I'm With the Hippies!
I'm With the Hippies!
My husband and I don't make it to the movies together very often. He likes nothing better than an R-rated high-action blockbuster thriller, and since becoming a mother, I don't like anything rated over PG-13. And not even that if it involves children being kidnapped or harmed in some way.
So it was a rare occasion when we found ourselves heading to a local theater several weeks ago, to see The Jesus Revolution. I had heard it mentioned from several sources as being worth the watch, and had done my “due diligence” by looking up and reading a review from a trusted source.
Well, suffice it to say that the message really resonated with me. At one point, a pastor [Chuck Smith] who has a heart for the hippies seeking God, allows them and encourages them to attend services in his church. His austere parishioners are scandalized and somewhat disgusted by this turn of events and state that the hippies are dirty and smelly and their bare feet are ruining the carpet! What is a pastor to do? He agonizes and prays over the situation and finally, he serves and dignifies the hippies by washing their feet at the door before they enter for the next service. In turn, this honors his parishioners who, although ungracious in their response to the hippies, have a legitimate complaint. After all, they have paid for the carpet.
The church continues to grow and attract hippies and many are saved. Revival spreads across the whole country. Later, Pastor Chuck's daughter tells him that at this point, she had been on the brink of giving up on religion and on God. The example of Jesus-followers she had, beside her parents, were sour old fogies who were more concerned with maintaining a proper image than being the hands and feet of Jesus. But after this event, she told her dad,
“You let the hippies in, and Jesus came in with them!”
This single sentence marched through my brain for two or three weeks after watching The Jesus Revolution. You let the hippies in, and Jesus came in with them! You let the hippies in, and Jesus came in with them! You let the hippies in, and Jesus came in with them. Now, a few weeks later, I have some other thoughts.
First of all, wasn't it sad that Jesus wasn't in his church in the first place, with arms held wide to welcome the hippies himself?
And secondly, where am I denying admittance to Jesus? In what unusual or unexpected way is he trying to reveal himself to me and I'm denying him entrance because he doesn't look like I expect him to?
And most importantly perhaps, AM I A HIPPIE?! When I enter someone's life or sphere of influence, do I bring Jesus with me? Do I introduce people I meet to his loving presence through my words and actions?
I am saying
“I'M WITH THE HIPPIES!”
And come say “hi” if you see me in my bell-bottoms.
