“Jesus Revolution” director Jon Erwin spent years studying the Jesus movement of the late 1960s and 1970s to understand what happened and why it matters before making his hit film.
Erwin claimed that while researching the terms “revival” and “spiritual awakening,” he discovered something crucial: they had “distinct” dynamics, with one having an effect on believers and the other on culture.
He declared, “Revival takes place in the church. “You are praying for disruption in your life and in society when you pray for spiritual awakening.”
Erwin pointed back to the 1960s to note how the generation living when the Jesus movement broke out became aware of their spiritual needs and the “material quest” so many were on to get the house, car, and life of their dreams.
“That was not enough, and they just recognized their own spiritual need … and they didn’t know what to do with it,” he said. “And that led to this countercultural revolution … and much of this revolt of free love drugs, rock and roll. That was all a spiritual quest.”
In that chaos, though, many found such pursuits fruitless and turned to the Lord, as observed on the big screen in “Jesus Revolution.”
The filmmaker drew powerful parallels between what happened decades ago and what he sees happening in today’s chaotic culture.
Because a generation is realising that “Something’s missing in my life, and I don’t know what’s missing, but I have to go find out,” he added, “a lot of the craziness we’re seeing today, we should celebrate a little bit. That will cause a brief period of pandemonium.
Erwin believes people will realize that much of what they’re being told will satisfy them will ultimately leave them thirsting for what’s real and authentic — and that’s where the Gospel can break through.
