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For Those Who Can Relate
By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved
Just a few days ago, my wife Susan and I saw a movie, the ‘Jesus Revolution’ and we later talked about our individual perspectives at the time.
For Susan, born and raised in NY, she was attending college in a very conservative town in Ohio. One of the cultural things of the times was a mini skirt (not the real short, short one, but skirts that were cut just above the knees. During her time in college, she enthusiastically attended a particular church denomination. She played her flute, sang in the choirs, participated in and in general, loved music and the church music program and some of the liturgy, when in English. Susan was derided about and asked not to wear her short skirts by church leadership. That was the end of that church for Susan. And good for Susan, not caving to stupid religious pressure! 👍
For my part, the ‘Jesus Revolution’ was like returning (for about 2 hours), to the times, culture, hopes, dreams, clothing, hairstyle, drugs, sex, rock N’ roll, tune in-turn on-turn off, and the music, yes that powerful emotion-sparking music that defined our generation! I say “our generation” because, it was to all of us that. It was that to the age or of those that lived in these times.
I was neither in CA or NY. I was not in any epic center where this movement started. I was in MO. I was in a college town with some 20,000 students coming from all over the USA and other countries as well.
I was not a hippie or a Jesus freak, but a freak nonetheless. I was neither anti nor pro Vietnam. I was not an atheist or religious. What I was, like so many others were, was a searcher. I was searching. And I was starving to find something of significance, to the point of —aching hunger. I was empty too.
I searched and looked everywhere, tried most everything, and found absolutely nothing. At my lowest possible point, I was found.
Having lived through so many events this movie portrays, I can recall exactly— exactly where I was, what I was doing, and those I was with. I even had and read a copy of the Time magazine written by the man that researched these events personally and published it in Time Magazine, Junes 21st, 1971. Even earlier, May 14th, 1971, Life Magazine did an article on — ‘The Groovy Christians of Rye, NY’.
Truly, this was a cultural explosion happening in the West and in the East and overtaking the country to all points N. S. E. & W. in the USA and into many countries across the world.
Another man left his rigid church, stuck in tradition and religion. He had filmed a Biblical research class (Power for Abundant Living), that took nearly 33 hours to make when at those times (about 1967), hot lights forced him to only be able to handle 30 minute segments, before completely changing out of soaked clothing. Later, he went out to CA, specifically to Haight Asbury and taught a handful of these Jesus Freaks, and invited them to come to Ohio. A few did. In 1971 he rode his motorcycle all the way from OH to Rye, NY—A few did. What a culture shock that was for all concerned. God’s Word will either divide people or it will bring them together!
From CA and NY this culture explosion or like the movie used the term, this mixing of ‘Nitro-Glycerin’ reached me in MO, about 1973. It greatly impacted my world and our entire family — grandparents, our mother and father, my brother, my sister and I. We were all hungry and looking for a vision, for the truth, a family and to make a difference!
Now having seen this movie — ‘Jesus Revolution’ I am more sympathetic to the current so-called revival of our present times. This started in Asbury Chapel and University, in Wilmore, KY, just a few short days ago (2/8— 2/25/2023). Like my generation, this generation seems quite disillusioned with the way things are and are also, in search of answers. They too want to make a difference.
Like my generation, the current generation is in need of more than just a family, a release, and answers. They need leadership to guide them, as did we. We needed and all generations need— vision.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth [keeps] the law [The Word of God], happy is he [plural – pronoun or we and she].”
Proverbs 29:18 King James Version
And all of this must be centered upon and in the only thing that can accomplish all of these things, which is— the Scriptures, The Bible; The Word of God! I paraphrase, but one of the recurring lines from the movie is— “Let us search the scriptures together.”
Christianity is not judgmental, unforgiving and rigid like religion, even if they have Christ or Christian in their name! Christianity is about forgiveness, healing, reconciliation, restoration, kindness, family, love and so much more and reaching the outcasts— the flawed, unsuccessful and miserable failures like me. Christianity is about making a difference! It is about knowing the truth and being made free by it!
“and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:32 KJV
To read the text (7 pages), of ‘Groovy Christians of Rye, NY’, Life Magazine May 14, 1971 see:
To read the text (11 pages) of ‘The Alternative Jesus: Psychedelic Christ’— Time Magazine, June 21, 1971 see:
Another small article also appeared, ‘Religion: Many Things to Many Men’— Time Magazine, June 21, 1971 see:
Jesus was baptized by John. Jesus baptized others, but look what John said about this in the book of John.
“…he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit]. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”
John 1:33,34 KJV
Look what Luke says in the book of Acts.
“For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] not many days hence.”
Acts 1:5
From a legal point of view, this verse could mean, with the coming of the greater (baptism of the holy spirit (God’s Gift), by God who is Holy Spirit (with caps), the lesser (water baptism), terminates.
The Apostle Paul baptized only a few, but in order for them to believe to receive the greater (holy spirit), he baptized them in water. But look what is recorded in the first book of Corinthians.
“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”
I Corinthians 1:17
It is really quite simple to understand. Jesus Christ came to fulfil the law. Part of that was to be baptized in water, by John. By law, Jesus himself, baptized others in water. But the 12 apostles in the church saw this entirely new baptism, during an hour of prayer. They saw cloven tongues of fire sit upon each of them. This fire originated from God who is Holy and he is Spirit (both words intended with the first letters of each word in capital letters). It was possible by the work of his son, Jesus Christ, who ascended up far above the heavens and sat down upon the right hand of God. He sat down because, all was complete. It is in his name, his completing all that this holy spirit of God, spilt off into 12 separate flames and it sat (was complete), upon each of them. This was the first time, anyone had ever been born again or baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ. This baptism was not water, but with and in (totally within), holy spirit (the same essence as God almighty). It is called seed. It is God’s spirit, His seed, his children in those baptized in the name of Jesus Christ in holy spirit of The Holy Spirit, which is the Father, God the Creator of the Heaven(s) and the Universe. It is God in Christ, in His Children. All that God is, is in Christ. All that is in Christ (His firstborn), is in His holy children.
I mention these things so we can understand the truth and not interpret the next image from the movie, ‘Jesus Revolution’. As I’m sure it is intended, we see a longhaired man with his back to us. He is in the water pointing towards heaven. Is he bidding those on shore to come and be baptized? Intentional? I think yes. Is this symbolic of what Jesus did around the sea of Galilee. I think yes. Is this symbolic as if Jesus Christ is the image here? Intentional? I think yes. Were they doing this water baptizing thing in the 60’s, 70’s and etc.? Yes. Are they still doing this today? Yes. Is it accurate, according to God’s Word? No.
So view this movie or read the book with this understanding and of the backdrop of any so-called revival taking place currently. Having said all of that, there are some wonderful points and quotes from the movie being made by some of those that were in it, from their interview in the following YouTube video. Enjoy.
Now if you want to dispute any of this, these times or Bible quotations, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I was in them or I am just…
…a witness!
Dahni
Pentecost 