A rocky Jesus revolution?

What fulfils me the most? This was the question running through my mind as I watched The Jesus Revolution.

The Christian film that surprised everyone by smashing the US box office has finally come to the UK. It tracks the true story of the Jesus movement in late 1960s America, from the perspective of curious student Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) and pastor Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammar). It has streamed in 157 cinemas and made over £100,000 in its first week here. There have been some doubts about the historical accuracy of the film, with The Guardian pointing out that it sidesteps any mention of Lonnie Frisbee’s (Jonathan Roumie) struggles with homosexuality. But it’s been widely hailed as the ‘least cheesy’ Christian film out there, ‘not preachy’ and praised for showing how a Christian life can still be a hard one.

But while it cheered me to see a Christian film made well, I found the overall message to be confusing. I was left asking one question: was it saying that God fully satisfies us, or that He doesn’t?

God fulfils us…

On one hand, the film proudly proclaims that He does. In fact, the main ‘point’ of becoming a Christian, according to The Jesus Revolution, is that God will truly satisfy you (while drugs will not!).

The film starts with character Lonnie Frisbee explaining that the Hippy movement and their quest for drugs is really a search for God. ‘If you look with love,’ he says, ‘you’ll see a bunch of kids searching for all the right things – just in all the wrong places.’ And in a few beautiful scenes, the church (with a few stiff-necked exceptions) welcomes in these hippies so they can find what they’re looking for in God Himself.

Similarly, just before main character Greg decides to accept Jesus, he asks: ‘What if it’s another high? I can’t be let down again.’ The primary reason he comes to God isn’t for forgiveness, but because he hopes that God might truly satisfy him.

In fact, the film leans so heavily on this ‘fulfilment side’ of the gospel, that there isn't a scene where the cross, forgiveness and sin are fully explained. The film is in danger of preaching the (genuinely wonderful!) ‘effects’ of being in a relationship with Jesus, rather than Jesus Himself.

…or does He?

With such an emphasis on God fulfilling our needs in the film’s first half, I was surprised to see the second half contradict this idea.

Despite finding God, main character Greg remains unfulfilled. He is still driven by the need to ‘make his name mean something’ (as his mum always told him to) – and he looks for this sense of meaning in his relationship with his girlfriend, opportunities in the church, and approval from superiors. We are left wondering: hasn’t he just swapped the mental high from drug use for the emotional high of a pulpit? Did God not ‘work’ for Him?

You may be thinking that these are simply the realistic struggles of a young Christian leader, and perhaps there is a refreshing realism here, but it is disappointing that these struggles seem to be accepted uncritically and if anything, framed in a positive light. The film, seemingly unaware of its self-contradiction, wraps up with a ‘happy ending’ where Greg gets the dream girl, plants a church, and receives public acclaim.

If not intentionally, the audience is left with the slight sense that worldly success equals true satisfaction. God was just something nice added along the way. Or, perhaps, a tool to help you get there.

Ironically, hippy Lonnie is later condemned for ‘using the Spirit’ for his own ends. While Lonnie’s obsession with self was called out and shown to be destructive, Greg’s went quietly unchecked.

Watching the film was a reality check for me. How often do I claim to be content in God, but seek other things for my satisfaction? Or use Him to get it? Can I really say that I ‘count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus’? (Phil. 3:8).

The Jesus Revolution does many things well – showing how God works through flawed people, how His grace is on offer to everyone – and it can certainly be used as a good conversation starter about finding true fulfilment. But if you’re looking for a film that upholds Jesus as truly all-satisfying, you might leave feeling, as I did, slightly dissatisfied.

If you want to watch the film, visit their web-site: jesusrevolutionmovie.co.uk