Chris Pratt took over the world of Hollywood after the premiere of "Jurassic World" on June 12. In the words of Jacob Hall of the New York Daily News, "It's sort of unfair that 'Jurassic World', the fourth film in the series, must live in the shadow of Steven Spielberg's classic original." Jurassic fans were pleasantly surprised when the movie exceeded their expectations on the new rendition of the film. Even more intriguing than Pratt's role of Owen, Velociraptor trainer and undeniable hero of "Jurassic World," is his love for Jesus.
Hollywood can be a scary place for Christians, and an immensely difficult place for Christ-followers to build a career. We have seen stars, like Katy Perry, get so caught up in fame that they forget who gifted them with it. But never fear, Pratt is here to remind us that being a Christian surrounded by the lusts and downfalls of fame is possible, indeed.
After "Jurassic World" swept the box office by storm, an article about Pratt's faith resurfaced. When his son, Jack, was born premature by two months, he credited Jack's life to praying to God. He and his wife, Anna Farris, turned to God during this hard time in their lives. Chris Pratt is remarkably open and humble about his encounter with the Lord. And admittedly, Pratt has played some pretty cheeky roles, but it's all about the character, and no one is perfect. He is not a cookie cutter Christian; he is honest about the relationship he and his family share with God, and it's refreshing to see something so real in Hollywood.
How are we, as Christians, supposed to uphold our relationship with Christ when the movies, television shows, and music we listen to are constantly teaching us otherwise? The influence of celebrities is greatly underestimated. It is possible for fame to be used in a way that benefits society. Fans look up to celebrities, and even if people don't like a celebrity they still look into their lives on the covers of tabloids. What if magazine covers were filled with stars professing their faith with testimonies rather than the exploitation of their lives? What a different life it would be if that was the center of our attention rather than Kourtney and Scott's breakup (as devastating as that is).
Sometimes, a celebrity's faith can seem like a superficial move to gain publicity. You've probably heard Shia LaBoeuf's declaration of belief after filming "Fury." To prepare for the filming of this movie, LaBoeuf did some pretty crazy things, which he confessed to Dazed & Confused magazine. He stated, "David (Ayer, director) told us right from the gate: ‘I need you to give me everything.’ So the day after I got the job, I joined the US National Guard. I was baptized -- accepted Christ in my heart -- tattooed my surrender and became a chaplain’s assistant to Captain Yates for the 41st Infantry. I spent a month living on a forward operating base. Then I linked up with my cast and went to Fort Irwin. I pulled my tooth out, knifed my face up and spent days watching horses die. I didn’t bathe for four months."
So you see how LaBoeuf's proclamation is rather questionable, especially considering this is not the only case of reckless devotion to his roles. Only God knows whether he is speaking those words with a genuine heart or not, and who are we to judge? It is likely that LaBoeuf is method acting, but anyhow he is setting a confusing example for those who are not followers.
Christians who don't quite have their feet stable in their faith need a more solid approach to their relationship with the Lord. Celebrities who use their status to the best of their ability by chasing a stronger bond with God through their fame are the ones we, as Christians, should be giving the attention to. We should know that Pratt could be persecuted in Hollywood for his beliefs, but that makes him a stronger witness by speaking the truth about the importance of God in his life.
Another factor that Pratt shows is that he is a family man. If you follow his social media accounts, you know how unconditional his love is for his wife and son. His son did, after all, redefine his relationship with God. Families like this one are rarely spotted anymore. The mere thought that people actually bet on how long Kim Kardashian's marriage would last terrifies me. Society's definition of marriage has definitely warped into something that it wasn't meant to be, and that is partly because those we have chosen as role models are a poor example. And while Farris and Pratt have been married for just six years, Pratt's devotion to his family is evident.
It's encouraging for Christians to hear about actors like Chris Pratt, and his straightforwardness could very well spark the idea for other stars to share their faith as well. People like Chris Pratt let the world know that it is okay to be a Christian in today's world, no matter how scary it is. Hollywood can seem like a foreign place to believers, but leaders like Pratt are working to bring a little Jesus to the red carpet.
Chris Pratt is hilarious, heroic, and handsome and I sincerely hope that he is the kind of man young girls decide to swoon over and little boys look up to. What could be a better profession of faith than a guy like this?
