Jesus Revolution: How God Transformed an Unlikely Generation and How He Can Do It Again Today. Greg Laurie and Ellen Vaughn. 2018. 272 pages. [Source: Library]
First sentence: The hippies who plunged into the Pacific Ocean during that summer sunset in 1970 didn't know they were in a revival. They didn't even know what a revival was. They were not acquainted with Christian vocabulary words like revival or salvation or sanctification. But thanks to the Beatles, Jim Morrison, and other countercultural icons of the day, the hippies did know about words like revolution.
How to describe this one? Part biography of Greg Laurie (including his conversion, his ministry, the ups and downs of his personal life). Part history of the Jesus Movement (not thorough nor complete, but an introduction for sure). Part info-dump of the times (feeling very Wikipedia info-dump on the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, Vietnam War, American politics, etc.).
I would describe this one as more vignettes, lingering impressions of the Jesus Movement (aka Jesus Revolution). There are personal stories from Greg Laurie and his wife, Cathe, about growing up in California in the late 1960s and early 1970s. There are stories of their courtship. There are stories of Laurie's early ministry work--the people who mentored him, encouraged him. A few stories--in general--of Chuck Smith's ministry before, during, and to a very small extent after. There are a few stories about Lonnie Frisbee, but, not as much as you might expect if you've seen the movie trailer or listened to reviews of the movie. Laurie points out that Frisbee working hand in hand with Chuck Smith was better than anything Lonnie Frisbee did on his own--in terms of theological soundness, biblical accuracy, etc. The book is not a gossipy book. Laurie neither condemns (completely) nor praises Lonnie Frisbee.
I don't know if Greg Laurie wrote any of this himself. It is written ENTIRELY in the third person. So if Greg Laurie was involved in the actual writing of the manuscript, it's a very odd choice. More likely, perhaps, Laurie giving interviews etc.
Do I have thoughts???? Yes. I wish this one wasn't trying to do everything all at once. I'd rather have a book that was solely a memoir of Greg Laurie OR a book that was solely focused on the Jesus Movement (aka Jesus Revolution) perhaps capturing multiple points of view, telling a chronological story of the movement, mini-biographies of those involved, impact statements, follow-up stories, etc. A book could definitely be written gathering together memories/stories of those who were saved during this movement, who were baptized and prayed the sinner's prayer, who attended these churches, who experienced first hand this revival. It would answer a lot of lingering questions that skeptics may have. Reading the vignettes, brief captured moments, doesn't really give me--as a reader--a big picture. It raises more questions than it answers.
I've mostly focused (so far) on the book. That's only fair. The book was written before the filming began, before the movie was edited and ready to be released.
The movie is released now. I have not seen it. I have seen dozens of reviews on YouTube. They tend to fall into three camps [or reactions]. Reaction 1) The movie is perfectly perfect; it is wonderful; best Christian movie ever; a great evangelical tool; everyone MUST see it; it will be the catalyst for revival; churches everywhere should be inspired and enlightened. Reaction 2) The movie is horrendously awful. It is dangerous. It's a slippery slope. It will lead people away from the Lord. It presents a different Jesus, a different gospel. It may lead to false revival, false conversions. It idealizes Lonnie Frisbee, a complex man with MANY issues (drug use, homosexuality, occult influences). It focuses too much on experiences and not enough on teachings, doctrines, theological soundness. Reaction 3) The movie may be a beautiful film, but, it has some issues, some problems. There are a few great things, a few good things, and some disturbing things. It's a mixed bag. Not the best. Not the worst. Be discerning.
Seeking out movie reviews, I've stumbled into a PIT of commentary videos about the Jesus Movement, about Lonnie Frisbee, about Calvary Chapel, etc. And again reactions tend to extremes. Everything from a) 100% of converts who prayed the sinner's prayer, who were baptized, who were a part of this revival remained in the Lord--not only remained but were strengthened, discipled, transformed. Not a one fell away. Not a one continued to live in sin--drugs, sexual immorality, etc. to b) 90% of converts who prayed the sinner's prayer, who were baptized, who were a part of this revival fell away, were never transformed, never sanctified, never discipled, never grew in the Lord, never obeyed the Lord, were ultimately 'false' converts. You've got people utterly convinced that this revival was the best thing ever AND people utterly convinced it was the work of Satan. It can be confusing to parse through the videos and find the truth. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that neither extreme can be right--at least not totally, rigidly. There has to be a happy-medium-ground where facts lead us.
1 comment:
Interesting review. I would also think a book with Greg Laurie's name on it would be captivating and interesting, not written in third person.
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