Popular actor, comedian, and podcast host Russell Brand, who has become a very outspoken Christian, has issued a response to those who criticized him for sporting only his underwear while helping to baptize believers in the name of the Lord. And he did so with humility, showcasing more fruit of the Holy Spirit working in his life, opting to wear what he called more “modest clothing” while doing another baptism. Watching Jesus take someone with such a big platform and transform their life before your very eyes is such a beautiful thing. I hope more and more people, with platforms or without, also come to know the Lord and we can watch this happen over and over again.
Brand, according to The Christian Tribune, got on social media over the weekend and said, “Another day, another baptism. This time in a pool and in more modest bathing attire. By His Grace we’ll soon be doing them in the Jordan in Camel skins shorts.” Obviously, this was just a playful joke. In follow-up posts, Brand stated that he’s focusing his life right now on sharing the gospel and bringing other people to Jesus. “I’m reminded that at all times, there is only an audience of one — Jesus,” followed by, “As long as I know that I’m in relationship with Him, criticism doesn’t matter.”
Brand was called out on social media after uploading a photo of himself baptizing an individual in a river while wearing white underwear. Users on social media claimed the move was indecent and detracting from the baptismal experience. One person commented on Brand’s post, “Come on.. why is it the one who’s being baptised be the one with shirts on while both of you naked.” Another echoed this sentiment, stating, “Everything that is done in Jesus name is supposed to be done decent and in order that is the word of God . Him in his underwear showing off his body parts is not decent. I pray he gets closer to the father.”
“I suppose looking at it now, it does look a bit immodest, me doing a baptism in underpants like that. But the truth is, I took off my clothes and my underpants is all I’m wearing underneath my clothes,” Brand stated in a video shared to social media after he received the criticism. “That’s what I’m wearing right now. It wasn’t a planned photo shoot. Some of my mates took photos for their friend, actually. Evan was getting baptized.”
The podcast host then recited a passage of Scripture from the book of Phillippians that says, “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.”
“And I think that is so beautiful because, you know, I’m a person that’s come out of the entertainment industry,” Brand explained further. “I’m so grateful I’ve been saved, chosen, that He has found me.” the movie star then further acknowledged, “But I’ve still got the attributes of a showoff. I suppose if I didn’t have, I wouldn’t even post a thing like that. But the reason I’m in them underpants, cause them’s my underpants, and the reason I’m doing that baptism — because I love Jesus. Praise Jesus Christ!”
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