The Curtain Never Falls-- Kirk Franklin on living in the spotlight

Editor Susan Brill caught up with Kirk Franklin on the set of "Something to Sing About," a new movie from World Wide Pictures--Franklin's film debut. Here's what he has to say about success, his faith, and Hollywood.

SB: You're a great entertainer! You get the crowd going with you--

KF: God is good. I can't take any credit for just being the vessel.

SB: --but you raked in eight Stellars! You've got Christians, non-Christians, black and white among your fans. Why do you think you have been given this platform for your faith?

KF: I don't know, I don't know. I'm just glad that, in spite of me, He called me.

SB: You grew up in the church, you started singing in the church, what was your life like then?

KF: I was doing wrong while I was in church. I was in church all my life, but that didn't keep me away from drugs, alcohol, sex, just whatever you want to name. Thank God for His grace, though!

SB: Where would you be now without Jesus Christ?

KF: I was doing just about everything you could name that was bad. That's where I would be. I don't have any doubt about that. This flesh has to cling to something....Paul says the flesh desires what is contrary to the spirit,(1) and so I'm so glad that I've learned who I am in Christ.

SB: How does someone get out of the trap of being religious but not really living for Jesus?

KF: When you realize that religion doesn't bring the peace, it's the relationship [with God] that brings the peace. That's why I think people religion hop-- they religion hop because religion doesn't bring them peace. Trusting in Him and just allowing Him to order the steps [brings peace].

SB: So what was this film experience like for you?

KF: Well, more than anything for me, it's just wanting to be used however God wants me to be used. This is not a big $20 million budget, and I'm not starring along with Denzel Washington, and I haven't signed for 12 figures. If this is where God wants me to be--not always looking for lights and Hollywood stars--if God wants me to be part of something that is Him at whatever level, that is what I want to do. That may not always be satisfying to my flesh, but I know the safest place is in the will of God.

SB: This may be your movie debut, but it's not your first time on a set, right?

KF: I shot a [television] pilot last year and it was a real painful experience, and I just kind of left it alone. I was out of my element, people kind of hyped me up and made some promises and blew things up real big--and you look and it's over. They've dropped you and nobody calls to see if you hurt yourself when you fell. The whole business of Hollywood and my faith are built on totally different principles.

SB: What about those principles? What's the greatest challenge of being a performer, constantly in the spotlight, and a Christian?

KF: The balance. The balance of the challenges that they both bring. Sometimes performing carries over to a performing attitude, and being a Christian is an attitude of abiding. So, the performance attitude and abiding attitude is a living hell. Excuse the choice of words, but that's how serious it is. It can be a living hell wanting to rest in Christ but your [performance attitude] is built for lights, camera, action--always being on stage. And your whole life is being built around how to please people and wanting people to clap and applaud you. It's almost like you never know when the curtain has fallen because a curtain for you never falls. But Christ wants us to use the performance as a tool, not as a lifestyle. We all know that tools only serve a greater purpose--the garden hoe is not the focus of the job. The job is to come back months later and see this harvest. But the garden hoe was one of the tools that was very intricate in the harvest coming.

SB: You've been so successful in the last couple of years--

KF: Write down that it has a price.

SB: --has success changed you?

KF: Success--it can be such a tool for ministry, but yet it can be a trap from ministry. It can be painful. It can make you lose focus. It can become another god. It has so many challenges. At the same time, it can put you up in front of thousands of people to be a witness, but then you walk off the stage and there are some people in the audience that are trying to create another Baal.(2) And you're the one. So, wow, words like success and all of that are very touchy words for me because I've seen so many things from so many different areas.

SB: Have you grown from it?

KF: I pray I have! Because if I haven't, I'm not going to repeat it!

SB: A lot of people would look at you and say, "Kirk Franklin has it all." What does Kirk Franklin need?

KF: Total dependence on Christ. Just total, total, total, dependence on Christ because I know, like Jesus told Peter, the devil would desire to sift you as wheat.(3) And I know that the devil is not happy with Christ still being preached, whoever He's being preached by. Whatever messenger, he's going to have tribulation. Because of that, the need is Christ. If you go buy a car to satisfy a certain need, or you go buy certain clothes, or go outside your marital covenant, or whatever it is, [you] will always come to a point of emptiness. Always. And you will always come to a point of total dependency on Christ. I will to choose that decision now, than to be forced in a corner and have to choose Christ out of need instead of want.

SB: If there's one message that you could give to your fans, what would it be?

KF: Try Christ. You know, try Him--give Him a chance. Not religion, not doctrines and all these symbols of legalism, but Christ.