Did I say the Jesus Movement was all about the gospel? Here’s a good example. From Paul Clark’s “Songs of the Savior Volume 2” (1972) comes this song about being born again. It’s a classic Jesus Music presentation of the basic gospel message that comes out of Jesus’s encounter with Nicodemus in John 3.

You Must Be Born Again

by Paul Clark

There once was a man name Nicodemus

who came to Jesus one night

asking the Master what must I do 

to be good in Gods sight?

Jesus gave him an answer 

that was simple to understand

that which is flesh is flesh

but by the Holy Spirit you must be born again

Nicodemus said, “how can these things be?”

I’m still not very clear

I know You’re a teacher that’s come from God

but, I’m not sure that You’re my Savior

Jesus gave him an answer 

that was simple to understand

“How can I tell you of heavenly things

if you won’t believe the things at hand?”

Whosoever, believes on my name

shall have everlasting life

and will not perish when this world ends

Are you like Nicodemus, my friend?

finding it hard to believe?

Just step out on faith and follow, He said,

“Whoever asks shall receive!”

You can have everlasting life

you can have it today

have your name written in the Book of Life

it’s the only way to be saved.

You must be born again…

You must be born again…

You must be born again…

You must be born again…

The Jesus Movement was all about the gospel. It simply wasn’t the time to be much concerned about anything else. Nutrition, skin care, body building, aerobics, gut health, inflation, your 401(k) … who cares about any of that when we are on the eve of destruction? There’s only one question that matters, “Are you ready to meet Jesus?” When you meet Jesus will it be for the first time, or will it be as old friends?

Let me ask you a question. When you see the lyrics to “Eve of Destruction,” (yesterday’s Catch) does that seem like 58 years ago to you? Does it sound like some age we have passed through that we don’t have need of anymore — just a nostalgic memory — or does it seem like yesterday? I say definitely yesterday. Is the gospel any less relevant today than it was then? Not at all.

In fact, it is more necessary today because the message of the gospel has gotten lost in a subculture that has played politics and focused on issues like abortion, homosexuality, gender identity, race, book banning, and religious freedom. I believe we need the message of the gospel now, more than ever.

And in the church, the message of the gospel has been buried by so much worship music. In the church it’s all about worship. Certainly worship is important, but Jesus didn’t commission us to go into all the world and worship Him. But to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). There will be plenty of time in heaven to worship, but it will be too late to preach the gospel. Everyone will have already heard.