I finally saw the documentary called Frisbee -- The Life And Death Of A Hippie Preacher. It's a fascinating documentary that tells two stories. The "main" story, which is how this seminal, charismatic man was used of God to help further the Jesus Movement and the Calvary Chapel and Vineyard church denominations/franchises/whatever and then when he died of AIDS in 1993 he has since been written out of those church's history books. This main story gets over-shadowed by massive footage and interviews that chronicle the mighty move of God's Spirit across the land in the late 60s and early 70s.
This film was scheduled to run at the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in July, and I can see the appeal from the gay community. Anytime some is "martyred" for a cause, it's a boost and inspiration for the "cause." The problem with that theory (and I would have loved to have been in the audience at the screenings) is that the majority of the "story" of the film is about Jesus, His reality, and the revival that happened here back then. I can't imagine anyone watching this movie not being touched by the reality of God's grace, the simplicity of the Gospel, and the yearning to know God. Heck, I can see people getting saved watching this movie. So, it would be very interesting to see people with an agenda sit through all of this to get to their conclusion.
It's pretty sad how this sticky situation was handled. For one, this guy left Calvary Chapel over a disagreement involving ministry methods. Frisbee was much more into the miracles of and by the Holy Spirit, while Calvary Chapel kind of makes their Sunday gatherings less intimidating, less threatening, and less "spectacular" in the miraculous sense (which has been shown to be a distraction and freak sideshow in other cases); choosing to instead give a place for these manifestations on the Wednesday night or "afterglow" type meetings. For a leader/servant moving in these gifts, this could be very disconcerting, and so these two (Chuck Smith and Lonnie Frisbee) parted ways. Stuff like that happens (see Paul and Barnabas in Acts 15), so it's sad but not an abomination or anything. So, acknowledging someone's chief role in the "early days" after such a falling out becomes ackward right there.
It gets tricky when it is discovered that this guy "struggled" with homosexuality. There are conflicting reports from interviews with friends who had no idea. It's not entirely clear how he got the disease, but apprantly he did sleep with some men, etc. The spokesperson(s) at Calvary Chapel and Vineyard probably could have made a more diplomatic statement or come forward with a balanced announcement concerning this whole thing, and maybe once this documentary releases on DVD they'll be forced to. We'll see.
I have a bold idea/statement/prediction to make:
The next great awakening and revival just might come from the homosexual community. Like the hippies of the late 60s, these people are seen as "too far gone" and "hopeless" members of society. We'd just as soon forget they exist instead of acknowledge them or (gasp) love them.
I can imagine waves of homosexuals realizing that they can relate to Jesus, because he was treated like dirt by religious people. Once they can appeal to that, maybe then they'll open their eyes to the fact that Jesus can relate to them. As a servant, He identified with the human race and all its depravity. He's the God and hero of the downcast and rejected. He's been there and He suffered and died to redeem such people (sinners -- all of us).
I assume (maybe wrongly) that the whole erotic/sexual sin part of the homosexual lifestyle won't need to be addressed. People know deep down inside what is right and wrong. Flamboyant, debaucherous and wanton behavior is pretty simple to classify as "sin" and "wrong." When encountering a holy and loving God, the darkness becomes apparent and people can abandon that behavior in light of God's light and empowered by His Spirit.
I'm not sure, though, how to handle to appeal to "loving" and being a "partner" of the same sex. God knows about love. And we can love people in a holy way, as brother to brother or sister to sister -- and this can be pure and without physical, erotic sexual behavior. The statement Jesus made comes to mind: He basically says, "Check this out, IF you can handle it -- some people are eunichs by birth; some by accident; but some are eunichs for the kingdom." These were people who gave up their sexuality and the practice of sexual relationships for the kingdom of God. Jesus makes it clear that it can be done. I do not understand the attraction for the same sex (and I guess that confirms that I'm a heterosexual male), but if I am to believe people that tell me that they really are attracted to the same sex and not the opposite sex, then I would conclude that their calling is to be a eunich for the kingdom.
I'm not sure that'll go over with a converted homosexual who's been "married" to a "partner" for x-number of years, and I'm not too sure that the Bible gives us grounds to allow/sanction/bless same sex marriages. That could be the crux or point where agreement cannot be made. Who knows?
It would be exciting to see another revival and great awakening. I can't think of a more disenfranchised people group out there that could use the presence of God in their lives.
Anyway, those are some thoughts I had after watching this documentary.
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at July 21, 2006 11:54 AM