Good morning. Way back in the days of my youth Time Magazine devoted several pages to an article entitled, “The Jesus Revolution”. As I recall, the article didn’t come to any conclusions as to whether or not the movement was good or bad, they were simply reporting on something big that was happening in our culture.
This movement was being driven and largely participated in by younger people. It began in the late 60s and continued as a force into the mid-70s. It was an evangelical movement and those devoted to it were called “Jesus people” and “Jesus freaks”. It was often met with disdain from those associated with the “traditional” church and was usually considered just one more hippie type of expression and experience. Such thoughts were right, and they were wrong.
It was true that for many the “Jesus Movement” was just another aspect of rebellion and they got bored with it before too long and moved on to a new fad.
But for others it was not something easily left behind. It is from that Jesus movement of the late 60s and early 70s that a great number of “community” and/or non-denominational churches got their start. Some of those efforts, like Willow Creek in suburban Chicago grew into congregations with membership in the thousands.
I think that the difference was in leadership. I am not talking about the leadership wearing tie-dyed t-shirts as they worshipped. I am talking about the leadership that was proclaimed in a huge banner behind the stage at the rally which the Time article was covering. That banner declared in an extra-large font: “Jesus Is Lord!”
It seems that some of those “Jesus freaks” had come to understand the truth of scriptures like Philippians 2:11 and let every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
When it was understood that Jesus is Lord there was a different dynamic that took over and defined the outcome. For those who accepted that Jesus is Lord, worship was not another chance to rebel, and it was not another temporary fad. No, for those who accepted that Jesus is Lord the path ahead was one of commitment, and of work, and of love, and of new beginnings, and of accepting Him and following Him. As long as they have remained loyal to that truth, those churches are alive and well today.
If a revival is called for today, whether it be the revival of a church, or a marriage, or a friendship, or a family…Jesus is Lord remains the truth that will last and will win.
Vern