Faith in Hollywood: celebrities speak out about their Christian beliefs

by Chris Lange

Chris Lange, FISM News

 

In an industry that often blacklists Christians, more and more celebrities are speaking out about their faith in Jesus.

Fox News recently profiled several Hollywood actors who have been open about their Christian beliefs and the role faith plays in their careers.

“Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Jurassic Park: Dominion” star Chris Pratt told Men’s Health last month that he could not have predicted that he “would kind of become the face of religion,” though he said he isn’t necessarily “a religious person.”

Pratt publicly shared his faith in Christ during an acceptance speech at the 2018 MTV Music and TV Awards where he was presented with a Generation Award.

“God is real. God loves you, God wants the best for you,” he told the audience. “Believe that. I do.”

Nobody is perfect. People are going to tell you you’re perfect just the way you are — you’re not. You’re imperfect. But there is a powerful force that designed you that way. And if you’re willing to accept that, you will have grace. And grace is a gift. And like the freedom that we enjoy in this country, that grace was paid for with somebody else’s blood. Don’t forget it. Don’t take it for granted.

Country superstar and American Idol alum Carrie Underwood and her husband, Mike Fisher, said their shared faith has strengthened their marriage during a recent episode of the couple’s “Mike and Carrie, God and Country” podcast.

Fisher said their Christian values give the couple “a center ground where that’s the most important thing in anything. And then, your differences, if they’re rooted in that, I know your heart, you know my heart, there’s always a way, and it always is God working in it.”

Underwood released her first Gospel album last year titled “My Savior.” The album won the Best Roots Gospel Album award at the Grammy Awards in April of this year.

Award-winning actor Mark Wahlberg told Fox that when he decided to make his faith a priority, “everything seemed to make sense.” Wahlberg explained that his portrayal of boxer-turned-Catholic priest Stuart Long in the 2022 film “Father Stu” marked a “turning point” in his life. It was then that the actor said he realized that he needed “to stop focusing so much on Mark and start doing much more work for God and for less fortunate people.”

Chad Michael Murray, who stars in the upcoming film “Fortress: Sniper’s Eye” with Bruce Willis and Jesse Metcalfe, said he has turned down several roles that he felt weren’t aligned with his Christian values.

“I stick to the things I believe in,” Murray said. “Let’s just say a piece of material were to come across my desk, which has happened plenty of times over the last 22 years, that I don’t necessarily feel is what I believe or what I’m selling — then that’s not for me.”

The “One Tree Hill” alum said spending time in God’s word is an important part of his life.

“I get up every day and I put that spiritual armor on, read the Bible, and do some devotionals and then get ready to go to work,” Murray said.

Hailey Bieber, wife of pop superstar Justin Bieber, said a shared faith in Christ is what keeps their marriage together in a recent YouTube episode of “A Conversation With.”

“They ask me all the time, ‘What would you say is the biggest thing in your relationship? You guys are really happy,’” Bieber said. “And I’m like, ‘It’s our faith.’ It’s what we believe in. If we didn’t have that, we wouldn’t even be here. We wouldn’t even be together.”

In 2019, Bieber said her ultimate purpose in life is to “represent Jesus.”

“Full House” star Candace Cameron Bure has never shied away from sharing her faith in Christ.

“My faith is really the foundation of who I am,” the actress explained to Fox. “It’s so important to me, and it’s always a part of me, whether it’s at home and privately, or when I’m reading the Bible in Bible study. But also at work, and the choices I make within work, and the companies I choose to work with and the projects that I choose to take on.”

“I can always go back to the word of God and find the hope, the encouragement, the positivity, the trust that I know I have in Jesus,” Bure added.

Pratt, like many other celebrities who have been open about their faith, has been subjected to criticism and smear campaigns, but the actor said expressing his beliefs has actually helped him better connect with audiences.

“When stars talk about faith in America it often helps connect them to a wider audience,” he said. “Connectivity is about relatability, and if a celebrity has the same belief system as you, it makes you feel like you know them better and they are like you, have the same values and they understand you. This can help open up millions of new fans and increase your visibility, and therefore your success.”

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