Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
After I read this this afternoon, my first thought was “I want this so badly.” For me, this epitomizes the perfect community of Christians, and it strikes up such a yearning in my heart. Maybe there a few different paragraphs that capture what I want out of life - this is definitely one of them.
But anyone who knows me knows that I want to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. The corrupt, highly superficial, distinctly lacking of God entertainment industry. Not for the reasons most seek such a thing, of course. But it’s a dream that I know was placed in my heart by God. But it had me thinking - how do these things reconcile? Existing wholly in a church of God and Hollywood lifestyle.
Surprisingly, I didn’t have to think about it long. It was immediately obvious to me that both are possible without having to sacrifice or compromise my spirituality whatsoever. It boils down to intent, I suppose. Do I pursue my dreams for fame? For money? Because I love it? Or do I pursue my dreams as a means of using my talents and passions to share the Gospel and God’s love to the world? And it has to be the last one, or this doesn’t work.
The things that specifically stood out to me in the verse above:
Simplicity of heart. Simplicity. No one subscribes to that these days, especially not in the industry that I want to jump head first into. But I love that the disciples were simple and completely content with it. I think that’s one of the hearts of Christianity - living simply. And I thought, “If I’m getting a big Hollywood paycheck, is it possible to live such a life? Sharing everything with fellow believers, living simply, etc etc.” But then my eyes travel to the beginning of the verse - sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. It’s okay to make a lot of money. It’s just what you do with that a lot of money once you have it. And if I make a million dollars from a movie, but give away except what I absolutely need - then a simple life is quite possible.
So I know that’s a word I need to bury in my heart right now then abide by it - simplicity.
Having favor with all people. Now that sounds absolutely amazing. Because I don’t think of that as “popularity” but see it as people looking upon the disciples and seeing the love of Jesus flowing so evidently through them. I see it as the disciples treating people right, with love and that’s why they have favor with all people. Because they’re doing something right. That’s the kind of favor I want to find with people. Not the kind that other celebrities find by glorifying hedonism in their songs/movies/TV shows or by being attractive, but finding favor because I am loving, kind, and all the other characteristics that Jesus Christ embodies.
For the past year or so, I’ve pictured Hollywood as a mission field. I think all Christians are called to be missionaries, just not in this traditional sense of going to a third world country and preaching to the natives. It’s just that in whatever field or place that we’re called to, we are to share the Gospel and be a testament to God. And I see Hollywood as a place that desperately needs Jesus. So I have a dream of enacting Acts in that setting - to single in on every Christian in the industry and inspire them to openly engage in their faith. To rise up to the higher standard that we’re called to, to use their influence as a means of sharing the Word. I don’t necessarily mean everyone only doing “Christian entertainment”, because, well, Jesus didn’t go for the righteous, but for the unrighteous so that they may be saved. And doing just “Christian entertainment” isn’t going to do anything for those who do not have Jesus. But for our entertainment to be in inline with what we believe - glorifying hope, with no sexuality, vulgarity, spite, etc. If I do write a movie that’s not explicitly Christian, it’s still not going to glorify the world. If Girl Conception puts out a rap song, it’s not going to objectify men (unless it’s satirically to expose how ridiculous rap is) or have cursing.
I’ve kind of lost track of what I was writing haha Plus the Oscars red carpet is on. But I just want my life to be Acts 2:44-47 so much.
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