"Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth…. You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." — Jesus (Matthew 5:13-16 The Message)

It seems like I’m doing my best writing these days in the comments section of Marty Duren’s blog. He had another post today which was completely on-point with one of the deepest passions of my heart.

I spent over 15 years in the entertainment industry in Hollywood and it is deeply rooted in my heart. I love these people with a passion I cannot explain. They are my peeps. I speak their language, I understand their desperate need to be creative and to use their creativity to make an impact on the world. I wanted to be a part of the entertainment community from the time I was in my early teens and first discovered the thrill of acting, writing and backstage crew-ing. (It’s Friday; I’m allowed to make up words on Fridays. Because it’s Friday). The only reason I’m in Nashville now, and not involved in the industry here, is because God has steered my life in a different direction at this point, for reasons He alone knows. But my heart still longs for my peeps in Hollywood, for them to know the powerful, life-transforming love and grace of Jesus.

My friend Jean’s first job as a full-time costumer on a television show — her dream job after many, many years spent paying her dues in costume houses, and as an assistant in various departments at Fox and Columbia and Lorimar studios — was on the show “NYPD Blue”.

At the same time, I worked for the television producer who had mentored Steven Bochco, the creator of NYPD Blue (and Hill Street Blues and many other wonderful shows) many years before. Bochco had faxed over to “Uncle Billy” (my boss) a copy of the series pitch and story ideas for NYPD Blue shortly after the pilot was green lit and long before it ever aired on tv. I had the chance to read it. Bochco was pretty specific that he wanted to “push the creative envelope” of tv and how he wanted to do that. For those of you who never saw the show, Bochco pushed that creative envelope both in the writing and topics — which were, to be sure, powerful and very thought-provoking — but his main envelope-push seemed to be nudity. He was at the forefront of the naked "butt shots" movement (if you can call it that).  I remember reading of his desires to push television in this direction and thinking, "why not use your influence for pushing the envelope in the areas of creativity and issues rather than something so unimportant as nudity." I still don’t understand that, but that’s another post all together.

At any rate, I began praying, very specifically and diligently, from the moment I read Bochco’s pitch that God would place followers of Christ in key areas and in every aspect of production, to bring His light and His ideas of “pushing the creative envelope” to not only the show but to all the people involved in producing and airing NYPD Blue. I prayed daily for this, year after year.

The show was in its 2nd or 3rd season when I saw Jean for the first time in several years. When she told me what show she worked on and that she’d been on the show since its 1st season, I was so ecstatic I could hardly contain myself. I kept gushing on and on about how great and amazing that was that she was there; what an incredible opportunity she’d been given to influence so many people, both on and through the show, and that I was so excited for her — both from a spiritual perspective of her sphere of influence and from career perspective of what a good show to be on (critically acclaimed, Emmy honored, a good kind of show to be associated with from a career point of view). It was such a rush to hear how God had answered my fervent prayer.

Then I got a real shock. Jean told me I was the first and only Christian friend to respond to her that way. Everyone else made faces and said, “why int the world would you want to work on that show?? Can’t you find another job??”

How sad! Here is a follower of Christ in the perfect position to influence the true influencers of Hollywood, to make a direct impact on a show that was having a huge impact on television as well as society, and the only thing most of the brothers and sisters in Christ she encountered could think of was how evil they thought the show was, and how could a Christian even want to be in such a place. No concern for the people working on the show, for their spiritual needs; no concern for the possibility of actually changing the lives of those involved in the show, and thus through them changing the direction of television. Only a disgust that she would dare to work on such a show.

Jesus spent His ministry associating with “sinners and tax collectors”. I’m convinced that were He to have come in our time instead of before, He would have worked on shows like NYPD Blue and Sex and The City and hung out with guys like Prince, even played in His band.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I do not carelessly throw that idea around. Wisdom compels us to be careful what we say "Jesus would or would not do." However, God planted the passion in my heart for the people I served in LA. He did that. I didn’t. Truthfully, left on my own, I get very self-focused and would never have a passion to serve anyone but me. Its from that passion and deep love for the people in the industry that God planted in me that I say I am convinced Jesus would be in the entertainment industry were He here; because I believe with all my heart it is the  compulsion of His Spirit that drives me to my knees for my people and compelled me to work in that industry for His glory. I’m convinced He put me there to bring Himself to them because He wants so badly to be with them.

I am convinced that Jesus longs for us to go so many places that we discount because of a blending of American and American church cultures. This blending promotes an ideal of individualism and sense of freedom over our life course mixed with a strong sense of "guilty by association" with professions which the church has deemed "inappropriate" or "godless".

America’s culture is driven by rugged individualism. It’s what made our country so distinct, and dare I say, great. It’s what puts us in the leading edge of pioneering sciences and new discoveries in every arena. We are a country of rugged individuals. It’s how our borders expanded from one cost to the other. We are constantly seeking new horizons and new frontiers to explore. That individualism seeps even into our deep conviction of freedom of choice in professions.

When I served in India I was struck with the lack of this sense of freedom in choice of profession which Americans have. It’s not that they could not choose — because the reforms in the last 50+ years have opened up many choices not just for men but for women in the workforce. But so many Hindus feel a distinct obligation to family or community professions; they have a sense of duty to family and community we here in America just do not. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying one culture is better than another. I’m not. Neither is good or bad. They are just different. America is rare in its rugged individualism. And I think that culture of individualism is also pervasive in the American church.

The American church also had a weird conviction of "guilt by association," where a person automatically becomes tainted, either in reputation or character, by those with whom they choose associate or work. Therefore, we think we "should", perhaps even must, choose a profession which won’t risk Jesus’ image being tainted through that associational guilt at all.

For some reason this associational guilt is particularly strong when it comes to the arts. Some comments on Marty’s blog expressed that no musician playing an instrument (drums for example) in a band whose lyrics are sexually suggestive can bring glory to God (even though most back up road musicians are not singing the lyrics themselves). Guilt by association regardless of the musicians heart or character.

How in the world are we to bring God’s light to a dark world if we are so afraid of tainting His and our reputations that we refuse to even consider professions that take us to the heart of that darkness? How do you rescue someone stuck in the middle of a muddy pit if you’re not willing to get a little muddy yourself?

I know followers of Jesus who are bartenders, who play in bands with very secular (sensual) music, actors who play all manner of roles, from thieves to rapists to homosexuals, writers working on shows that advocate gay or sexually promiscuous lifestyles, crew members who work on a succession of films that don’t promote any sort of "Christian" values…. the list goes on. These are hard core totally on-point passionate sold out followers of Jesus; true servants of God. And they are making a very real difference in these dark places.

Does God lead everyone to do all this? No. Of course not. Nor has He led everyone to be pastors, or urban church planters, or businessmen or politicians. We all have our places to serve; and mine will not look like yours, nor yours mine no matter how much we desire it to.

As a writer/producer’s assistant I spent many hours typing and editing scripts where every dialog paragraph had the f-word at least once. I typed that word over and over. Not only that, but I heard it all the time from all the writers and producers and assistants and executives I worked with/for. Every time I heard it or typed it, it reminded me that my co-workers and friends were languishing in a world of hurt and pain without God; without any other means to express the desperate cries of their souls other than the f-word.

As a leader in my church, I counseled other followers like me in the entertainment world who deeply struggled with how to best be God’s light in the industry. I remember talking with one actor who, because of his look, only got casting calls for roles as gay men, addicts and rapists. Even at his most cleaned up he had the face perfect for playing a "thug" or a troubled gay man or a child molester. He so did not want to play any of those roles. And he didn’t know what to do, because he had all this talent he wanted to use for God’s glory but he didn’t see how he could do that in the roles he was being offered. And he wasn’t getting offered any other roles. He eventually moved home and got a "regular" job.

Another friend had the same issue — not so much the "thug" look as the "gay" look. He, on the other hand, relished the opportunity to use his talents to infuse into every gay (and even straight) character the pain and conflict inherent to a lifestyle so contrary to God’s heart. He found a way to honor God by subtly bringing out in his every character the human struggle with sin in the heart of every person.

Not everyone can do that. But thank God some are willing to try! My friend had more of an impact, both in the gay and Hollywood communities, than any preacher I know. God showed him a way to both maintain his integrity as a follower of Jesus and play characters whose lives are completely contrary to God’s heart with truth, compassion and grace.

If we as followers of Jesus will not take His light to these dark places and work alongside the lost souls there in order that they may find life in these spiritually dark environments, who will?

"But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? That’s why Scripture exclaims, A sight to take your breath away! Grand processions of people telling all the good things of God!" – Romans 10:14-16 The Message