What was the Denominational make-up of the Jesus Revolution revival? And is it the same today?

Although I have never been involved in the “Jesus Movement” I found a Christian article that describes how it started in the late 1960’s during a time of protest, uncertainty, and rebellion against societal norms. Although I was too young to participate in this counter-culture, I was aware of it.

Initially, it seems that in the pursuit of pleasure (which involved psychedelic drugs and sexual “liberation”) many young people of that generation became involved in New Age beliefs and Eastern mysticism. Part of the article [1] says this:

In their pursuit of happiness and a cultural utopia, many of these young people came to faith in Jesus Christ, giving birth to the Jesus Movement, also known as the “Jesus revolution” and the “Jesus People Movement.” Because so many of these converts had been drug addicts and street people, they were often called “Jesus freaks.” But not all who joined the Jesus Movement were former drug users and hippies. Many young people left conventional Christian churches in search of more fulfilling spiritual experiences amid the excitement and transformation of this new movement of Christian renewal.

At the height of the Jesus Movement, adherents were estimated to number anywhere between 30,000 to 3 million people. Many of the early founders of the movement—Ted Wise, Lonnie Frisbee, Chuck Smith, Larry Norman—came from Southern California. Other prominent groups sprang up in Seattle under Linda Meissner (the Jesus People Army) and in Milwaukee headed by Jim and Sue Palosaari (the Jesus People). An offshoot of the Milwaukee movement later grew into the Jesus People USA, which eventually settled in Chicago. This group is one of only a few remaining Christian communes with roots in the original 1970s Jesus Movement.

Eventually, by the late 1980s, the Jesus Movement disintegrated in two directions. One portion became increasingly cultic and alienated from both the Christian community and the larger society. The other segment was absorbed or reabsorbed into Christian groups such as the Calvary Chapel Association, the Vineyard Movement, Jews for Jesus, and the Christian World Liberation Front.

Like most revival movements, the Jesus Movement was relatively short-lived but left its mark on Christian history, rejuvenating a portion of the body of Christ through its music, informal worship style, and appeal to young people.

Chuck Smith was one of the Jesus Movement’s principal founders [2]. Here is a partial quote from an article about Chuck Smith and the Calvary Chapel:

Present-day Calvary Chapels are known for their vibrant worship and chapter-by-chapter, book-by-book Bible teaching. From the start, Smith taught through the whole Bible from beginning to end, a signature practice of most Calvary Chapel pastors still today.

Chuck Smith, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, and many other Calvary Chapel churches and pastors have fallen into power struggles and political disputes similar to those other Christian denominations endure. In 2011, Smith was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away in 2013 at age 86.

You have asked a lot of questions about the movement today, and assimilation into evangelical denominations, charismatic churches, and modern main-line churches. Because I have never been involved in this movement, I am unable to comment, other than to say I enjoy a lot of the songs that came out of Maranatha Music.

Perhaps this podcast conversation with Gino Geraci, who came to faith in Christ through the Jesus Movement and became a very early Calvary Chapel pastor, will be helpful:

https://podcast.gotquestions.org/episode-147.html

[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-Movement.html

[2] https://www.gotquestions.org/Chuck-Smith.html

Links to other related articles which contain further information:

https://www.gotquestions.org/Calvary-Chapel.html

https://www.gotquestions.org/Vineyard-Movement.html

https://www.gotquestions.org/Jews-for-Jesus.html