You may or may not have heard of a person named Stephanie Stephenson. Several years ago, she was working in Branson, Missouri as an understudy in one of the productions staged there. She landed a choice role in the touring company of Les Miserables. Her excitement faded, however, when she found out she would portray a prostitute in a street scene. She would have had to wear a revealing costume and be poked, prodded and fondled by male actors. Her choice? She quit and went back to Branson. She said, “People work all their lives to get to ‘Les Miz.’ I knew that I might be giving up a lot. There’s a fine line between the morals and going over that line.” The executive producer said he was shocked she quit the play, adding she could have played the role to “great acclaim” and “probably end up on Broadway.” He also said, “I respect what she did. I think she’s a brave young girl to forgo an amazing career boost.” I admire her nerve to stand up for what she believed in.
Stephanie isn’t a New Testament Christian, but her choice illustrates the commitment every New Testament Christian should have. When you obey the Gospel, you are proclaiming that you choose Christ over the world. He comes first. You will live for Him – no matter what. I wonder, though, how many New Testament Christians would have made her choice. I say that, seeing numbers decrease by almost half on Sunday night, knowing that New Testament Christians have rejected Christ for some activity other than assembling with their brothers and sisters to worship God. I say that, hearing New Testament Christians offer all kinds of excuses why they avoid serving in the kingdom of God, who wouldn’t think of saying such things to their employers. Just how committed are we, really?
Jesus said, “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much” (Luke 16:10). You don’t have to wait until some major challenge comes along in your life to know the measure of your faith and commitment to God and the Gospel. Look at the everyday choices you make. Where does God come in them? Who really comes first? Put another way, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:25-26).
Stephanie Stephenson could have offered all kinds of excuses to justify taking that offensive role. She didn’t, but remained true and committed to her convictions. If you consider the choices you make in life, what about you?
