I cried.

I laughed.

I saw the movie Jesus Revolution.

The movie is about a youth lead revival in the 1970s. It shows how God moved across the nation and the world back then… and how it can happen today.

It was such a powerful movie that my wife and I saw it twice… And we might see it again.

And I can tell you the movie is true… I know… I was part of the Jesus movement the story shows.

Here are the 11 things you should know about this movie:

1. It’s a powerful story of the Jesus revolution of the 1970s

In the 1970s, the culture and politics were shifting dramatically… much like today. The youth then– who are today’s boomers– were very much like Gen Z today. They didn’t know God. They were rejecting God. They were in rebellion…

In fact, the movie opens with Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel watching TV news about riots on college campuses and in the streets, kids taking LSD and rejecting Biblical morality… about political disagreements sparking generational conflicts…. Chuck turned to his wife and said, “It’s the end of the world.”

But little did he know what the Holy Spirit had in mind. Soon Chuck Smith’s failed ministry would spark a Jesus revolution… A revival that spread nationwide and later worldwide, with millions of people repenting their sins, accepting Jesus Christ as their personal savior, and walking with him.

It was a Jesus revolution that transformed the youth and expanded to people of all ages, impacting the culture, music, and more.

Over a thousand Calvary Chapel churches still exist because of Chuck’s ministry in the 70s.

And the revival sparked ministries and had a powerful Christian impact on businesses, politics, and Evangelism.

2. This movie is God’s perfect timing

The release of this movie is at the same time as the Asbury, Kentucky revival. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence. I think it’s God’s timing.

As this revival is spreading across college campuses and in churches across America, this movie is a powerful reminder of what can happen with the least likely to spark a revival—the young people who are in rebellion. [See my article Spontaneous Revival: What You Should Know About the Amazing College Revival Inspiring the Nation]

3. The Sleepy church then, the sleepy church now

The movie does a great job of showing the church’s coldness and lukewarmness.

We see that across America today, whether it’s a red state or blue state, the church is not vibrant… the church is not reaching out to the broken and hurting and has put up cultural barriers to reaching the lost.

The sleepy church is depicted in the movie… Chuck Smith’s failed small church. Some of the church leadership threatened Chuck if he allowed “Hippies” into his church– But Chuck stood firm because he knew it was right.

The movie does a great job showing these legalistic churchgoers leaving. It showed how God’s hand was on this and sparked a revival that built from under 30 people attending his church to thousands under his tent and, later, the church that was built.

The movie also does a tremendous job of showing how Love Song, Mustard Seed Faith performed in the tent, sparking a revolution of worship in the church.

It shows how the tent was packed-out with young people in t-shirts and shorts.

It shows the move of the Spirit within the church and the excitement within the tent… the excitement of having a personal relationship with the True and Living God and seeing dozens of people a night repenting and accepting Jesus Christ as their savior.

It shows altar calls that should be in every church and every service.

4. My experience—The tent

In 1972, when I was in college, I lost a bet. My punishment was to go to church…

I dressed in my suit, dreading hearing opera-type music and being bored to death. When my friend arrived, he was in flip-flops and dressed in a t-shirt and shorts.

He took me to this tent, with over 500 17-29-year-olds worshiping with Christian rock and roll, enjoying God’s word, and hearing an altar call where kids came forward to give themselves to Jesus Christ.

I loved the music. I loved the bible study. I was shocked by how all these kids loved one another.

When I heard this message from a 20-year-old about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and how Christ died on the Cross for my sins, I couldn’t believe it.

Then I saw people coming forward, accepting Christ. It was at that very moment, in that tent, that I was saved.

The depiction of this scene in the movie is true and accurate.

5. The attacks on Chuck Smith, the Asbury revival… and the Jesus Revolution movie continue to grow
In the 1970s, the churches attacked Chuck Smith for allowing barefoot Hippies and Christian rock-and-roll into the church. It Started a music revolution that reached young people and beyond.

During that time period, Christians and the media called Chuck Smith’s church a cult and warned young people not to attend.

It was mocked.

It was misunderstood.

It was condemned.

Christian leaders questioned Chuck Smith’s theology and methodology and called the revival phony.

Lots of lies, distortions, and falsehoods were spread.

Time proved them wrong.

The attacks were fierce and public.

The Asbury revival is seeing the same thing.

Lies and judgment, not truth and facts.

And now the movie has its critics on “theology” and personalities with lies, distortions, and falsehoods.

6. Not one man

The movie showed the humility and brokenness of Pastor Chuck Smith and how God used him, even with all of his flaws.

It showed how God used Lonnie Frisbee despite his weaknesses, egotism, and sins.

The movie showed the power of the Holy Spirit that spread the word of God… And that’s exactly what’s happening with the Asbury revival.

It’s not Asbury… It’s not Christian leaders… It’s not authors, pastors, evangelists, and others coming in to take control. It’s a powerful and spontaneous move of the Holy Spirit. It’s young people using gifts given to them by the Holy Spirit.\

7. About the movie… It’s not what you think

Many may come to the movie with preconceived notions about The Jesus Revolution. It opens at Pirate’s Cove in Corona del Mar in California.

I could totally relate to the scene… because Pastor Chuck Smith and my college and career pastor at the time baptized me at Pirate’s Cove.

What they depict in the movie is what really happened.

The theme of the movie is God’s grace and mercy. It shows Pastor Smith’s life, which launched his ministry… but it’s so much more.

It’s a story of a pastor whose ministry was stagnant by all accounts– a failed ministry. It’s a story of people with no hope or vision. It’s a story about Christians reaching out to people who are broken and hurting, including the drug culture and Hippies of the time. It’s a story of a nation and culture divided with anger and mistrust of Christianity.

Chuck and his wife are depicted as dumbfounded by the Hippies and by what God was doing… The movie presents this well.

It’s a story of our sin nature, envy, pride, tradition, and other things that get in the way of ministry.

It’s a story of people being turned around and touched by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Its focus is on the heartbreaking childhood of Greg Laurie, his spiritual journey, and how God launched Greg into ministry.

8. What the movie missed…

There were certain things they missed in the movie. While the actor Kelsey Grammer who played Chuck Smith, was very good, he didn’t have Chuck’s smile.

You did not see the power of prayer and the powerful teaching that was fundamental to Chuck Smith.

You don’t see the power of fellowship that helped build the Jesus movement and laid the foundation for Evangelism.

You don’t see the hunger for God’s word.

The movie also takes liberty with some facts, as any good story would, but this does not exaggerate or detract from the story and the reality.

9. Who Should Go?

Everyone who is a Christian and the unsaved. The gospel is repeated multiple times.

Be careful about bringing small children, as there were a lot in the theatre when I watched the movie.

The drug scenes and party situations may be a problem for some parents, and although the message is totally anti-drug, you’ll see the destructive Hippie drug scene reality on display.

10. How well did the movie do at the box office so far?

The movie did phenomenally well on its opening weekend.

• It was #3 at the box office—Amazing!
• It brought in over $19.1 million when the producers only expected it to bring in $6 million.
• It played in 2,400 theaters across the country.
• The secular and tough CinemaScore shocked the industry giving it an “A+” score.

11. Final thoughts—See it.

See the movie.

Bring friends and family.

See God at work 50 years ago.

See why the Asbury revival could be Jesus Revolution all over again.

See what God is saying to you… your relationship right now with him… how you can better be used by God.

See if your church and its leadership are being open and used by the Holy Spirit to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

Also, listen to these 2 interviews:

I recently spoke with Perry Atkinson, host of Focus Today on The Dove radio/TV, about this and so much more. I know you’ll want to watch it [Click Here to watch the video interview].

National Broadcaster Bill Martinez and I discussed how the Holy Spirit is touching lives, and how it’s spreading across the country… especially among generation ‘Z’ [Click Here to listen].

Finally, to see a trailer or find a theater near you, Click HERE.

What do you think?

Email me at [email protected].