Recently a friend and I went to our local theater to see this movie and admittedly, we both walked out with a few mixed emotions. While the concept of love rang out loud and clear which we both appreciated…we felt some key facts were not addressed…more to follow later.
For some background…for those who have yet to see it…”The Jesus Revolution” is the story of one young hippie’s quest in the 1970s for belonging and freedom that leads not only to peace, love, and rock and roll, but that sets into motion a new counterculture crusade…a Jesus Movement about love. The movie tells the story of a young man, Greg, being raised by his struggling mother, who basically joined a sea of young hippies descending on sunny Southern California to redefine truth through all means of liberation. Eventually, Lonnie, their charismatic hippie-street-preacher, meets up with a traditional Pastor, Chuck Smith, who ultimately throws open the doors of his failing church to this stream of wandering youth. What unfolds becomes the greatest spiritual awakening in American history. Rock and roll, newfound love, and a twist of faith lead to a Jesus Revolution that turns this counterculture movement into a revival.
Being an old hippie (easy on the old) I can SO relate to this period of time. While I was raised in a loving family environment…religiously, my church of origin was entrenched in conservative Christianity which included attending church at least 3 times each week, with no smoking, drinking, dancing or movies allowed. At that time, the message was strong…we were the only ones “doing it right”. An interesting example of this was when one of my sisters was not allowed to attend the protestant church next door to our church with her two close friends. I’m sure they lovingly did what they thought best at the time, however, obviously closed to other ways of worship and those different from us.
Admittedly, since I was not “on board” with this concept…I left home the day after I graduated…time to find the true Sherry. I evolved into my “free-love hippie mode”. While hitchhiking across the country with my wild and crazy roommate, Carma Grass, let’s just say we experienced a lot along the way…and thankfully, we lived to tell the tale even though our travels did not take us as far as California where this movement occurred.
During those days, I attended a few churches searching for other religious options…from Baptist to Lutheran. Fast forward to my military years…my husband and I attended Episcopal Churches in each location we lived since that’s how he was raised and appreciated…from Texas, to Mississippi, to Okinawa to Italy. It was a message of peace and love versus judgment. And now that I’m back to my Wisconsin roots, basically I define myself as spiritual…not religious…writing holistic light and love articles for those who care to come along this journey.
In the movie, the kind of acceptance is naturally an attractive idea to many liberal-minded viewers, who have long wondered why conservative Christianity should have to continue being associated with intolerant authoritarianism when Jesus taught love, tolerance, and forgiveness…but how far does that tolerance actually go with that open-door love theme? (i.e. What if Chuck and Lonnie had differing ideas about the gays, or even just premarital sex?) That seems like something pretty basic that the directors would want to address..however, did not. Interestingly enough, after some internet searching, I learned that the real Lonnie Frisbee was actually a gay man who died of complications from AIDS in 1993.
In addition, this film does not explore hard questions about “being saved” and how the cleansing of baptism does not necessarily equate to an ongoing “ atmosphere of hope and love.” Instead, it’s a gently told story preaching to the converts, assuming that evangelical Christianity is beyond doubt, the answer without considering this particular form of worship may not be the answer for all. Realistically, for me, it felt like a Paul Harvey story minus the “rest of the story”.
To quote Jack Kornfield, from another faith tradition, “after the ecstasy comes the laundry.”
According to another movie goer that night, the “Jesus Revolution” has resurfaced in some pockets of our country. As long as this “open door, loving” religious concept is truly evolving…bringing more acceptance and love into this divided world…hope springs eternal!
Progress not perfection, Warriors!
Covid Humor: In Germany, they are preparing for the crisis by stocking up with sausage and cheese. That’s the wurst käse scenario.