Jesus Revolution by Greg Laurie and Ellen Vaughn

How God Transformed an Unlikely Generation and How He Can Do It Again Today

The 60's are often known as the hippie generation, but what we don't often hear about is the Jesus Revolution that came at the end of the 60's and into the 70's. This was totally new information to me and very interesting.

Greg Laurie, pastor today of one of the biggest churches in America, was once a hippie. But when drugs, sex and free living didn't bring him the peace he was looking for, he surrendered his life to Christ. He became involved in the work of Calvary Chapel and at age 19 basically was put in charge of his own Bible Study/church.

The book is written in a very informative and yet interesting and captivating style. I had no problem hanging on to the end. What I most liked about the book was the emphasis that is placed on Jesus. It's not about making the church acceptable and a fun place to be, but it's about preaching Jesus, preaching the Bible.

I have never attended a Harvest Crusade or attended one of Greg's churches, but I would find it very interesting. I was especially impressed by his humility, by his willingness to listen. After going through one of the hardest things ever, Greg was willing to go back to ground zero, back to starting with a Bible study in a new area. Yes, by then he was quite popular and so it wasn't like starting with one or two people, but he was willing to do what he felt the Holy Spirit was prompting him to do. I think sometimes that basic Bible teaching can be lost in the world of mega churches.

Two quotes that really stuck out to me and I realized they are rather similar, but still so very good.

"If Christianity takes on the subtle values of the culture around it and adopts these as forms of faith, then there is no Jesus Revolution. Just religion. And religion cannot change or liberate any human soul. It just imposes a new form of slavery."

"If we produce consumers instead of communers, we end up with customers instead of disciples. This can create a whole new category of people: evangelized nonbelievers, or people who think they are Christians when they aren't. They've lived in a church that is so accommodating that the gospel is compromised, and people become hardened to the very truth that could transform and revolutionize their lives."

Could there be another Jesus Revolution today? Greg Laurie hopes so and he hopes to see it in his lifetime, but it is time we as Christians step up to the plate and do our part.

I received this book from Baker Books and was not required to write a positive review.