How Reading the Bible Changed This Actor’s Life
By Movieguide® Contributor
Russell Brand explained how reading the Bible caused him to see what was wrong with his life and understand how a life with Jesus would fill the hole in his soul.
“One of the things I understood is that I always had Jesus Christ at an arm’s length because of the Holy Man, Holy God dynamic,” Brand told George Jenko. “I thought, I can’t surrender to some man even if that man is also God because my whole life has been don’t tell me what to do; I don’t trust authority, I don’t trust anybody. These were the early lessons of my life.”
Brand’s understanding of Christianity, however, was changed when he read the Bible. Not only did he come to understand that Jesus was different than Brand’s perception of Him, but he also found inspiration through Paul’s dramatic conversion.
“The book of Acts and then, you know, the subsequent letters blew my mind. It’s blown my mind because of the character of Paul — he’s just a human being like me,” Brand said. “So I’ve gone from thinking I’m Jesus to recognizing I need Jesus to wanting to be like Paul, wanting to, like, live for this thing.”
“You need a revolution to live for it,” he continued. “[And live] for Christianity not so I can fit in with the world but so that I can become who I am in relationship with Him that we might change the world together with humility.”
As with every Christian, Brand continues to struggle with his sinful nature and has to continually fight not to fall into his old habits. Given Brand’s past, some might think that means he is struggling to stay sober, however, the biggest problem for him is humility and not placing himself above those around him. Brand sees Satan in this act and is continually falling at the feet of Jesus, begging for a humble heart.
“I do set myself up as a higher tribunal. I do occasionally reposition myself at the head of the order. I continually do it,” Brand said. “That seems to be the tension and dynamic that defines my life of surrender to God.”
“I read the other day, Luke 10:18 that ‘I [Jesus] was there when Satan was cast out of heaven like lightning. I’ve given you the gift now’ — I’m paraphrasing — ‘to walk among scorpions and snakes and cast out demons in my name but remember it’s because your name is written in heaven,’” he continued. “When I read that there was so much that struck me hard.”
“One, the casting of Satan out because I understand Satan to be the kind of principles, as it were, the archetype of setting myself up as God, that Satan wants his own principality. That’s me when I’m in sin,” Brand added. “I’m trying to set up my own circuitry and my own energy systems, I’m going to defibrillate myself into life. I can use pleasure. I can use all of these things, find different ways to create my own dominion. I understand the satanic aspect of that now.”
The actor frequently takes to Instagram to share spiritual lessons God has been teaching him. Earlier this week, he reflected on Hebrews 12:14, explaining that, while the world is chaotic, God gives us a “guidebook” in the Bible.
“There is a guidebook, and it’s very reliable, and it’s crystal clear. We should be getting to the true nature of God, which is love…and whenever I find…I’ve been captured again by selfishness or fear of hate, there is clear guidance available,” he said of reading God’s word.
Brand’s conversion to Christianity has been amazing as he realizes his sins and wholeheartedly throws himself in front of the Lord to be saved. He has found the peace and fulfillment that he had been chasing for decades through debauchery. Now, he is preaching the word to millions and helping them understand why Jesus is Lord.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Russell Brand knows the importance of surrendering your life to Jesus. In a recent discussion with Neil Oliver posted to X, the actor shared his heart on the matter.
“In surrendering to Christ, there is something extraordinary about saying there is this man, another man, entirely God, entirely man. But through some necessary, extraordinary, metaphysical act just beyond the edge of rational understanding came the Creator of this simulation came into the simulation and told us ‘Hello, I am God. I’ve come here. Here are some virtues and values.’”
Brand continued by sharing a lesson he learned from Christian author C.S. Lewis.
“C.S. Lewis talks about the ‘stoics era’…to imagine that one might be able to do always what one can do sometimes. You know, there are times where it’s like…‘I am not in the business of Russell Brand anymore. I am in the business of service. Serve Jesus Christ. And it’s such a powerful idea that I’m held alive by it. But surely, this parasite nature grips me again, and I return to egotism. I return to wanting and longing and fear. And all of those limiting things.”
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