Movie: Jesus Revolution

One of the unexpected moves of the Holy Spirit in 1960s California, was the way a whole generation of hippies embraced the gospel message. Known as the Jesus People, these young people, with their long hair and alternative life styles, injected new energy and challenge into the Christian world.

This interesting film based on historical fact tells the story of how it all began.

Pastor Chuck Smith, (played by Kelsey Grammar of Frasier and Cheers fame), a pastor of a small evangelical church, is challenged by his daughter, that his preaching is not relevant to the questions that her generation are asking, which is why his church is failing and moribund.

To prove her point, she invites a charismatic hippie preacher, Lonnie Frisbee (played by Jonathan Roumie - who plays Jesus in the Chosen tv series) home to meet her father. There is a huge culture clash between the two men. One with his suit and the other with long hair and sandals. Chuck Smith, to his credit realises that there is truth in what his daughter says and that Frisbee has found something of the radical nature of the gospel, which Smith has lost along the way. Smith bravely opens his church doors to the young people who are searching for answers and gives Frisbee the opportunity to preach the gospel in his way.

Drawn by Frisbee's gospel message of radical love, the young people come in droves. But their presence and behaviour alienate Smith's existing congregation, and Smith has to choose whom he will support. His decision to support the young people, at some personal cost, was to bear massive fruit in the long run for the American Church, causing the Los Angeles Times to call Smith at his death "one of the most influential figures in Modern American Christianity". Smith's experience and wisdom provided much needed stability for the nascent Jesus People movement, when Frisbee went off the rails later. Today there are Calvary chapels throughout America and the world.

I really enjoyed the film and found it both interesting and amusing, at times, as the film shows the early attempts at Christian community living, where the young people discovered the reality of cleaning and washing up rather than just sitting around playing guitars and having beautiful thoughts.

The Jesus Revolution is a bit of niche film, and probably not of interest to everyone, which is why KOVA PR have had to fight for its space in mainstream cinemas. It releases in the UK and Ireland on 23rd June and is available at over 160 cinemas. It will also be available on some of the streaming platforms, so do look out for it!

As well as giving an illuminative account of the time, it also raises perennial questions for those seeking to evangelise the next generation. What is essential to the gospel and what is cultural? As this film shows, whether people wear suits or sandals, what people are really looking for is costly love, whether it is the love of Christ, or the love the Christian community.

For more information and to see a trailer visit the official Jesus Revolution website:
https://jesusrevolutionmovie.co.uk/movies/15356?ref=