Why This Actor Loves Being a Born-Again Christian
By Movieguide® Contributor
Russell Brand explained why being a born-again Christian is infinitely better than being a man living by his own power.
“It is very difficult to accept and embrace the peace that surpasses all understanding,” Brand said. “To know that within you always has been a connection that will guide you. It’s easy instead, to begin to rely on self, limited self. What an opportunity it is to be reborn, what a glorious gift it is to be reborn in Him. To know that in His eyes we are all redeemed and forgiven, that we are all equal, that we are all His children, that we can all be saved together and pursue our new purpose of service.”
After decades of debauchery early on in his career, Brand began to look for a higher power to find his purpose. He spent years exploring faith and eventually fell into a belief that was a conglomerate of many forms of religion. However, even as he found meaning in this life, Brand felt his heart being tugged towards Jesus.
In April of this year, Jesus’ call became overwhelming, and Brand got baptized, committing his life to the Lord. Shortly after, he began to shed his antibiblical beliefs and live in accordance with God’s word.
In the months since his conversion, Brand has come to see what his life was missing before he devoted himself to the Lord.
“I love the simplicity of the idea of God coming to Earth as a man to experience what it is to be human and to sacrifice himself because that is the only sacrifice that could bring us home, that could give us the opportunity for redemption,” Brand said in May.
“I like the idea, when I am in prayer and in communion just alone, that there is a figure available — wounded and coronated — available to me,” he added. “In my failings, in my failures and in my fallibility, there is strength to be broken. Not just broken by life in the sense, it is rearing and exhausting, but to be broken in the same way that you have to train an animal to behave itself, to be broken into better conduct. It is a beautiful journey to go on.”
Brand has since used his platform to share his life’s transformation and encourage his fans to find their strength and their purpose in the Lord.
Movieguide® previously reported:
In a new interview with Dave Rubin, Brand first discussed his journey to the Lord.
“Since becoming Christian, I am learning in my choices to recognize that, as Rick Warren, says, ‘It’s not about you,’” he began. “I’m reminded that if my aim is self-fulfillment and if I am the center of my universe, then I am probably going in the wrong direction.”
Brand then talked about some of the pushback he has received since announcing his conversion to Christianity.
“Obviously, the choice I’ve made is because I believe it to be the right choice,” he continued. “It’s something that I’ve deliberated over, and actually curiously, it wasn’t just a choice that I actually made. It was a series of things that unfolded. I was reading about Christianity, I was learning about Christianity, and something really hit me in my heart hard.”
“It has to do with humility. It has to do with loss. It has to do with suffering,” Brand added. “But I don’t automatically assume that because I’ve become Christian everyone that’s interested in my content should immediately become Christian. I’ve just done what I believe to be right.”
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