Why did the Jesus movement die?

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The Jesus movement was popular back in the 1970s. If people are still Christians,  what happened to the movement?

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The popularity and timing

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Movement

The Jesus movement was the major Christian element within the hippie counterculture, or, conversely, the major hippie element within some strands of Protestantism. Members of the movement were called Jesus people, or Jesus freaks. The movement arose on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and spread primarily on college campuses through North America and Europe, before dying out by the early 1980s.

Perhaps the height of the Jesus movement was in the week-long gathering in Dallas, Texas known as Explo ’72, which attracted 80,000 young people and brought the hippies of the Jesus movement together with young people from traditional, Christian families and churches.

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If it was so popular, why did it die?

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First, one needs to see the underlying characteristics of the students, and understand the times. I am speaking as someone who was a cohort of this group.

1. The movement as a whole was characterized by a resurgence of brotherly love, and kindness, during an era in which society was being torn apart by the Vietnam War. When the war ended, the social environment changed.

2. The main participants were college students who had college deferments and did not serve in the Vietnam war. Many went to college to avoid service in the war. This was a social activity at school. Once they graduated, they focused on their careers.

3. There was a need to be constantly in an ideal world. This was very characteristic of the hippie population. For Jesus people, Jesus replaced drug use, but the need to escape into Paradise, rather than facing reality, was common to both of them. Some did not go the Jesus route, but participated in the Transcendental Meditation movement instead, something borrowed from the eastern religions.

4. There was a need to feel spiritual, which was ok in itself, but the milk of the Word and the fellowship was for a younger crowd. They eventually grew up, and needed the meat of the Word. Some got this, and went on. Some remained in the past.

5. Many wanted the love and fellowship, but not the hardships and responsibility. Witnessing was reserved to safe situations, to other escapist young people, or others who were already Christians, but wanted “a little more.” The witnessing agenda was canned with a set presentation, and simplistic answers to complicated questions. This was ok, since easy answers worked for a crowd looking for easy answers. They attracted others with great music, that appealed to that generation. There was no deep thought involved. People just wanted to be happy and have friends. Of course, the same was true of any hippie or young person. Dependency on others, rather than independence.

6. Incomplete recreation of the early church. One has to remember that the concept of ministering one to another that went on in the early church was due to persecution of the times, as people sacrificed themselves to bring others to faith in Jesus. The persecution was real, and people died. The Jesus movement included the encouragement of members without the persecution. Getting teased or their witness rejected was about all they would experience. So, their faith was not “tested in the fire.” This kind of testing produces spiritual maturity.

6. Escapism. As hippies, one had the choice of drugs or Jesus. Jesus was legal in those days. Drugs weren’t, although popular with those who did not care about the law.

7. It was easy. So easy come, easy go. Bible studies were fun, but routine in content. When society became more complex and challenging, easy answers did not accomplish as much, or win many converts, unless the situation just happened to be an easy one.

9. Changes in the youth culture towards a more materialistic society. They became successful in the business world through education and social networking. Whatever spiritual growth had occurred in college was regarded as adequate, and reached a plateau. Many commercialized their faith, and made a good business for themselves. They turned into what we call “prosperity preachers” of today.

8. For some, the need to grow up, and deepen one’s commitment to their faith. This would mean to put aside the things of a child, and take on the things of an adult. This does not mean to abandon the faith, but to pursue it in an independent, rather than a dependent fashion, to dig out answers for oneself. This would distance them from fellowship with others, who had preferred to remain emotionally back in the 70’s. This growth is actually a good thing, but it is not manifested in large group settings.

9.  Many had a “bless me club” focus, with a desire for sensational experiences.  This promoted egocentric activity, with the primary focus on getting blessed in a tangible way, rather than focusing on the needs of the unsaved world.

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If the Jesus movement is dead, does that mean Jesus is dead, or Christianity is dead?

NO !!!!!

Jesus lives forever. He is not dead.  🙂

But the way Christianity is presented is dead.

Sugar cookie Christianity is dead.

We cannot live in the past, and cling to simpler, easier times, when we face a dangerous and evil world.

We need to grow up.

We need to get smart, and work hard, and put Jesus first again.

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So what changes need to be made?

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1. seek the spiritual gifts, not for self glory, or to be cool, but to make oneself a servant for the Lord Jesus Christ

2. Go deep into scriptures, and go after the difficult answers to modern day questions.

3. Realize that unbelievers are not poor lost things, like in the 70s, who are seeking Jesus, and they do not know it. Most unbelievers have been exposed to sugar cookie Christianity, and the prosperity gospel, and are turned off from it. You will now have to fight doctrine put out by your own faith, in order to witness to others.

4. Look to the Holy Spirit, not man, for answers.

5. Drop the fake stuff, and the prosperity heresy. It makes people laugh at you, and makes a mockery of Jesus.

5. Stop hiding in your house, and hanging around only people who are Christians like you.

6. Get out in the real world and feel the damage.

7. Preach the REAL gospel, the kingdom of God. Heal the sick, and the lame and the blind. Cast out devils.

8. When unbelievers attack you, and accuse you falsely, get a prayer life, and expect to die for your faith. Expect other Christians to be jealous and attack you too. Courage only comes with intimate association with God. Get there on your knees.

Today’s world is not for sugar cookie Christians, who want to sit around and sing. Worship is fine, but what use is it, if you are useless to God?

The Jesus movement is NOT dead. It has just needs to evolve into something more powerful.

This is not the Vietnam War era anymore. Hippie thinking is out.

This is Satan’s final hours. The fight will be brutal. Be prepared or perish.