Music star Carrie Underwood and award-winning actor Denzel Washington lead the way for Hollywood celebrities who are devoted Bible readers, according to this week’s issue of celebrity magazine Us Weekly.
Celebrities Joel Madden and Heidi Montag also made it to the list, although the two have no prominent past history of sharing their faith openly and have lifestyles that many might describe as far from biblical. Underwood and Washington, on the other hand, are different cases.
In a poll compiled by BeliefNet.com, Washington, 52, came in as the second ”Most Powerful Christian in Hollywood” after Mel Gibson.
He also played the voice of Solomon in the audio Bible "Inspired by: The Bible Experience."
"I read the Bible every day," the married father of four said in a new interview with Reader's Digest. "I'm in my second pass-through now. It's better the second time around."
Similar remarks were made by country singer and American Idol star Underwood, who has often expressed her faith through her music, such as hit single “Jesus Take the Wheel.”
"I keep it on the bus," the 24-year-old songstress said, according to Us Weekly. "It's always there."
Meanwhile, Montag of the MTV reality TV series “The Hills” says she owes all her success to her faith.
"I'm reading the Bible beginning to end," Montag, 21, said. "I'm very religious. That's how I've gotten to where I am."
In Madden’s remarks, the 28-year-old frontman for rockband Good Charlotte said, "I read the Bible a lot."
"I'm a pretty conservative guy in the way I live," claimed Madden, who has a tattoo of Jesus on his arm and is expecting a baby with girlfriend Nicole Richie.
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I for one like hearing about celebrities that read the Bible! It is by no means a popular thing to do in Hollywood. Who are you all to question whether he's a Christian or not? That's between him and God. Let's let the living Word of God work in him and through him.
I will go so far as saying studing the Bible doesnt make you a Christian. They only way to become a Christian is to turn from their sins, repent and trust in Christ.
If you asked these people (stars) if they are a good peoson they would probably say ya. What they don't realize is that they are horible, disgustind siners (as we all were/ are without Christ).
This is why Christians need to be out sharing their faith
God bless,
Anthony
www.bellybutton88.blogspot.com
I've read the Lord of The Rings Trilogy from beginning to end. It doesn't make me a Hobbit.
Besides, reading wont get you anywhere. Studying will...and doing will get you even further (farther?). "Do not be only hearers of the Word, but also doers of the Word....."
"I'm reading the Bible beginning to end," Montag, 21, said. "I'm very religious. That's how I've gotten to where I am."
It was great, until the "I'm very religious" part. Through personal experience most people who label themselves as religious are usually the ones who attend church once or twice and year and maybe pick up a Bible from time to time. Some go further and know the basic stories of the Bible, but end up generally gaining their "own faith" (aka their own version of the Bible) and screw everything up.
I'm not one to stereotype, but I can make logical conclusions and to me it seems that there's been a very large fad with being religious lately (especially with Clinton attending that church) and this is just Hollywood following along.
truthandjustice
you're in the wrong site. this isnt about christian movies...its about actors using God to promote their popularity.
We complain all the time about there being a lack of Christianity in films, but there is a movie is in theaters right now (Bella) that was advertised on Christian Post - how many people here have seen that movie? It is one thing to complain, it is another to take action and endorse good films.
Everyone wants to be a Christian when it's poplular or it will suit their agenda, but when the persecution begins, they'll be the first to blubber and cry and say "Hey, fellas...i was just joshin'! I'm not really one of those wackos"
Kinda like William Clinton..."I did not have sex with that woman..." but he still considers himself a Christian.....VERY liberal. People toss around that (Christian) label like a sick wino tossing his cookies, and people wonder why Christianity holds no more credibility than one too.
then they are not truly "conservative Christians"...they are mislead Christians (aka...Liberal Christians)
'I've never known a true conservative Christian who condones sex outside the bond of marriage.'
Not one over the age of 50 anyway. Before you start flogging me let me be clear... 'Conservative' Christians are just as carefree about sex as pagans. Most people who claim they do not have sex outside marriage are married and are not single, and there are those who are single and do not engage in sex, however, more do then do not, it is mostly lip service.
Do I condone it? No I do not, but it does happen for more often then people like to admit.
Oh my word!
Joel Madden...""I'm a pretty conservative guy in the way I live," claimed Madden, who has a tattoo of Jesus on his arm and is expecting a baby with girlfriend Nicole Richie."
Expecting a baby with his (unwed) girlfriend? And he calls himself "pretty conservative"? I think he's getting "liberal" and "conservative" confused here. I've never known a true conservative Christian who condones sex outside the bond of marriage.
I love Denzel. Especially after his movie "Training Day". Very Christian like with all the violence and cursing. You've got to love Christians like that! They say they are a Christian and then do movies about murder, rape, adultery, cursing, etc, etc. Christians already have a bad enough name in their own right without "Christian" Hollywood adding garbage to the pile. A Christian is a person who is one in deed...not in word alone. All his talk on faith and God is drowned out by his deeds (i.e. movies of ill-repute). So far, denzel hasn't shown me a Christian example. I suppose that "John Q" would be the closest I've seen to anything remotely good from him.
I'd like to see him do a movie from that Christian group that did "Facing The Giants". But , then again, there's no real money in it, so why bother? It's all about the money, not scruples.
I think that maybe there should be an amendment about the separation of church and hollywood.
there was nothing wrong with that comment... If you would like to see what I said and not have it censured by people that cant stand the truth go to www.bellybutton88.blogspot.com I have created a post for this topic.. all are welcome to leave your comments... even if you disagree with me!
God bless,
Anthony
www.bellybutton88.blogspot.com
faithcomesbyhearing, "Some of these Hollywood stars are role models for others, and might spur others to begin to read or listen to His Word" I understand that but if they are looking at the Bible as a way to be cool like the Hollywood stars and not reading it because it is the 100% true and innerrant word of God the scripture can be taken and twisted and thats not good. Someone reading a Bibile isnt always a good thing, sometimes they use it to build an attack on Christianity or twist it into a totaly different and wrong idea (ie Brian McClaren and other emergents that have twisted scripture beyond all recognisability). Agian I am not saying that these people are wrong for reading the Bible I am however, angered at the US weekly article because it makes it look like if you read your Bible your ok. FALSE!!! if you don't repent and put your faith in Christ you can read the Bible all you want and your still going to hell (and contrary to Doug Pagitt hell is a verry real place)
God bless,
Anthony
www.bellybutton88.blogspot.com
It's so easy to judge another person. It's also destructive when you don't know everything but God does. I'm really encouraged to hear that despite just talking about their faiths in an article here and there, some of them are doing something. I haven't heard all of The Bible Experience with Denzel Washington but from what I've heard of it, I really think it's an awesome project. That's another great audiobible besides the ones that come from Faith Comes By Hearing. The Bible Experience uses the TNIV.
We shouldn't be bashing others for reading the Word, when nearly 65% of all Bible readers have never read the entire New Testament. Thank God for His Word. It has the power to change the hearts and lives of many. Some of these Hollywood stars are role models for others, and might spur others to begin to read or listen to His Word. Since most of us say we don't have time to read the Bible, then there are other solutions, like downloading a free Audio Bible. I got mine at FaithComesByHearing.com or you can find it on iTunes.
Listen up guys! Stop bible quoting because you are essentially being argumentative and counterproductive to the will of the Holy Spirit. Given the influence that hollywood has on the lives of millions of people, we need to SUPPORT any indications that the Holy Spirit of God is growing in it's presence even in Hollywood (the last place on earth that you might think that this kind of miracle could happen). Encourage those who would be first to blaze the path for Christ in Hollywood - let them know that they have our prayers and support! All of sinned and fall short...and are a work in progress...let's be careful not to cast any stones on our imperfect brothers and sisters in Christ, but encourage them all the more as we see the day approaching...
1st...I here reading the bible but what about the "Word' in motion? Where is the salvation and if we are believers it is our reasonable service to show God in all we do. I pray that their faith increases. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the Word of God.
James 1:22 (King James Version)
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
2nd... When we state that we as believers read the bible but live contrary to the bible are we really believers or "carnal Christians". Carnality is an emnity against God
Romans 8:7 (kjv)
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
James 1:22-25 (New International Version)
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
I hope you do not misunderstand me, I in no way am condeming them but what frustraights me is that US weekly has published this and it makes it out to be ok to do all the forementioned things they are doing. thats what bothers me not the fact that they say they are reading the bible.
God bless,
Anthony
www.bellybutton88.blogspot.com
God has us all in different places. I am thankful that He has revealed the truth of the gospel to you and me. I agree reading the Bible doesn't make one a Christian. However, I am hopeful that through their reading God will reveal his grace to them. We have all been at places where we have been ignorant of God's ways, both as believer and non-believers. Yet God showed much mercy to each of us. Instead of condemning them for their ignorance, we need to be praying that God's grace woud be revealed in their lives.
mcfbc, the post doesnt say they are seeking, it says they found God. I can understand if the two came out saying 'the lifestyle I am living has been wrong and I repent and put my faith in Christ' instead they just claim they believe and read the bible. Remember James 2:19(paraphrase) You believe in God, good. Even the demons believe and trembile.
and according to scripture (matthew 3 I believe) when Satan tempts Christ HE USES SCRIPTURE which means he must have read it.
just because I read a book about plants doesnt make me a tree so just because they read the Bible it doesn't make them a Christian!
God bless,
Anthony
www.bellybutton88.blogspot.com
I am excited to read that Montag and Madden are seeking God. I am also thankful that they are in God's hands and not in the hands of so many moralists that post here. I am praying that wherever they are in their relationship with God He will honor their searching and draw them closer to Him. I will also pray that we as Christians will be less condemning and more excited when we read about people seeking truth.
I think this made Christianity worse in peoples eyes. Underwood and Washington have lives that somewhat follow the faith (I am not judging their Christianity) but the other two: Montag, who openly sleeps with her boyfriend, gets trashed at clubs and Madden who, is having a baby with his girlfriend which is fornication (not repentent might I add). I like how the article comes from the highly thological US weekly. This is annoying
Anthony
www.bellybutton88.blogspot.com