(OPINION) Harvest Christian Fellowship Pastor Greg Laurie reacted to the success of the film “Jesus Revolution” that chronicles a real-life spiritual awakening during the hippie era in America and shares why the story is resonating with so many people.
Laurie says the faith-based film tells a “real story” about hope during a period in American history when it appeared that culture was collapsing and people were turning away from religion.
“Many thought that it was perhaps the demise of our country, but people were talking about a sexual revolution, they were talking about a political revolution — and God sent a Jesus Revolution,” Laurie told “Fox News Tonight” host Kayleigh McEnany on Wednesday.
The movie centers around how Laurie and his wife Cathe found themselves a part of the Jesus movement in Southern California during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Laurie eventually meets Pastor Chuck Smith and a hippie street preacher named Lonnie Frisbee. Smith welcomed the hippies into his church, which sparked a “counterculture movement” resulting in what many consider one of the greatest spiritual awakenings in American history.
“Frasier” star Kelsey Grammer plays Smith, the real-life pastor of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa. Jonathan Roumie, known for his role as Jesus on “The Chosen,” plays Lonnie Frisbee.
Laurie credited TIME magazine for originally coining the phrase “Jesus Revolution” after the rapidly expanding movement landed on its cover in a 1971 issue. This came after the magazine showcased a cover story, “Is God Dead?” in 1966.
Laurie said TIME’s two historic cover stories show how “bleak” things were and what happens when a spiritual awakening occurs. He told McEnany that he believes the church has an opportunity “right now” to bring hope to today’s culture.
