Celebrities Open up About Their Faith: ‘I Live by Faith in Everything’
By Movieguide® Staff
While faith values are not as appreciated in the entertainment industry as they once were, several actors in Hollywood are not afraid to talk about their relationship with Christ.
Actors like Chris Pratt, Mark Wahlberg, Candace Cameron Bure, and Letitia Wright are vocal about their faith and how it affects their careers.
Movieguide® recently reported on the controversy surrounding Pratt’s recent comments on religion:
Pratt recently came under fire from some Christian communities due to comments the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY actor made about his faith in a recent interview with Men’s Health.
“I didn’t know that I would kind of become the face of religion when really I’m not a religious person. I think there’s a distinction between being religious—adhering to the customs created by man, oftentimes appropriating the awe reserved for who I believe is a very real God—and using it to control people, to take money from people, to abuse children, to steal land, to justify hatred. Whatever it is,” he told Men’s Health. “The evil that’s in the heart of every single man has glommed on to the back of religion and come along for the ride.”
But Pratt put his belief on full display at the MTV Music and TV Awards in 2018, and encouraged others to do the same.
“God is real. God loves, you, God wants the best for you,” he said at the time. “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.
“You always will be. But, there is a powerful force that designed you that way,” he continued. “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.”
Dan Wakeford, an entertainment expert, said that Hollywood stars who talk about their faith connect to a large audience in America.
“When stars talk about faith in America it often helps connect them to a wider audience. 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,” he told Fox News Digital. “This can help open up millions of new fans and increase your visibility and therefore your success.”
Wahlberg, who recently starred as Father Stuart Long in FATHER STU, said that faith is something he actively lives out.
“Having gratitude as a whole is really important, but I think everybody’s having lots of difficulties,” Wahlberg said. “It’s in all those difficulties, when I focused on my faith, I was able to endure, and good things started to happen. Everything seemed to make sense.”
He added: “It certainly made it easier and gave me a lot of comfort. And people have been going through a lot. And I think the thing that people are all experiencing is that they’re reminded, you know, that they need to have faith and hope and that love will endure.”
“God’s not going to give up on you,” the actor added. “Don’t you dare go giving up on yourself.”
Couples Carrie Underwood and Mike Fischer, as well as Alexa and Carlos PenaVega, exhibit their faith through the way they talk about marriage.
Movieguide® recently reported:
Alexa said that she feels that the Lord has equipped her to handle her marriage and other relationships, drawing on principles found in the Bible.
“God has already given us all the tools to be able to handle any relationship and He’s given us a great foundation and how to deal with conflict and how to deal with frustrations. It literally goes down to the basics of the fruits of the Spirit,” she told Movieguide®.
“If I only talk to my husband, on Sundays, our relationship would not exist. I think that’s something to remember [for] people who walk with Jesus, we have to visit Jesus daily, constantly.” The SPY KIDS alum added, “It’s not a relationship unless you’re actually talking and experiencing one another, and it’s the same with God, Jesus, Holy Spirit. We have to be, constantly in a real relationship with them.”
Hailey Baldwin also stated that her Marriage with husband Justin Bieber is grounded in their mutual faith.
“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.”
For Candace Cameron Bure, faith in God has defined the projects she chooses and how she uses her platform.
“My faith is really the foundation of who I am,” the actress explained. “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.”
She added: “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. And so it never fails, even when life doesn’t go the way I want it to or had planned it to. I know that God’s in control of everything.
“I live by faith in everything, in everything that I do, and every aspect of my life. So it’s not just something that I rely on or is a crutch. I mean, it is genuinely who I am. How it helps me? It’s hard to say because it’s just a part of my being.”
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
