Weekend Feature: Devon Franklin is an Adventist and Powerful in Hollywood
by Debbonnaire Kovacs
When he was a boy, DeVon Franklin loved movies. Lots of kids love movies, but DeVon was, as he puts it, “captivated,” not just by the movies themselves, but by curiosity and interest in the making of them. He moved from wondering how these images and emotions were created to wanting to do it himself. Of course, being a kid, there was something he wanted even more—to be a football player. But getting into the film industry was his “fallback plan,” so when he didn’t make his high school football team, DeVon turned to his love for movies, and found the calling of his heart.
“I wanted to make movies that would produce change in the world, that would inspire hope and help people to get through the … difficulties in their lives,” Franklin says. So he went to the University of Southern California with a business major and a film minor, and was fortunate enough to get an internship in his freshman year. All through college, he continued to work in the movie industry, first in Will Smith’s production company, then working directly with Smith’s partner, and step by step all the way to his present position as Vice President of Production at Columbia Pictures, working on projects such as The Pursuit of Happyness, Karate Kid, and this summer’s Jumping the Broom.
It would sound like a dream career to many people, and so it is. This is a man with some power in Hollywood. But there’s power and there’s power. The only power that matters to DeVon Franklin is the power of God. He is a Seventh-day Adventist who says that living his faith in what some might see as an impossible context is no problem at all.
“I can’t think of anything that’s worth compromising your faith for,” Franklin says emphatically. “If we really believe God is in control and has a plan for us, if we really have faith in Him, that plan will never be dependent upon compromise! It’ s not like God is going to come to you and say, ‘I have this plan for you, but it means that just for a while, you’re going to have to break some rules.’ Never!”
For example, Franklin waxes enthusiastic when talking of the Sabbath and the special blessings he believes God has built into “this particular, special day. I’m very vocal about keeping Sabbath. I make sure it’s a stipulation always. I haven’t had any trouble. If you are frank and clear about your faith, people respect that. “
Franklin was in Beijing during the making of Karate Kid, taking Sabbath off as is his custom, when the idea of writing a book came to him. He wanted to use his position to help others, and share the things he had learned, so that others could perhaps avoid some of the difficulties he had faced in learning to choose faith over fear. He says it’s even more special to him that God gave him this idea on a Sabbath.
Produced by Faith: Enjoy Real Success without Losing Your True Self (Howard Books, 2011) is the story of Franklin’s life and how he integrates his work with his faith. It continues to be a blessing to him to see how God uses this book to bless others. They tell him their stories. A man unhappy in a mundane job reads Produced by Faith, quits his job, steps out in faith, and reports that he’s found his true calling and has never been happier. A woman trying to get a job she really wants, and tempted to let go of Sabbath-keeping, reads the book and decides to be true to God and to herself. Her prospective employers compromise and say she only has to work some Sabbaths. “No, sorry,” she tells them, and they regretfully turn her down for employment. She is disappointed, but at peace. Then they call her back. “We really want you. We’ll give you another project that won’t require Sabbath work.”
Franklin says that one of his greatest goals is to help people to stop living lives of fear. Even keeping Sabbath, or any other commandment, can be done out of fear instead of love, which will still miss the blessing. “I can’t stress enough the exciting sense of liberation when you let go of fear and live in faith instead. God wants to display his power in us in ways we can’t even imagine—but faith is the key.”
I too love the Sabbath, but must avoid Sabbatholatry–worship of the Sabbath. Sabbath is no end in itself. It is a means to a quite human end–our human flourishing, as Jesus said in Mark 2:27. Perhaps we Adventists, like the Jewish believers of old, have a lot to learn about Sabbath and that's why Jesus disproportionately healed on the Sabbath.
Sabbath is often used in the Bible as implying "rest." "Come unto me all ye that labor that you might find rest." In the Fourth Commandment there is mp command to worship on the seventh day but "doing no work." Hebrews 4 more fully explains the "Sabbath rest," and "we must do everything to reach the place of rest." A "place of rest" some failed to enter because of disobedience. "For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his work, as God did from His."
This takes the former command of rest for a specific day to now resting in God which is not tied to any specific day but to the peace of mind in relying on God.
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Elaine,
Do you see the point that the Sabbath rest is a symbol of resting in God, and it is tied to a specific day? When understood aright (through prayer and study) Sabbathkeeping stands for the rest in Christ we enjoy when we take on His robe of righteousness and rest from our works to gain salvation. When Adventists understand this and preach it, they will give a more persuasive witness for the Sabbath belief and respect for all God's commandments. The seal is not a day but rest in Christ symbolized by the Sabbath.
It appears that in NT times, the Jews were going to the temple on Sabbath for worship and teaching.
Yes, the sabbath rest is a symbol of resting in God, but resting in God should be always, not a specific day as all who believe in Christ have entered into His rest.
Yes, the Jews were going to the temple on sabbath as you say, but Christianity ushered in a new system which is why we are "now dead to the Law, rid of the Law, freed by (Christ's) death from our imprisonment, free to serve in the new spiritual way and NOT the old way of a written law." What possible written law was Paul referring to if not the Jewish law?
Galatians explains that the law was until the posterity came to whom the promise was addressed and now that Christ has come we are no longer under the law.
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul writes: "From now onwards, never let anyone else decide what you should ear ot drink, or whether you are to observe annual festivals, New Moons or sabbaths. There were only pale reflections of what was coming: the reality is Christ."
There is not one command in the NT for the Gentile Christians that they should begin observing the Jewish law; and sabbath was most certainly a primary law in Judaism.
We recently had a whole quarter of lessons on Galatians, and I think it would answer your argument. Galatians talks about circumcision; if it meant Sabbath it would have said so and there would have been more than a meeting of the early church leaders on the subject.
Elaine, I think you have been through this a hundred times with people smarter than me, so I won't bite the bait on this one.
Additional note: A recent Adventist Review addresses the Colossians text quite well (and not for the first time). The article was by Andy Nash, and I would recommend you find and read it if you really want an answer on this one.
Ella, I read Andy Nash's Review article and found it unconvincing.
I am well acquainted with the Adventist position on Galatians and Colossians. How many are aware that the ONLY way a non-Jew would be permitted to observe their sabbath was to first be circumcised? This was the controversy between Jews and Gentiles and the ruling was that the Gentiles did not have to become circumcised, nor did they have to do more than avoid meat offered to idols and blood. Circumcision was the entry into Judaism and its rules and practices. If Sabbath was to be observed, this was the time and place to instruct them as they were not sabbath observers as Gentiles.
The text in Colossians is not ambiguous: Let no one judge you on whether you are to observe annual festivals, New Moons (monthly festivals) or sabbaths (weekly). Had the intention been for the annual sabbaths this is completely superfluous. The word "sabbath" means rest, and because the Gentiles had not previously had such a day memorialized as the Jews, they were never given this obligation. The suggestion that the Gentile Christians now began observing sabbath as the Jews is to assume what Scripture never tells us. When the Bible is silent, we should be silent and not assume that the writers were just neglectful. There has never been anything but a Jewish sabbath–it is theirs. Christians did not need to become Jews and adopt Judaism as the NT clearly states.
The Torah was written by and for Jews; the NT was written by Christians for Christians.
A return to the Hebrew Bible for doctrine is to return to Judaism. The Jews rejected Christ; Christ replaced the Law. Why would we return to this sabbathn ceremony when we have the NT written for Christians. Are there no differences between the two? If not, why try to straddle both and obey neither consistently? It is impossible to adopt Judaism and Christianity at the same time.
I really don't see any references for what you are stating. I think it is perfectly clear that any concern about Sabbathkeeping by the Jews or Christians would have been all over the NT. Circumcision is not even in the ten commandments; it was an OT identity for a race of people.
You should send your statements to Dr. Doukan at Andrews University who is Jewish by heritage and a recognized Hebrew scholar and see what he has to say. Colossians uses "sabbath" in referring to more than the Sabbath. I have read that in nonSDA commentaries. Also it is the only text that can be dug up too possibly provide a way out for nonbelievers, and they use it. People have a way of taking single texts and doing that to bolster what they already believe–like the everburning fires of hell. (And, yes, I know Adventists can do that too)
To take away the symbol of rest in Christ is legalistic in itself and a denial of His work on our behalf. (both in creation and re-creation). It is Sunday that is representative of human works–exchanging/replacing God's command for a human work/institution. That is clear to me. For those in other churches who have a personal relationship with Christ, however, they can be excused because that is what their tradition teaches; for someone who knows better, it will prove to be a very big spiritual problem.
The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ is reality, but it is also highly symbolic in its meaning–what Christ has done for the human race. Take away that symbolism and we lose the reality.
BTW I don't think Christ intended to start a new religion. He and all His followers were Jews. The NT is a Jewish book. Unfortunately their leaders would not accept Him as their Messiah and instead of His people (the Jews) drawing the Gentiles to Him, they rejected Him. The whole book of Revelation, for example, is written for Jews using symbolism that was familiar to them. (And don't pull up your version of the new covenant on me, I don't have time.)
" I read Andy Nash's Review article and found it unconvincing"
Why am I not surprised?
AT: sorry for getting off the subject. Blessings on Devon Franklin for being a Christian in Hollywood. He is in my prayers.
Ella,
I agree it is hazardous to one's beliefs if anything outside SDA books are read. This is the reason the new G.C. president advocated only reading SDA books. New ideas may be presented; in fact, the reason people attend college and graduate school is to enlarge their horizon and develop critical thinking and research to learn different viewpoints.
If one only knows what he has always believed, it becomes impossible to listen or even consider other views. Like a good attorney defending a case, he must know both sides very well so he can present counter arguments, never introducing personl views. By investigating other views, one may become more convinced of previous views, or there may be questions raised–isn't that why we study to learn more? If by "studying" is meant only repetition of previous concepts, that is not study, just rote memorization.
Isn't this the exact method that is used to introduce converts to Adventism? Offering to study the Bible with them, presenting the selected SDA texts that "prove" the doctrines. Since few Christians have much knowledge of the Bible it becomes a cinch to convince them that the SDA beliefs are all straight from the Bible with a selective choice of verses.
To be safe, only read SDA books. Never read the many Christian Bible Scholars and historians unless they have the imprimatur of the church. I have read Orthodox Jewish scholars writing on the how the Jews have read their Scriptures; Catholic scholars; atheist Bible historians; the history of the Christian church, but never checking their personal beliefs, but judged by their scholarship. Apologists are a dime-a-dozen, and the Christian book stores are full of them if one does not want to be challenged.
Elaine,
Concerning reading material, I read from all sources. I think the GC president's demand to not read other materials is pathetic. I enjoy reading about science and get the Scientific American and am currently reading Michio Kaku's Parallel Worlds.
In attending a recent Revelation seminar with an interested cousin, I was surprised that this educated suburban church used Amazing Facts material based on selected texts. It is an approach that does not appeal to me, and I wish that someone would write up better Bible studies if they are going to do this for the public. I am not saying they are wrong–one can get the same material in context–but I don't like the approach at all and it targets other Christians–sheepstealing.
I usually embrace from my reading, ideas that build up my faith–and there is a lot. The other stuff I find interesting but take with a grain of salt. That's just being honest about myself. None of us are objective. Other Christians have a lot to offer. I want to remind the GC president that we got the Sabbath idea from a Seventh-day Baptist.
A favorite book is Bishop N T Wright's Surprised by Hope. He is called Christianity's top scholar by many. I am also daily reading Andrew Murray's book on prayer which is deeply spiritual. To me reading is an experience and not just reading for information. It's beauty, hope, and pleasure.
BTW have you read fundmentalist evangelical writers, especially about the rapture theory? I am talking about Tim LaHaye, Pat Robertson, and Jerry Jenkins, etc. I know they are far from my beliefs but are still part of Americana and the world we live in. Do you give them a hearing too?
You might want to check out John Paulien and Graeme Bradford's work on Revelation. It is much better than our traditional material.
I haven't read Graeme Bradford but some of Jon Paulien's books. Are there printed Bible studies with them? My favorite is Doukan, a Hebrew scholar from Andrews. He wrote Secrets of Daniel and Secrets of Revelation noting they were Jewish books and that the audience was familiar with all those images we find baffling.
There must be better Bible studies for public discussions, etc. I feel like writing some myself, but I lack the credentials of Paulien. Why doesn't the seminary work on this sort of thing instead of leaving it to the evangelists? They need to come up with something for thinking poeple that will have a stronger spiritual element and that local churches can use.
Paulien and Braddford's studies are on DVD + printed material. It is available through the South Pacific Division. You can read about it here : http://revelationhope.com
Ella,
Such shows as Amazing Discoveries gives Adventism a bad name as they seem to appeal to the lowest common denominator.
Yes, one who reads widely as you, has a much broader knowledge of today's religious world.
No, I haven't read any of the "rapture books." For some reason they don't interest me; perhaps growing up Adventist there was so much emphasis on a coming apocalypse that I had enough.
BTW, I watched NatGeo TV a few nights ago it was about families who are convinced of a coming apocalypse–some from receeding shore lines, or volcanic explosions and are stockpiling everything to live for several years, some are retreating to the mountains–sound familiar?
Elaine,
Did you know about a series of new TV programs based on surviving catastrophe? It is on National Geographic and is called "Doomsday Preppers." "Training for the Apocalypse" is probably what you saw. I guess you know that Mormons are told to store 6-months supply of food and necessities. A friend helped a Mormon family to move recently, and it was quite a job moving all their supplies.
I don't know of Adventists doing this, but maybe some do. Perhaps it's a good idea; however, I believe in keeping faith that God will take care of us. There is a feeling in society in the US, at least, that something is going to happen, and a lot of nonreligious people are making plans.
My father had a bombshelter in the 50's and 60s since we live near Washington. Maybe it was his Swiss heritage, because almost every house in Switzerland has a bombshelter. It may be even be a law. That era did make me fearful of the H-bomb.
Being among "moderate" Adventists, I missed out on the religious apocalypse fever, even though we hoped for Christ's coming. I didn't even fear the "close of probation" so can't relate to those who grew up with that.