DDespite societal pressure to cave in, some celebrities, including Chris Pratt, Candace Cameron Bure and Mark Wahlberg, chose to stand by their beliefs and let their Christian faith guide them when faced with criticism.
Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow said pushback is to be expected “when you stand up for something.” Tebow told Fox News’ One Nation in November that he understands the pressure actor Chris Pratt faces when it comes to speaking openly about his faith.
“IT’S WORTH IT”: TIM TEBOW ABOUT CHRIS PRATT WHO STANDS UP FOR HIS FAITH DESPITE CRITICISM
“I heard Chris. … We’re friends with some of the same people,” Tebow said. “I think if you stand up for something you will be criticized but I believe ultimately if you believe you stand up for what is right and true and try to honor God even if we all fall short come , I still think it’s worthy and worth it.”
Pratt, who has starred in the Jurassic World trilogy and Marvel films, drew attention to his faith when he spoke about it while accepting an award at the 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards, saying, “God is real. God loves you. God wants the best for you. Believe that; I do.”
“Maybe it was hubris on my part to get up on stage and say the things I said,” Pratt said, reflecting on his acceptance speech in an interview with Men’s Health. “I didn’t know I was going to be the face of religion, even though I’m not really a religious person.”
“I think there’s a difference between being religious – adhering to man-made customs, often appropriating the reverence reserved for what I believe to be a very real God – and using it to control people, Taking money from people, abusing children, stealing land, justifying hate,” he continued. “Whatever it is. The evil that is in the heart of every human being has snuck onto the back of religion and taken a ride.”
In 2020, Pratt was at the center of a Hollywood debate over who the film’s “worst Chris” is, prompting his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger and his Marvel co-stars Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo to take to social media to tweet him defend.
“You all, [Chris Pratt] is as solid a man there is. I know him personally and instead of smearing look at how he lives his life,” Ruffalo tweeted.
Pratt hasn’t been shy about sharing pictures of crosses and Bible verses on social media or speaking about God in interviews.
‘FAITH IS SO KEY’: CANDACE CAMERON BURE REFLECTS A ‘HARD YEAR’
Actress Candace Cameron Bure hasn’t been shy about speaking about the impact her faith has on her life, either. In November, Bure said she was thankful for her family, friends and her faith in God as she reflected on a “difficult year” that included “a lot of loss.”
“I’ve had a very difficult year on a personal level, which has really shown me who my real friends are,” Bure told Fox News, describing the fallout of her TV dad Bob Saget’s unexpected death; a fire in her office; and health concerns hit those closest to her. “My belief is so core and fundamental to who I am that sometimes I don’t verbally acknowledge it because it’s just my assumption. It’s like, ‘When you get Candace, you get confidence.’ It’s one and the same. It’s with me all the time. It’s in everything I do.”
Bure faced criticism for her Christian faith and stance on marriage after leaving Hallmark in April, as the network began to adopt pro-LGBT narratives. Since joining Great American Family, a burgeoning cable channel that hopes to produce a healthy alternative to holiday entertainment, she’s been criticized for saying she expects “Great American Family to keep traditional marriage at its core.”
Bure fought back the criticism in an Instagram post, saying, “It breaks my heart that anyone would ever think I was intentionally trying to offend or hurt anyone.”
“I have never been interested in proselytizing through my storytelling, but in celebrating God’s greatness in our lives through the stories I tell. The God we serve is an incredibly creative and loving God. He not only captured a small part of my heart, He captured all of my heart. He will be reflected in everything I do and say. God’s love is in my family, my work, and my interactions with people from all walks of life and God’s compassion first,” Bure wrote.
“IT’S HARD TO FIND HERE”: RECOMMENDED MARK WAHLBERG SHARE HIS BELIEF
Actor Mark Wahlberg has been praised for breaking with the Hollywood mold and speaking out loud about how his belief in God affects his life and encouraging people to “stay praying” in videos posted to Instagram.
“So nice to see you Mark showing your faith and encouraging and supporting people,” @yellowjerinne commented on Instagram.
“Love that too,” @bklyngirl1967 replied. “It’s hard to find these days.”
While others have questioned the integrity of Wahlberg’s beliefs and the adequacy of his earnings.[God’s] Names in vain, F-bomb dropped” on film sets, Instagram user @derytreadway defended Wahlberg, saying, “It’s acting. And that, my dear, stands between Mark and God.”
Raised in public as “Marky Mark” in the 1990s band Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, Wahlberg was a Calvin Klein model before landing acting roles, including the acclaimed 1997 film Boogie Nights.
Wahlberg’s career had its ups and downs as he found himself in the midst of crime as a teenager. In 1988 he was imprisoned for 45 days for racist attacks.
“I’ve never been shy about sharing my past and the bad choices I made and being connected to gangs, being incarcerated,” Wahlberg said, noting that he now shares how his faith helped shape his Changing lives hoping for help Difficult youth. “Definitely, I think they can relate to me humanely and that’s why I keep trying to do as much as I can to help young people.”
ACTOR CHAD MICHAEL MURRAY SAYS HE TURNS OUT ROLES TO KEEP CHRISTIAN FAITH
Christian actor Chad Michael Murray has also made a commitment to be a role model for others.
In May, Murray said he turned down numerous roles to “stick to things” that align with his beliefs.
Actor Chad Michael Murray poses at the premiere of “Outlaws and Angels” during the 2016 Sundance Film Festival on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/`)
Arthur Mola/Arthur Mola/Invision/`
“I’m sticking with what I believe in,” Murray said. “Let’s just say if a piece of material came onto my desk, which has happened a lot over the past 22 years, that I don’t necessarily believe is what I believe or what I’m selling – it’s not for me .”
Murray said his daily devotions and the time he spends reading the Bible help him keep his feet on the ground in Hollywood. The actor has the Bible verse from 1 Timothy 4:12, which encourages “setting an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” pinned on his Twitter profile.
Don’t let anyone put you down just because you’re young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith and your purity.
1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT)
— Chad Michael Murray (@ChadMMurray) September 2, 2021
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“I get up every day and put on this spiritual armor, read the Bible and do some devotions and then get ready to go to work,” Murray said, adding, “I feel stronger and more confident every day when I go on my sets knowing that I have God with me every day. Jesus is with me every day. … When you have that comfort, you just feel safe, you feel different, you have the ability to handle more, your shoulders are bigger, you can carry more weight.
Murray is perhaps best known for his role on the television series One Tree Hill. His latest film, Fortress: Sniper’s Eye, was released on April 29th.
Comments are closed.