So if anyone would ask me the same questions I posed in my recent blog post
regarding the Jesus Movement the following would be my answers.
1. How did you first hear about and become involved in what is commonly known as "the Jesus Movement" / Jesus People phenomenon of the 1960's - 1970's?
Came to saving faith in Jesus alone, in my Mom's kitchen, 3 a.m. on Sun. Jan. 3rd 1971. I think I'd heard a little about it via Time Magazine but nothing more. Then a group came to Milwaukee and started JP of Milwaukee. I found out about them via Street Level (JP underground newspaper) and began fellowshiping with them at the Jesus Christ Powerhouse (coffeehouse, teaching, concerts).
2. What most impressed you INITIALLY about the people you became close to in the movement?
In Milwaukee, the genuineness, commitment to Jesus and Scripture as well as sharing the Good News in the street, universities, interacting well (yes!) with a super-wide range of very different churches and church folk all over greater Milwaukee and beyond. Cool music, no major cultural (dress "codes", music) hangups. Focus on Biblical discipleship and not mere attendance and status-quo life.
3. Were any of your fears or concerns realized as time went on regarding your involvement with the movement?
My greatest fear was for myself as I'd come from addiction and a yo-yo approach to everything including in my early walk with the Lord, so the stability of godly folks, schedules and close community living w. people who "read me like a book" but were gracious about correcting and encouraging my growth as a disciple of Jesus was MASSIVE. Early-on I saw our key leader act out in a rage but at the same time he regularly acted with grace and love winning a lot of people to Jesus, so for me it was eyes on the Lord not expecting sinless saints -I sure wasn't and am not perfectly so to this day! No, not much fear of anything but my own ability to run to sin.
4. Could you comment about the culture (hair, dress, music, overall artistic matters) you experienced, and your thoughts about them?
Born-again, Spirit-filled hippies! I was one so felt very much at home. Modesty was taught and practiced, so I loved that they didn't major in the minors, fretting or blasting people over such issues.
5. From your perspective A) then and B) now, looking back -what sort of relationships did you experience between traditional churches and your group of Jesus People?
As per what I said above, it was a very cool, encouraging eye-opener that such a wide variety of churches were kind, open, we worked together in ministry. In our Bible School we had a wide range of teachers and pastors giving regular classes as well as guest speakers from various churches along with some to of our own, so what I now think of as a truly cool, right ecumenism was the practice right off until now. Love it. Balance. Not sectarian foolishness.
6. Have you any regrets regarding your Jesus Movement experience?
Only my own self-seeking sins, mistakes along the path. Did I witness, was I part of wrong decisions, both leadership and wider membership acting in unloving, unwise, foolish, even sinful ways? Of COURSE, but there is no individual, church or Christian fellowship on earth immune from all that, so overall it came down to my own ability to mess up. Still does!
7. Understanding this is a matter of personal, subjective perspective, why do you believe the Jesus Movement (as such) ended? How does it continue today?
Everything is a matter of personal, subjective perspective when discussing issues of experience. I think it ended for a lot of reasons. A few: authoritarian leadership, hardcore male dudes with attitudes, people not finding a comfortable life that they mostly enjoyed, finances, in fact the classic sexual, financial and false doctrine sins common to splits and closures. Many people didn't find the husband or wife they thought they'd find so went elsewhere for one, sometimes to more traditional churches and such. Sometimes there was competition from local churches or from the local Jesus People house/coffeehouse/church and differences of opinion on culture and/or doctrine so the support from established churches and ministries though needed and welcomed by some of the JP didn't happen. Sometimes the JP were themselves too stubborn and arrogant or impatient to seek solid links with godly folks and churches for accountability, so the same "one-man-show" leadership model that has often gone south in trad. churches happened to where the dude himself closed up shop and it all went away. Some gave up, cut their hair, got a day-job and went to another fellowship where such was the norm, became more conservative and gave up the peace-love-openess of the hippie movement. In some cases business and money-making took precedence over spirituality and walking daily with Jesus. Lastly, caring more about other's acceptance they joined the status quo as it was/is often an easier path. That's my personal view.
8. Please share any positives that you have continued to appreciate which you A) learned and B) continue to enjoy from those days.
In Milwaukee and ongoing in my experience today, a serious faith, trust in God, His Word (Bible), respect for the wider Church/body of Christ on earth, ongoing personal accountability in my life. I quote so many leaders and lessons learned from those years all the time in ministry. I learned via teaching, example and experience so much about the Lord, worship, missions and serving in those early years! I learned how to get along with people regardless if we agreed on everything. In that our group lived in close, intentional community (still do in Chicago) these are continual and needed lessons.
9. In your opinion, might today's local congregations -whether traditional, house churches, denominational or otherwise learn anything from the historical Jesus Movement and if so, what?
The eventual spiritual depth of thousands of (in that time) new believers and the energy that was put into sharing the Good News of Jesus (missions where ever you are each moment, place and beyond) as well as respect for Bible study and application of the Word, not mere theory -are things any individual or gathered church needs- and not to hold so very tightly to one's culture comforts while denying the need to grow, sometimes really work for change. Facing the reality that even as followers of Jesus we still need to repent in various areas. The love, shallow as it may have seemed to onlookers in the movement was often quite palpable rather than folks sporting distant, cold stares. One of the joys of my life in those days was encountering very culturally conservative believers who demonstrated such love, grace and kindness toward us in Milwaukee, Florida and in our travels throughout the country and finally Chicago. Sadly, this was not always the case -but all this COULD and CAN be at any point in history as authentic Christ-followers are willing and mindful in their treatment of those they consider immature or even crazy or wrong, maybe even "the least of these". In a word, grace!
And there you have it. As always, thanks for stopping by! -Glenn
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