He said, "If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go along in our midst, even though the people are so obstinate, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your own possession." (Exodus 34:9) This article has created quite a stir on our social platforms. I have been encouraged to have Lion of Judah Films produce a short film on this film. Would you pray for us as we produce it?
Mr. Phinney: In the Jesus Revolution movie, Christianity is mostly absent—culturally weak and prone to infighting between traditionalist and progressive factions who refuse to coexist at the altar of Christ. Jesus Revolution is very much a call to action, as are all “Christian” films, but the movie is also smart enough to recognize the wrinkles in the process of what it is saying. This is very much a movie about flawed, broken people who find themselves as the face of a movement far greater than themselves, but the film also depicts the origins of many elements of faith that have metastasized into problems for the Church—megachurch culture, chick tracks, etc. Tyler Hummel, Fox Valley Films
Stephen: The “Jesus Revolution” is also a completely uncritical portrait of the Jesus movement. Because this is a faith-based film, it simply presents the genesis of this “spiritual awakening” and explosion of these churches, without examining any of the potential dark sides or ramifications of how this evangelical Christian movement has impacted American culture and politics in the decades since. -Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times
Dr. Phinney: "The kind of acceptance propagated in the Jesus Revolution film is naturally an attractive idea to many liberal-minded viewers, who have long wondered why Christianity should have to continue being associated with hierarchical, intolerant authoritarianism when Jesus himself seemed to preach a lot of egalitarianism, tolerance, and forgiveness. So, a conservative pastor teams up with a kooky hippie — great story! On the surface, it does seem to scratch that “Jesus was a socialist” itch. And yet, the obvious question for many such viewers becomes: how far does that tolerance actually go?
If you’re going to do that though, you can’t cheat. Or at least, you can’t cheat in ways as obvious as The Jesus Revolution cheats, eliding and exaggerating through the obvious questions most viewers would have just so you can have longer montages of tinkly pianos and hippies being baptized in glowing California sunlight." - VINCE MANCINI, SENIOR FILM & CULTURE WRITER
A mother, by the name of Tiff, wrote an interesting perspective on rating a Jesus movie PG13. Please take a moment to read her comment. It is filled with wisdom.
A very interesting post. I have been wondering about that movie. Many years ago, my first husband and I were in Colorado on vacation and met up with a group of hippies who were in the Jesus movement. (Probably late 60's-early 70's).
I grew up in a Pentecostal church, and for many years was really conflicted about it. I have since done a lot of Bible study and prayer on those subjects and am leery of anything that leans too much toward emotionalism, as it can be false. I do believe in healing and have experienced it, and have had other things answered in prayer, but those are not made public. God can do anything, but we as believers need to be very careful in who we follow. Thank you for your assessment and work in this. God bless you. -JW
I keep hearing ads for this movie and they offer a disclaimer: "Rated PG-13, some material may not be suitable for viewers under 13." As a mother and in-dwelt believer in The Christ, I have to ask, "Where is the logic in this disclaimer?" A movie that's supposed intent is to speak of The Christ, teach of The Christ, and be a tool to reach for The Christ should not exclude age groups, ever. The Lord said, "let the children come to me AND DO NOT HINDER THEM, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these" (Matthew 19:14). I am unnerved that whoever produces movies like these under the guise of the Lord's Holy Name would simply omit how God incarnate went about His ministry. He calls us to NOT be stumbling blocks for His children, so why do we insist on including material in films ABOUT HIM that not everyone can see, hear, or learn from? Immanuel (God with us, remember?) didn't send the children away or offer disclaimers of the content of his messages simply so He could add something inappropriate. Is that what we've reduced the God of the Universe to? Inappropriate, which equates to unholy? All that to be said, this is only PART of why red flags should be thrown up as people decide whether or not to watch this...Lonnie Frisbee did, after all, "preach" while tripping on acid. Not quite sure that's what the Savior of the World had in mind when He said we ought to "be of one mind" (1 Corinthians 1:10).
Right you are. Andy Stanley is el numero 2 because he makes things easy. Here’s the point, I think made by the film. The people who were Jesus freaks became so because everything else let them down. The church wasn’t ready for them. Today’s disaffected, gay, trans, addicted, have also tried everything. Nothing is fulfilling for them. But we know we have the answer. If we get ready maybe God will send them.
Frisbee is shown sympathetically no question. It’s quite fascinating that such a flawed person can have the Spirit so active in his life. A lot of time has passed, but I think that Greg Laurie has a firm handle on it. As much as Hollywood hates Christians I am a bit surprised that his “lifestyle” wasn’t at least mentioned. I understand not recommending it, although I did and still do, and I support The Chosen. But I do not expect the creators, nor the characters depicted to be without flaws.
I may be wrong, but it seems to me that the movie, which I have seen, could open a lot of doors to people who are earnestly seeking the real Jesus. Just like the hippies of my youth, people can be looking for love but in all the wrong places. Why? We let them down. We wanted our kids to be our friends if we knew our kids at all. Fathers have been lacking since the end of WW2. We who can remember the Jesus Revolution can step up and become the mentors a new generation needs.
I looked up Lonnie and his background. He faltered heavily. Some new believers can get notoriety and become a target early on. Much like some wonderful musicians who gave their heart to the Lord and were then exploited without being grounded. The apostle Paul had his time in preparation. Jesus did.
Some got scooped up in the popularity and that became their identity. It comes down to this. When you fully know whose you are , you will know who you are. There are some credible people and lives in the story. I don’t think we can throw out the baby with the bath water. Pardon the cliche. But that said, we need to know Gods word and rightly discern for ourselves. God is no respecter of persons. He will guide us if we seek Him.
There are plenty of ministers bad mouthing good movements. That only ricochets back and hurts them and others. They take offense. That’s not good. That said, Deductive thinking coupled with Holy Spirit discernment is what we need to have. The darker it gets the more the light shines. I do pray for a mass outpouring of His Spirit. I pray that people see through the garbage. God used a donkey. A friend pointed out this:: Balam talked back to the donkey. But then later God showed his true colors.
He said, "If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go along in our midst, even though the people are so obstinate, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your own possession." (Exodus 34:9) This article has created quite a stir on our social platforms. I have been encouraged to have Lion of Judah Films produce a short film on this film. Would you pray for us as we produce it?
Mr. Phinney: In the Jesus Revolution movie, Christianity is mostly absent—culturally weak and prone to infighting between traditionalist and progressive factions who refuse to coexist at the altar of Christ. Jesus Revolution is very much a call to action, as are all “Christian” films, but the movie is also smart enough to recognize the wrinkles in the process of what it is saying. This is very much a movie about flawed, broken people who find themselves as the face of a movement far greater than themselves, but the film also depicts the origins of many elements of faith that have metastasized into problems for the Church—megachurch culture, chick tracks, etc. Tyler Hummel, Fox Valley Films
Stephen: The “Jesus Revolution” is also a completely uncritical portrait of the Jesus movement. Because this is a faith-based film, it simply presents the genesis of this “spiritual awakening” and explosion of these churches, without examining any of the potential dark sides or ramifications of how this evangelical Christian movement has impacted American culture and politics in the decades since. -Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times
Dr. Phinney: "The kind of acceptance propagated in the Jesus Revolution film is naturally an attractive idea to many liberal-minded viewers, who have long wondered why Christianity should have to continue being associated with hierarchical, intolerant authoritarianism when Jesus himself seemed to preach a lot of egalitarianism, tolerance, and forgiveness. So, a conservative pastor teams up with a kooky hippie — great story! On the surface, it does seem to scratch that “Jesus was a socialist” itch. And yet, the obvious question for many such viewers becomes: how far does that tolerance actually go?
If you’re going to do that though, you can’t cheat. Or at least, you can’t cheat in ways as obvious as The Jesus Revolution cheats, eliding and exaggerating through the obvious questions most viewers would have just so you can have longer montages of tinkly pianos and hippies being baptized in glowing California sunlight." - VINCE MANCINI, SENIOR FILM & CULTURE WRITER
A mother, by the name of Tiff, wrote an interesting perspective on rating a Jesus movie PG13. Please take a moment to read her comment. It is filled with wisdom.
Dear Dr. Phinney,
A very interesting post. I have been wondering about that movie. Many years ago, my first husband and I were in Colorado on vacation and met up with a group of hippies who were in the Jesus movement. (Probably late 60's-early 70's).
I grew up in a Pentecostal church, and for many years was really conflicted about it. I have since done a lot of Bible study and prayer on those subjects and am leery of anything that leans too much toward emotionalism, as it can be false. I do believe in healing and have experienced it, and have had other things answered in prayer, but those are not made public. God can do anything, but we as believers need to be very careful in who we follow. Thank you for your assessment and work in this. God bless you. -JW
I appreciate your deep thought that goes into this. We as believers need to engage.
Could not agree more
I keep hearing ads for this movie and they offer a disclaimer: "Rated PG-13, some material may not be suitable for viewers under 13." As a mother and in-dwelt believer in The Christ, I have to ask, "Where is the logic in this disclaimer?" A movie that's supposed intent is to speak of The Christ, teach of The Christ, and be a tool to reach for The Christ should not exclude age groups, ever. The Lord said, "let the children come to me AND DO NOT HINDER THEM, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these" (Matthew 19:14). I am unnerved that whoever produces movies like these under the guise of the Lord's Holy Name would simply omit how God incarnate went about His ministry. He calls us to NOT be stumbling blocks for His children, so why do we insist on including material in films ABOUT HIM that not everyone can see, hear, or learn from? Immanuel (God with us, remember?) didn't send the children away or offer disclaimers of the content of his messages simply so He could add something inappropriate. Is that what we've reduced the God of the Universe to? Inappropriate, which equates to unholy? All that to be said, this is only PART of why red flags should be thrown up as people decide whether or not to watch this...Lonnie Frisbee did, after all, "preach" while tripping on acid. Not quite sure that's what the Savior of the World had in mind when He said we ought to "be of one mind" (1 Corinthians 1:10).
Right you are. Andy Stanley is el numero 2 because he makes things easy. Here’s the point, I think made by the film. The people who were Jesus freaks became so because everything else let them down. The church wasn’t ready for them. Today’s disaffected, gay, trans, addicted, have also tried everything. Nothing is fulfilling for them. But we know we have the answer. If we get ready maybe God will send them.
Frisbee is shown sympathetically no question. It’s quite fascinating that such a flawed person can have the Spirit so active in his life. A lot of time has passed, but I think that Greg Laurie has a firm handle on it. As much as Hollywood hates Christians I am a bit surprised that his “lifestyle” wasn’t at least mentioned. I understand not recommending it, although I did and still do, and I support The Chosen. But I do not expect the creators, nor the characters depicted to be without flaws.
I may be wrong, but it seems to me that the movie, which I have seen, could open a lot of doors to people who are earnestly seeking the real Jesus. Just like the hippies of my youth, people can be looking for love but in all the wrong places. Why? We let them down. We wanted our kids to be our friends if we knew our kids at all. Fathers have been lacking since the end of WW2. We who can remember the Jesus Revolution can step up and become the mentors a new generation needs.
I looked up Lonnie and his background. He faltered heavily. Some new believers can get notoriety and become a target early on. Much like some wonderful musicians who gave their heart to the Lord and were then exploited without being grounded. The apostle Paul had his time in preparation. Jesus did.
Some got scooped up in the popularity and that became their identity. It comes down to this. When you fully know whose you are , you will know who you are. There are some credible people and lives in the story. I don’t think we can throw out the baby with the bath water. Pardon the cliche. But that said, we need to know Gods word and rightly discern for ourselves. God is no respecter of persons. He will guide us if we seek Him.
There are plenty of ministers bad mouthing good movements. That only ricochets back and hurts them and others. They take offense. That’s not good. That said, Deductive thinking coupled with Holy Spirit discernment is what we need to have. The darker it gets the more the light shines. I do pray for a mass outpouring of His Spirit. I pray that people see through the garbage. God used a donkey. A friend pointed out this:: Balam talked back to the donkey. But then later God showed his true colors.
Thanks for the heads up Stephen.