5 Reasons You Should Watch Jesus Revolution
My church family went to watch the movie Jesus Revolution last week and man, it did not disappoint. My husband and I love the show Frasier, so we were excited when we saw Kelsey Grammer would be starring in it. How can a movie go wrong when it has Jesus, hippies, and Frasier?
I encourage you to round up some friends and go check this movie out! Here are five things I was reminded of and why I think you will be just as moved and inspired by this movie.
God can use broken people.
The Bible is full of stories of God using imperfect people for His good - David, Samson, Rahab, Moses, Jonah, Jacob, Peter, Martha, Gideon - the list goes on and on.
The same goes for the characters in Jesus Revolution based on the life of Pastor Greg Laurie and the period of history Time Magazine dubbed the ‘Jesus Revolution,’ and the book Pastor Laurie authored. Young Greg did not have the prettiest childhood and was scarred by it.
Pastor Chuck was older and was having trouble reaching his congregation and others in his community. Evangelist Lonnie was a hippie, and many people pegged him as a drug addict with his head in the clouds. They all used their lives to bring God glory and start a revival and movement for God.
2. Reflect on your faith and how you share it.
Do those around you in your everyday life know you as a Christian? You most likely have heard the saying, “you may be the only Bible someone reads.” Are you an example of the Bible they should be reading? Are you living your life in a manner worthy of Christ (Colossians 1:10)?
Are you cultivating your relationships to open doors to share the gospel? In Jesus Revolution, Lonnie made it look so easy to share the word of God, but he was just real with people and sparked relationships with them.
3. God should be at the center of your life.
What is taking the place of God in your life? Our hearts are idol making factories, and it is so easy to even take something meant for our good and turn it into an idol. In the movie, young Greg tells his love interest that, if she gets in the way of his relationship with Jesus, he will have to break up with her.
That’s a magnitude of conviction we can only hope for in our own lives. Whether it’s a relationship, romantic or otherwise, hobbies, careers, health, ministry, or something else, it should not be the center of our lives - that is God’s place.
4. You can always rely on God.
I don’t want to give too much away from Jesus Revolution, but Greg had been let down his entire life. At one point he questions the validity of Christianity asking, “What if this is just another high?” He was scared because nothing and no one had ever made him feel the way Jesus had.
People had always left Greg, and he was afraid God would leave him, too. We know that would never happen, and thankfully, Greg learned this as well.
The Bible shows us so many stories of God’s people wanting to throw in the towel and questioning where He was, but He was always right there. I have experienced the same feelings, and I am sure you have, at times, too.
Thankfully, we know God keeps His promises and will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). You are His. He loves you and will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).
5. God loves all people.
There were some members of the congregation of the church in Jesus Revolution who were not open to change nor the hippies attending their church. While outwardly they were turned off to people, inwardly their hearts were closed off to Jesus.
In Luke 5:30-32, Jesus and his disciples were questioned by the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, asking, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
The hippies were different, and in our day and age, there are many people who are different from us in so many ways. And guess what, God loves them! Just like He loves you. God loves everyone and can use anyone for His good. No one is a lost cause.
If someone who looked different than you walked into your church and sat down by you, would you move? Or would you welcome them like Jesus would? What about on the street? If someone was in need, would you stop and help? Or pass by because they looked different from you?
I pray we do not become so caught up in righteousness that we forget who Jesus is and what He stands for. When Jesus was on this earth, He was the outcast. He was the rebel. He was different.
I laughed, cried, and felt convicted by this movie. It also motivated me in my faith. If we want to see another movement of Jesus across our churches, communities, nation, and globe, it starts with you and me.
We are the hands and feet of Jesus. I hope this encourages you to go check out Jesus Revolution, and it inspires you just like it has me.
Whitney can be described by the opening lyrics of a few Tom Petty songs. She's a good girl who grew up in a small Indiana town who loves her mama, Jesus, and America, too. She practices medicine as a physician assistant at an urgent care, and is a certified health coach. Whitney is a music enthusiast and leads worship at her church. She has a heart for people, and wants to help young girls and women find their worth in Christ rather than what the world says of them. Whitney loves a good dad joke, Southern manners, holistic wellness, attempting macrame crafts, and hiking and traveling with her husband, Alex, and their dog, Milly.