Can We Start Over? Series

The media took note of this unorthodox revival that was beginning to make its way across the U.S. Look magazine reported that a crusade had “caught hold in California, and it shows every sign of sweeping east and becoming a national preoccupation” (February 9, 1971). The article went on to describe the new “Jesus Movement” as “an old-time, Bible-toting, witness-giving kind of revival, and the new evangelists are the young” (Look, Ibid.). The article described how entire motorcycle gangs were being converted, dozens of go-go clubs were being converted into Christian coffeehouses where young people could go to sing and pray. Religious clubs formed on high school and college campuses like Stanford, Berkeley, and UCLA. “It’s a revival, there’s no getting around it,” the article concluded. “Jesus is rising in California. He’s the latest movement, the latest thing to groove on” (Look, Ibid.).

Time magazine featured a purple Jesus on the cover of one of its magazines in which they described Jesus Christ as one groovy dude who was the “notorious leader of an underground liberation movement” who bore the appearance of a “typical hippie type” with long hair, a beard, robe, and sandals (“The Alternative Jesus: The Psychedelic Christ.” Time, June 21, 1971).

Thousands of these “Jesus Freaks,” as they were sometimes called, flooded churches where they were welcomed and eventually became incorporated into the mainstream of Christian fellowship. I remember the controversy that blew up in the church where I grew up over the use of guitars during the service. You all remember those days? “What’ll be next,” the old folks cried, “drums?!” The result of the Jesus Movement was a new genre of Christian music known as “praise and worship” music. Some of the Jesus Freaks of the 70s have become influential church leaders, enthusiastic missionaries, and campus crusaders for Christ.

I believe that God can use US to bring about another revival. God knows, we certainly could use some fire from Heaven right now, amen? I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it … the government can’t save this country … academia can’t save this country … science can’t save this country … no political party can save this country … the music industry can’t save this country … the movie industry can’t save this country … sports can’t save this country … Wall street and the banks can’t save this country … but maybe the internet and social media can. Because of the pandemic lock-down, we, this church, discovered a way to use technology to reach beyond our four walls. The means by which the world pipes filth and trash into our homes and into the minds of our young people could be the same means by which God can reach the eyes and ears and hearts and souls of literally billions of people, amen?

As we learned from Josiah’s experience, all we need is humble leadership, a holy book, a hungry people, and a spark from Heaven. In his book, The Secret of Christian Joy, Vance Havner wrote:

“The greatest need of America is an old-fashioned, heaven-born, God-sent revival. Throughout the history of the church, when clouds have hung lowest, when sin has seemed blackest, and faith has been weakest, there have always been a faithful few who have not sold out to the devil or bowed the knee to Ba’al, who have feared the Lord and thought upon His Name, and have not forsaken the assembling of themselves together. … God has always answered such supplication, filling each heart with His love, rekindling each soul with fire from above” (Old Tappan: Fleming H. Revel Co.; 1938; p. 24).