Why Actor Mr. T Shares the Gospel Even When It Offends
By Movieguide® Contributor
Actor Mr. T shared with TBN how faith has shaped his life and why he understands that not everyone will be receptive when he speaks about God.
“I got to have God,” he told TBN. “See, I think about what I’ve been through being in this world and whatnot, if I didn’t have God, I wouldn’t be here. I’d be in prison; I’d be going off on people and stuff like that with people following me and taking pictures of me to get dirt on me.”
“My first instinct, I’m from the hood, I wanna jam you,” he explained. “You think you’re something? I’m gonna show you, you know, I’m gonna crack some heads, you know. And that’s the thing, like my brother taught me, they know I can be tough, but do they know I can be cool.”
Mr. T’s IMDB biography shares that the actor was born in the south side of Chicago as one of 12 children. His father left when he was young, and his mother raised his family on $87 a month.
For Mr. T, the only way to keep himself from retaliating was to stay in the Word and rely on God for strength.
“This here,” Mr. T said, holding up a Bible, “is like medicine. You know how somebody says, ‘Well, he went off, he didn’t take his medicine,’ so if I haven’t been in the Bible, [it’s like I haven’t had my medicine].”
However, staying in the Bible as a celebrity is difficult, especially because society often rejects those who are open about their faith. Rather than shy away from his beliefs, Mr. T embraced Christianity and even savored the moments when his faith offended others.
“I came to Hollywood with Jesus. I’m not gonna disavow Jesus for somebody else’s moment. No. I’m gonna stay with God,” he expressed. “I prayed to God. I’ve been praying to God. I ain’t [going to] stop praying to God. If it’s bothering [somebody] that makes me feel good.”
“My momma said, ‘Son, that’s some kind of power, you can beat a man without touching him.’ And that’s good – you know, can’t nobody sue me,” he joked.
“I know that my mother would be very proud, because I never let fame nor success stop me from being a bold Christian!” he said last year, per Faithwire.
Recognizing his influence, Mr. T vowed to use his fame to spread the gospel. He played certain characters and dressed in ways that made people let down their guard so he could share his faith with them.
Sometimes, this brought people to Christ, but often, people turned away, unwilling to hear about God or the Bible. While disheartening, Mr. T. understands it’s not his business to change hearts or minds.
“My message is not for everyone, it’s not. Many will hear the word, few will head it,” he said to TBN. “I always go back to Noah, God speaking to Noah, only eight people were saved, it was his family. People looked at him and laughed. So everybody’s not gonna get it.”
Movieguide® previously reported:
Despite his fame, best known for his role as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s series THE A-TEAM, Mr. T said that he takes his faith seriously.
Mr. T revealed that his church asked him to preach on Oct. 9.
“Being Invited to Preach at My Own Church Next Sunday October 9. It’s A Great Honor and A Awesome Responsibility. Which I Don’t Take Lightly. God Willing, I’ll plan to do my very Best!” he wrote in a recent tweet.
I Honor All Those who Gave All! Those who Fought, Died and Shed their blood on the Battlefield: I Salute You and Thank You for Your Service! #MemorialDay2023 #thankyouforyourservice pic.twitter.com/JV8QUp9jkj
— Mr. T (@MrT) May 29, 2023
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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.
