!!!!!!!!SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!
If you haven’t seen it yet the movie Jesus Revolution is worth it. If that’s you be cautioned before reading this post, there will be spoilers.
The Painted Rhino leadership team went to see the movie last night. We will be unpacking it on a episode of the podcast, but I wanted to give our blog readers my take on it as well. So here it is. Anytime the mainstream media is involved in a “Christian” production I am skeptical if not offended right off the bat. I find myself waiting for the jab at the faith. Somewhere along the way they assault the truth and I leave more angry than touched. But I can honestly say, not this time. There was no cursing, no inappropriate scenes, and no sacrilegious under tones. In fact, I was moved from the beginning and challenged through it all.
I didn’t watch any interviews or read any real articles on it ahead of time. I saw a few quotes on Facebook and saw the trailers but that’s it. The timing of this true event was a few years before I was born, so I didn’t have much frame of reference or preconceived ideas going into it. That allowed me to see this unfold not really knowing where it would lead and or if it would disappoint me in the end. I wasn’t let down.
It was perfect timing for us as we just wrapped a podcast dealing with worship and mega church approaches to it just this Sunday. I couldn’t help but see what was unfolding as a mirror of what I am seeing and hearing now. The establishment of churches has always been resistant to the new, the modern, and the different. Please note that I did NOT say The Church… I said the establishment of churches, i.e. organized religious bodies. When I watched this small, dead, cold church push back against the hippies who had found Christ and needed a place to belong and be discipled, I saw the old dead churches of America today pushing back against darkened worship auditoriums with spot lights, smoke machines, loud bands, and young people worshipping with the fervor and exuberance that young people do everything else.
When I saw the “contributing” members of the church confront the pastor and threaten his removal I saw church board and council members that I personally know.
Yep, I said that.
But, when I saw that pastor wash the feet of those lost children and welcome them in, when I heard him give the obvious option to those board members to get behind what God is doing or to get out of the way, I saw Jesus confronting the religious leaders of His day. I saw the only answer in front of the church today. Jesus first.
Change. My fear is that many churches won’t allow the change. The bigger fear I have is that many will resort to “change” just to save what they have already lost. Too many view this change as a last resort to keep the doors open. Change isn’t about preservation or even resuscitation. The change isn’t about “squares” becoming “groovy” so the local church can survive, the change was and is about God opening the hearts of his people to accept any and all people and to meet them where they are.
In one pivotal scene one “contributing” member of the church chooses publicly to join the revolution. His choice was clear, regardless of his preferences or comfort level, he was going to be involved in keeping the focus where it belonged, on Jesus. You see the music, the lights, the style of preaching, even the building isn’t about the church. Its all about Jesus and spreading the gospel outside of the church. We can’t say that we are reaching out to the lost and then alienate them and run them off when they do come in. Jesus didn’t come for the well, he came for the sick.
Jesus is the only constant in the gospel.
The message must stay the same. Jesus is the only constant in the gospel. We truly have to be willing to change anything and everything else in order to get the message out.
What did I think of the movie? It was willing to show the humanity of ministry and still be true to the story without sensationalizing people’s failings. I really don’t know what I would have done in the shoes of the people or pastor in that church, but I would like to think that I would have taken off my shoes and held the hand of whomever walked into the doors.
Watch the movie for yourself and see where it leaves you. These are just a few of the thoughts and feelings that it stirred within me. There is so much more to unpack. I am thankful this message was brought out. No one was idolized, everyone made mistakes, and in the end all of them found what was “in that tent”, hope.