Hillsong Church founding pastor Brian Houston praised actor Chris Pratt for his “bold faith in Jesus” as the “Guardians of the Galaxy” star is taking heat for attending a church that is “infamously anti-LGBTQ.”
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The Australia-based church found itself in the limelight after actor Ellen Page, known for her roles in movies like “Juno” and “Inception,” blasted Pratt for his church attendance:
Oh. K. Um. But his church is infamously anti lgbtq so maybe address that too? https://t.co/meg8m69FeF
— Ellen Page (@EllenPage) February 8, 2019
Pratt ultimately responded to Page’s criticism, writing in his Instagram story that he attends a church “that opens their doors to absolutely everyone.”
“My faith is important to me, but no church defines me or my life, and I am not a spokesman for any church or any group of people,” he wrote. “My values define who I am. We need less hate in this world, not more. I am a man who believes that everyone is entitled to love who they want free from the judgment of their fellow man.”
In his post, the 39-year-old celebrity included a reference to John 13:34, which reads, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
Immediately after the backlash ensued, it was falsely reported Pratt attends a Hillsong Church campus, but he does not. Pratt is a member of Zoe Church in Los Angeles, founded by pastor Chad Veach, who used to be on staff at Hillsong.
But since Hillsong Church has been so connected to the controversy, Houston commented on it:
The weird thing about all the media regarding Chris Pratt and Hillsong Church is that it’s built on a falsehood. I am so grateful for Chris’s bold faith in Jesus. But he is not now, and never has been a member of Hillsong Church.
— Brian Houston (@BrianCHouston) February 14, 2019
I am a huge admirer of Chris Pratt’s bold faith in Jesus, but all the media fuss about Chris and Hillsong Church is based on a false narrative. He is not now and never has been a member of Hillsong Church.
— Brian Houston (@BrianCHouston) February 14, 2019
It is completely false that Hillsong Church practise, recommend, or suggest ‘gay conversion therapy’ to anyone. I have always been a vocal opponent in fact. Again, it’s built on a false narrative.
— Brian Houston (@BrianCHouston) February 14, 2019
“Hillsong Church does not preach against anyone or any group; we are not ‘anti-anyone,’” Houston wrote in a statement. “We are an inclusive Christian church that loves, values and welcomes all people, regardless of their background, ethnicity, beliefs, values, or personal identity.”
Houston went on to say his church “adheres to mainstream biblical values shared by the overwhelming majority of evangelical Christian churches around the world, and millions of Christians across the USA.”
“Believing the teachings of the Bible and loving all people — including those who have different perspectives — are not mutually exclusive,” he added. “In fact, this is the very definition of tolerance and inclusiveness.”