A Matter of “Truth” and “Connie Frisbee’s Surprising Reaction to Jesus Revolution Movie”

Regarding the recent movie, Jesus Revolution, [Lighthouse Trails] has received numerous calls and e-mails asking if we are going to be making a statement about the movie. While there are several pro and con articles on the Internet about it, we do not at this time intend on writing a point-by-point critique of the movie. However, there is an aspect we want to address.

Since our inception, [our] mission has been to defend “truth” and “bring light to areas of darkness in the world and in the church.” Thus, it is increasingly troubling to witness the massive numbers of professing Christians (including pastors) who quickly follow after and embrace popular books, speakers, and movies without giving the slightest consideration for truth and biblical discernment. 

Millions of Christians have praised and do love The Shack, Jesus Calling, The Purpose Driven Life, The Passion of the Christ, Celebration of Discipline, and The Chosen (to name a few but significant examples). And it seems that so many Christians today are chasing after the next spiritual high, not caring if what they are chasing after is grounded in truth or not. If it makes them feel good, feel closer to God, feel happy, then they take it for granted that it must be from God. And, of course, top it off with the spiritually high esoteric experiences of contemplative prayer (so popular in today’s evangelicalism), it’s like we now have a bunch of addicts (not the drug kind, but rather the experiential spiritual kind) walking around in the church. It is interesting to note that The Chosen’s director, Dallas Jenkins, said that 95% of The Chosen is not from the Bible (in other words not true but rather made-up stories about Jesus and the disciples) and then to note that in the article below, Lonnie Frisbee’s wife (during the Jesus movement) and an eyewitness to what took place says that 90% of the movie Jesus Revolution is not true. While what she said is somewhat subjective in that it is based on one person’s experience, it is sad to think that many Christians wouldn’t even care about these two statistics because they are enamored with another spiritually high, emotionally driven experience so much so that truth takes a back door.

In a review of Jesus Revolution, Mike Oppenheimer of Let Us Reason ministries points out numerous scenes in Jesus Revolution that contradict or are different than in both Lonnie Frisbee’s and Greg Laurie’s (the two major characters portrayed in the movie) own books on the Jesus movement. Oppenheimer states: "This movie does give a few general events accurately but does not portray certain other details of its real-life characters and instead invents other details. What we have are real names and partial or made-up stories to enhance the theme of the movie the Jesus Revolution, a movie that is presenting a Jesus revival to the public.”

Also worth noting here is Jonathan Roumie,* the actor who plays both Jesus in The Chosen and Lonnie Frisbee in Jesus Revolution. Our 2022 report on The Chosen documents Roumie saying he has “had personal interactions” with Padre Pio, a deceased Catholic priest and mystic; and now with Jesus Revolution, Roumie admits he tried to connect with the deceased Lonnie Frisbee at Frisbee’s graveside. John Lanagan of The Word Like Fire website states: "In a recent interview about Jesus Revolution, Roumie spoke about his visit to Lonnie Frisbee’s grave:  “I sat by his grave and I prayed a Rosary with him. . . . In fact, I sat down and I prayed with him. . . . At one point I even lied down because I just thought it would be kind of interesting to try and connect in some way. . . . I said, “Lonnie, I want to honor you with this film . . . have somebody give me a sign. Give me a sign, have God give me a sign. Sadly, many Christians and Christian pastors [aren’t concerned] about this kind of thing (even though the Bible calls it necromancy and an “abomination”). 

And they don’t care whether movies like The Chosen and Jesus Revolution are based on truth or not. Apparently, in much of today’s church, truth is not a criterion to judge whether something is good or bad. But can lasting fruit come from something that is not based on truth?”

In Warren B. Smith’s booklet, Truth or Consequences, he states: "Amongst many believers, it’s no longer ‘a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump’ ” (Galatians:5:9A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
See All...). Rather, it’s “I just eat the meat and spit out the bones” as if lies and leaven are no big deal. Or if we don’t agree with what has been traditionally accepted as truth, we go along with others who “stretch the truth” or “enlarge the truth” to create a “new truth” that is no truth at all. In 2 Thessalonians:2:11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
See All..., it talks about God sending “strong delusion” (“that they might believe a lie”) to those who do not have a love of the truth (v. 10). As believers in Christ, let us love truth and thereby avoid strong delusion."

For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. (Psalm:33:4For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
See All...)

Now please don’t misunderstand us; we are not suggesting that if you go and watch Jesus Revolution, you are going to come under strong delusion. As you read the article/interview with Connie Frisbee, keep the following in mind: Whether you choose to watch the movie or not, our greater concern than the lack of authenticity of the movie itself is the unhealthy lack of discretion and discernment common among so many of today’s Christians. Revival did occur during the sixties and seventies, but it happened when people (in this case the young people) became desperate enough to hunger after truth—until they got it.

https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/a-matter-of-truth-and-connie-frisbees-surprising-reaction-to-jesus-revolution-movie/