Joyful Ruins

I don’t usually write movie reviews, but here I am. Sometimes a movie is impactful and I feel Jesus Revolution falls under that. It left me with a lot of thoughts and feelings. So here we go.

I want to start by saying I usually struggle with films made by Christians. However, I often give them a chance because I am hoping they will capture the love and faith in Christ that I have experienced. AND I love movies, so naturally, I hope to watch one that clicks when it comes to faith and God. Sadly, they often miss the point, avoid reality, and are forceful.

Although Jesus Revolution still had some cliché and trite Christian dialogue and ideas, it was definitely a step forward for Christian film.

The subject matter itself, is too relatable to our time: a divided nation, young people searching for meaning, and religious people misunderstanding and shunning the younger generation.

The first half of the film had me crying non stop.

Many people would look at me and my life and think I would fit perfectly into the “good Christian girl” mold.

It’s true, I’ve never done drugs or been “wild” I’m not even a partyer, all things considered “bad” by religion. BUT I have a hippie heart. I was mostly rejected by church peers and church adults were indifferent towards me. I’ve ALWAYS felt like a misfit and related more to those outside the church because they had a hunger to understand life. I feel like a hippie and I love those who feel like hippies.

So, to witness a time in our history when being different, feeling different, meant you were the MOST WELCOMED in God’s house and family, brought tears to my eyes.

Pastor Chuck, played by Kelsey Grammar, is a traditional pastor who is not opened to hippies at first. He meets Lonnie, a Jesus freak hippie and the adventure begins… so do my tears. Chuck preaches in one scene, quoting the lines on the State of Liberty and preaching that those who are outcasts are the ones who belong to God, belong in the church, belong to the family. Cue my tears. Chuck washes the feet of every barefooted hippie. More tears. Greg, a young man searching for home in his life, expresses how he just wants to find something good that lasts and it resonates in my heart. Lots more tears.

There was not only so much of God in what I saw, but there were so many messages that expressed what I see happening in those who are deconstructing, questioning their sexuality, and pushing back against conservative Christianity. I do not see any of these people as threats. I see them as people hungry for belonging, love, home, truth, and meaning. And like the movie says, they are truly hungry for God, but they aren’t welcomed into the church so they don’t know it and keep chasing the wrong things. I want to see the same today as what was shown in the film, no fear of “different”, no one being turned away even if they were still drug addicts, convicts, etc. I loved this vision of Jesus and church.

I also appreciated the filmmakers showing us the movement was not picture perfect. Most of the second half of the movie shows how the leaders of the movement messed up, letting power go to their head, making bad decisions, leaving, etc. This was brave and honest of the filmmakers to show because there will NEVER be a perfectly lead church or movement because humans will never be perfect. The movement happened and spread, not because these men were better or perfect but because they were willing to love the imperfect just like Jesus did.

Although I was happy the movie showed the faults of Lonnie (the hippie preacher who helped start the movement), I am disappointed they did not show his struggle with homosexuality. I understand why they left this out (most likely to keep the movie family friendly and to not go too dark, or to get distracted from their message), but I would have appreciated them being courageous enough to show that side of the truth too. To show that God fills even those religious tradition devalues and assumes can’t be used. That God fills people in the LGBTQ community with His spirit just as much as any of us flawed humans.

All that to say, the film was moving, confusing, and thought provoking.

It left me impassioned, not to start a revolution, but to keep loving and embracing people just as Jesus did. It reminded me, too, that God is greater than our waywardness, whether it be in judging others or chasing after freedom through empty things. He reaches out to us with His love and that is what transforms us.

I’ll leave you with one of my favorite lines in the movie. Chuck’s daughter shares with him that she had almost given up on Christianity because she looked around and couldn’t see the love of Christ anywhere, but when he welcomed in the hippies, everything changed for her. She said, “you were open to something you didn’t understand” and that changed a generation.

What about you? Are you open to things you don’t understand?

I’ll leave you with that question.