But this is not for the faint of Heart...

why our language should be provocative and lives; head turning.

The flight attendant had just announced that personal electronics were no longer permitted. I was forced to make a book choice out of my bag and decided against David Platt's Radical- I was too tired to be convicted. I was still chewing on the last chapter and mulling over the lukewarmness that was seeping into my spirituality. I picked up instead, Russell Brand's biography ; Booky Wook. Within minutes I'm snickering and snorting with laughter at his cheeky Brit humor and shocked at his life in pages. In case you weren't aware, he has an incredible story of overcoming sexual,drug, and alcohol addiction. He has a better grasp on the human condition than most Christians I know , just lacks the solution.

in a  sudden wave of devastation and urgency, I dropped the book in my lap and thought : " Who is going to tell Russell Brand about Jesus??!!" 

O WHAT INFLUENCE HE WOULD HAVE. and others in the entertainment industry.  

But that is a dark place... full of empty glories, drugs, exploited sex, and cuss words. no place for Christians... . Wrong. that is no place for children. 

but that is a perfect place for a Christian. 

See, both David Platt and Russell Brand have one thing admiringly in common; both so boldly live out what they believe  it is offensive.I sat there conflicted. How then do we live? How do we live in the world but not of it? Who then to better instruct us than our Creator. 

therefore, since we have SUCH HOPE, we are VERY BOLD. 

2 Corinth.3:12

Therefore, since Christ died for us, since we are bought with a price, Since we are HIS- we as Christians should boldly approach this dark place with confidence. 

Our lives are meant to be LOUD

Our actions, HEAD TURNING- not an eye for an eye, but love and grace- abounding

Our language, PROVOCATIVE -it is unlike any message they have heard.

Our style, ECCENTRIC- we belong to the most creative of Artists. 

Our love, something from OUT OF THIS WORLD. 

Our art- MOVING, compelling

Our sex- DEVINE, enjoyed in the Holy covenant of marriage

Our Vocations done with EXCELLENCE because we do not work for mere men, but for the King.

We are not for the faint of heart, or the wayward of spirit. 

How do we keep from being salt that stays in the jar.. useless.

How do we become CEO's in New York, without selling our souls to capitalistic mongrols

How do we become models without selling our bodies to the photographers' desires and the ad agency's concepts.

How do we produce movies that sell, and change lives. 

How do we dance in companies where you sleep with the director to land a lead. 

Do we avoid these vocations because these are "dark industries"

We often spit on them because they are sinful media outlets feeding our children dirt. 

then we better get the hell in there and be heaven on earth...

GET OUT OF THE SALT JAR. SALT.LIGHT.

We become angry and bitter about the content of commercials and daytime television, and the lyrics on the radio.So we create our own radio stations, our own tv programs. and when that is all we listen to or watch- all the salt stays in the jar, getting saltier- and never flavoring anything.

We are controlled by FEAR.  

What will he think if I mention JESUS? 

 Will I lose my job if I say no to my boss? maybe. 

But our present sufferings are nothing compared to our future glory that far outweighs them all.

how then should we live? God commands us to live radically different than anything and everything the world suggests. To live not for our own glory but our God's. Our vocations are to be missional. Our finances, freely His. Our marriage, a picture of the Gospel

 This message is not for the faint of heart, not for the unarmed, not for you to justify your sin. If you think God is calling you to be rich and famous and live in Hollywood so you may have a chance to drop Jesus' name at the Grammy's -  1) you are wrong 2) we are probably not friends

this message is not for the rookies, or the newbs, this is for the well trained, well read, knowledgeable , deep rooted, and well armed. 

you would not ask an 18 yr old in boot camp to do a navy seal extraction. you would not send the new guy into uncharted waters.  And you would not send an alcoholic 3 months sober to do ministry at a bar.

If you are walking into the darkest part of the house, you are going to bring your brightest bulb you got.

I am not saying that everyone is called to minister to people in the entertainment Industry. What I am saying, is that if we are- we should not shy away from it . I have done that . I have justified not whole heartedly pursuing dance careers  because it can lead to a dark place. We are given these arts and talents for a good God reason.  But if we go in, if we get that job opportunity, that record deal, or photoshoot, or ad campaign- we better gosh well be armed with the Truth.

My brother is a fashion photographer, my sister models and acts, and my brother in law is in the film industry. Often when I hang out with their friends- they too are models and actors, photographers, and creative minds. I am usually thinking "holy crap- what a different world this is" but also-feeling at home as there is so much room to freely express yourself mainly because my community at home looks a bit different. But I would have no platform to talk about Christ  with them if I wore a smock and a braid and whipped out my bible at the bar. I would also not have a platform if I dressed like a slut and snorted a line on the bar with them. this is where we ask for wisdom, and discernment. 

this is where and how we learn to be in the world and not of it.

How then should we live?

With boldness.

and whatever we do (vocation,art,daily life,your dress,your finances) whether in word or deed do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father. 2 Col.3:17

Some shout outs for those who have used their gifts for the Kingdom: 

MFC New York

www.modelsforchrist.com

My lovely sister in christ/ super model Nikki Dubose

www.thenikkidubose.com

This piece is a direct result of simultaneously reading David Platt's Radical, and Russell Brand's biography- Both so boldly living out what they believe they are offensive