The Straight Up Word: The Street Called Straight

So the Lord said to him, 'Arise and go to the street called Straight...'

Acts 9:11 (NKJV)

So you shall not turn aside from any of the Words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Deuteronomy 28:14 (NKJV)

Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.

Proverbs 4:27 (NKJV)

Make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

Hebrews 12:13 (NKJV)

I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them.

Isaiah 42:16 (NKJV)

Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.

Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4 (NKJV)

Actors, models, and talent for Christ: How can YOU straighten up this crooked world?

  • You're not the world’s morality patrol.

  • You’re not the world’s police department.

UNFORTUNATELY… that's how too many outsiders see us: as judging, holier-than-thou, phonies. Specifically…

  • Mega-pastors, selling books and answers.

  • Worldly pastors, saying, 'Come, follow ME.'

  • Biased pastors, sowing seeds of discord.

  • Hateful pastors, squinting to see through beams.

  • Mixed-up pastors, leading mixed-up people.

Am I speaking too harshly? Possibly. But since I spent my first 51 years as an outsider, I’m well qualified to speak for the pack.

Actors, models, and talent for Christ: You're NOT mean judges, the lock-up patrol, or slick-talking, prosperity preachers.

But you ARE gifted communicators. It's one of the bright talents God gave you. You have an unusual charisma that touches the heart of an audience… with fans unlikely to step foot in church.

Your talent is bait, and with it, you fish! Christ said, ‘I will make you fishers of men' (Mark 1:17). After hungry fans bite, you reel them.

How?

  • With your exceptional behavior,

  • With delicacies so seldom offered, 

  • With…

'Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control' (Galatians 5:22-23). They’re unusual qualities in a twisted world.

Against such things, no person can argue. 'Against such things, there is no law.'

You make the paths of the Lord straight by straightening 2 huge misunderstandings:

  1. Jesus-led Christians love and DO. NOT. JUDGE.

  2. He came to save the world– not condemn it.

Lost people need to see the straight-up Word… acted out in real-time by straight-up stars.

The Straight Up Word: the Street Called Straight (Part 5)

NOTE: This is a 2023 update of a 2013 Carey Lewis Devotion. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

Carey Arban