the church.
If you dress a particular way to a denomination, you will be given a back seat in church, told to leave or the door will be shut against you.
There are so many what-you-can't-do in our denominations today than the "dos" that Christ expects from us. You can't sing like this. You can't eat this. You can't worship or preach like this.
Those old styles are not reaching out to our millennials. That is why churches are losing our millennials – even those whose parents are Christians. You may think otherwise because they still follow you to church. Watch as they start staying on their own...
Teaching methods in schools are improving but, preaching and worship in our churches aren't.
A contemporary Jesus Revolution would be bold enough to follow the counter-cultural, barrier-breaking message and ways of Christ – all while being faithful to the gospel and the word of God. Jesus crossed racial, gender, socio-economic, cultural and ability barriers in society, including those rigorously enforced by the religious leaders of his era. As 1 John 2:6 says: _“Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”_
Secondly, the film holds a mirror up to us and asks us, _"What are we doing with the gospel and the Holy Spirit we have received?"_
Do we want the Faith of our fathers to end with us?
Our world desperately needs Jesus’ good news: that despite every one of us falling short of God’s standards, he offers a way for us to be made right with Him by accepting the gift of His Son’s death on the cross on our behalf, as we turn from our old ways to follow Jesus instead. By believing in Jesus we have forgiveness and are raised to a new life, just as he was raised from the dead. That he invites us to join him in the work of God’s kingdom right here and now. What is that work?
Our towns, cities, country and world are facing massive and deepening challenges. More people experiencing lovelessness and homelessness. Tens of thousands have died from illicit drug overdose death, with substance use fueled by things like childhood trauma and abuse. Record-breaking proportions of people are being incarcerated. An epidemic of mental health challenges is facing young people who are more connected to technology than ever but disconnected in ways that matter most. Disabled people living below the poverty line. Racism, violence, war, segregation, etc.
To be sure, Christians are playing a role in addressing each of these crises, but we need to do so much more.
As Jesus said in Matthew 25:35-36: _"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."_
We need revival – renewal in the spiritual lives of everyday people, churches and society.
After watching Jesus Revolution, I was interested in tracking down Greg Laurie (the teenager whose life changed completely in the movie). Today, he’s the pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California. I listened to a few of his sermons and checked out his social media feed. He is well aware people are praying and hoping for a revival. And he had some wise words for what that means.
_“We can talk all day long about revival. But it starts with each one of us,”_ said Pastor Laurie. _“To have a personal revival, you need to go back to the basics in your walk with Christ.”_
Jesus is the living waters that he promised, bringing a peace unknown before, comfort in times of trouble and growing joy.
The kind of life-changing transformation that we hear about read about, and see in movies like Jesus Revolution is real. And it’s a revolution that only Jesus can bring about, only if we are ready.
NOGM
