The Jesus Movement...

When I was growing up I could often hear my parents and other adults talk about their time as college and young people during the "Jesus Movement." I was never quite sure what that meant and wondered at times "isn't Jesus moving now?"

Looking back at what I associated with that "Jesus Movement" in my youth might be quite accurate to the times of said movement. I see long-haired folks wearing tye-dyed clothing spreading the word about this radical Jesus who loved EVERYONE and lived in poverty, stood up to the government and could be worshiped anywhere and at anytime. I envision groups of these young people driving cross country tossing LPs of "Godspell" out the window's like Frisbees :) They walked, drove, pedaled and hitchhiked all around the US. It seems like everyone who was part of that "movement" in those days was heading somewhere, and doing so with a purpose.

But back to the earlier question - isn't Jesus moving now? He is, but are his people?

A few days ago I asked a group of young teenagers a question: "So, you're a 'Christian'... now what?"

I was met with blank stares. So, I rephrased the question a few different ways in hopes of eliciting at least a throat clearing, or any possible sign that wheels were turning..... nothing.

I got to thinking later that night that we can spend so much time and energy thinking of "conversion" as an event rather than a process.

A process is something we walk through, it takes time,

movement,

action,

joining with others.

Considering that Christ is alive and moving, and our faith is a process of learning, changing, growing and joining in the work of Jesus in our context - have we any faith?
Or, do we have faith that - at one point - we met Jesus?

Could we have shown up to our wedding ceremony and not stepped into the marriage the next day?

Our conversion journey is indeed our personal "Jesus Movement", but the movement is also intrinsically communal. Moving with Jesus is a motion that naturally community oriented because one is not focused on self, but the love and restoration of others. And it is this devotion to those in need that defines the "Jesus Movement," it is loving those around us so much that the aura of Christ permeates our interactions and thus changes out action from selfish to self-sacrificing.

Our journey is one of motion and risk - one that leads us to move into the places of hurt and oppression in our world. The orphanage, the developing world, the shelter or our good friend's heart...