Chris Pratt took to Instagram yesterday to defend his church against anti-LGBTQ accusations.
Pratt is currently believed to be a member of Zoe Church, an offshoot of the more well known Hillsong, though he has been commonly spotted at the latter as well. Both are megachurch hotspots among Christian celebrities in Los Angeles, most famously Justin Bieber.
“It has recently been suggested that I belong to a church which ‘hates a certain group of people’ and is ‘infamously anti-LGBTQ,’” Pratt posted on his Instagram story. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”
He’s referring to Ellen Page’s criticism of Stephen Colbert for letting Pratt speak about his church and faith on The Late Show the other night without noting that the actor’s church has an anti-LGBTQ past.
Hillsong’s “celebrity pastor” Carl Lentz gave an interview to GQ in 2015 saying that he believes homosexuality is a sin and would not allow gay people to hold positions of leadership in his church. The church’s global pastor, Brian Houston, shares his sentiments. It’s also worth noting that Hillsong has a “history of sexual abuse and conversion therapy.”
While Zoe Church and Hillsong are not one in the same, Veach has reportedly preached at Hillsong in the past, and is close with celebrity attendees of both congregations. He’s previously stated that he modeled Zoe after its predecessor, and to be able to teach at Hillsong from time to time, it is likely Veach has had to discuss shared “statements of faith” to make sure his teachings and Hillsong’s are aligned.
But Pratt insists: “I go to a church that opens their doors to absolutely everyone. Despite what the Bible says about divorce my church community was there for me every step of the way, never judging, just gracefully accompanying me on my walk.”
“It is what I have seen them do for others on countless occasions regardless of sexual orientation, race or gender.”
Many modern and traditional churches alike blatantly ignore the Bible’s stance on divorce (aka that it’s a sin except in very specific cases, and that remarriage is a form of consistent adultery). Many wave it away as a temporary sin, no different than any other, that one can repent for and be done with it — a consideration that is not granted anyone actively pursuing same-sex relationships.
(There’s an argument to be made that this modern view on divorce has to do with how many church leaders end up getting divorced. And, you know, super-Christian, anti-LGBTQ politicians.)
In Page’s follow up tweets about Pratt’s Late Show interview, she says that “if LGBTQ+ people are expressing their pain, their trauma, their experiences…maybe just try and listen? Open your heart, stop being defensive and have compassion.”
Her comment was directed at fans defending Pratt, who had not yet made his Instagram post at that point, but it would likely still apply.
As much as Pratt would like to defend his church, simply allowing LGBTQ people to attend, while still holding the view that they are sinning by being who they are, by believing that is an unarguable truth of the Bible, does damage to LGBTQ individuals. It promotes a culture that is still biased against the LGBTQ community.
After all, when you don't have true acceptance, you have people such as this Hillsong attendee, who says of her gay friends, "My expectation is that God will change how they are."
You can read Pratt's full Instagram post below.
