The Jesus Revolution movie has become a kind of blockbuster within Christian circles over the past several weeks. Lots of people in the church are talking about it. So far, it has pulled in almost $50 million in box office sales and is the number one grossing film for Lionsgate since 2019.
If you know something about the Jesus People movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s, then you probably know that a young man named Lonnie Frisbee was a big part of it and helped the movement explode. But, what do we know about Lonnie and his ministry from back then?
Here are a few quotes from an article written about him by David Cloud of Way of Life Literature titled Lonnie Frisbee and the Jesus People Movement.
“In 1980, Frisbee became associated with John Wimber, who was seeking to establish a ‘signs and wonders’ ministry at the Yorba Linda branch of the Calvary Chapels. Wimber called miracles ‘doing the stuff,’ but he was unsuccessful in ‘doing the stuff’ until Frisbee spoke at his church. After Frisbee asked all the young people under 25 to come forward and invited the Holy Spirit to manifest His power, the roughly 300 people fell on the floor ‘as if on a battlefield’ and shook and spoke in unintelligible gibberish (David Roozen, Church, Identity, and Change). Wimber asked God if this was of Him, and that night a Calvary Chapel preacher named Tom Stipe called him on the phone and said, ‘I have a word for you; the Lord says, “This is me.”’ (Lonnie Frisbee and the Jesus People Revival, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OgfmU13sPI).”
Not only did this “power” fall on the congregation, but it also broke out in a leadership meeting, as David Cloud’s article points out:
“‘All of a sudden, I’m seeing this guy next to me, this Ph.D. in Microbiology, begin to shake, and he’s begun to shake under the presence of God. The presence of God’s coming. So I begin to stand up. The power of God knocks this guy down, and he began to roll under my feet on the ground, screaming hysterically. The power of God came down on everybody in the room. And it was just absolutely mind-boggling.’ (John Ruttkay, quoted in Frisbee: The Life and Death of a Hippy Preacher).”
David Cloud’s article also shows the ministry partnership between John Wimber and Lonnie Frisbee as the Vineyard movement was underway:
“‘John would speak and Lonnie would minister. They were the dynamic duo. Lonnie got up there, and he’d wave his leather coat, and the power of God would come, and people would be falling all over these old pews in these Baptist churches. And Lonnie would start climbing over the pews and start laying hands on people saying, “Speak in tongues! Speak in tongues!” And he’d hit them in the forehead, and they’d instantly begin to speak in tongues. So I was blown away by that…’ (Steve Zarit, Vineyard church member, quoted in Frisbee: The Life and Death of a Hippy Preacher).”
https://www.wayoflife.org/reports/lonnie_frisbee_and_the_jesus_movement.php
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These quotes taken from David Cloud’s article provide some much-needed background for The Jesus Revolution movie. I recommend that you read the article and sign up for his newsletters as well.
Let’s be honest here: This was a demonic spirit and nothing else. This spirit has nothing to do with the God of the Bible or what we read in the Scriptures. But, sadly, as soon as you critique something like this, you are accused of being the bad guy. You are told that you need to be less critical and just let the spirit flow. Um, no. We will not do that here at this ministry.
False teachings are running wild these days. This is no time to shut up but rather to speak up! But we all know that when we speak up, then here come the criticisms and critiques. Oh, well. Sometime, read what Paul went through during his life here on earth as he was on his way to spending eternity with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Until the nets are full,
P.S. Tracts work. They are an easy way to start a gospel conversation or plant a seed with someone. I recently handed a tract to a guy in a coffee shop. He said, “You have given me one of these before!” Then we were off and rolling with a great conversation.
“We love dropping your tracts wherever we go!!!
Thank you for making them and for making it so easy to share the gospel!”
—Diane S.
Get ready for your spring witnessing by picking up some tracts on our Specials page. The link can also be found below:
https://markcahill.org/product-category/specials/
P.P.S.
