Is Chris Pratt a Christian?

Chris Pratt is the most openly Christian A-list actor working in Hollywood today. He has given his faith testimony on national television, prayed publicly at award shows, and built his public persona around his Christian identity. But his church affiliation has drawn controversy, and some of his film choices raise questions worth examining.

GODLY

Chris Pratt

Spiritually Safe

Genuinely and publicly Christian with a consistent faith witness — one of Hollywood's clearest examples of celebrity Christianity.

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A Genuine Public Faith

Chris Pratt's Christianity is not a backstage affair. At the 2018 MTV Movie and TV Awards, he gave an acceptance speech that became widely shared — nine rules of life that included 'God is real,' 'God loves you,' 'Learn to pray,' and 'Nobody is perfect. People will tell you that you are perfect just the way that you are — you are not! You are imperfect.' This was not a performance for a Christian audience — it was delivered at the MTV Awards to a largely secular crowd.

Pratt has spoken on multiple occasions about his faith journey — crediting an encounter with a street preacher in 2013 as a turning point, after which he began attending Zoe Church in Los Angeles. He has given his testimony at churches across the country and invited fans to prayer on social media consistently.

Matthew 10:32 records Jesus saying 'Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.' By this standard, Pratt's public acknowledgment of Christ is genuine and consistent.

The Church Controversy

Pratt has been criticized for his association with Zoe Church, which is loosely associated with Hillsong and has been accused of holding traditional biblical views on sexuality — specifically, that the church does not affirm same-sex relationships. Ellen DeGeneres' public criticism of Pratt in 2019 focused on this association.

From a biblical standpoint, a church that holds traditional views on marriage and sexuality is not 'anti-LGBTQ' — it is holding to historic orthodox Christian teaching. The criticism of Pratt for attending a church that holds biblical positions on sexuality reflects secular cultural values, not Christian ones. Pratt's response to this controversy was measured and gracious.

Film Choices and Public Persona

Pratt's major film roles include Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy (action-adventure, relatively family-friendly), Owen in Jurassic World (family-friendly), and Jack Silva in The Terminal List (2022, significantly more violent and adult). His film choices span a range — he has not pursued explicit sexual roles and his public persona is consistently positive and humor-forward.

His divorce from Anna Faris and subsequent marriage to Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt (a Catholic) received some criticism. Divorce is a complex topic in Christian ethics, and Pratt has not publicly addressed it in theological depth. However, his current marriage appears stable and Schwarzenegger Pratt is a Christian author.

The Bottom Line

1 Timothy 4:12 calls believers to 'set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.' By the standards of a Hollywood A-lister, Pratt sets a genuinely admirable example. He is not perfect — no one is — but his public Christian witness is consistent, courageous, and genuine.

Frequently Asked Questions

What church does Chris Pratt attend?

Pratt attends Zoe Church in Los Angeles, led by pastor Chad Veach. The church is loosely associated with Hillsong and holds traditional evangelical positions on theology and sexuality. It has been the subject of controversy for its biblical stance on same-sex relationships.

What did Chris Pratt say at the MTV Awards?

At the 2018 MTV Movie and TV Awards, Pratt gave a nine-point life rules speech that included 'God is real, God loves you, God wants the best for you,' 'Learn to pray,' and 'You have a soul' — a public declaration of Christian faith to a primarily secular entertainment industry audience.

Is Chris Pratt's Guardians of the Galaxy appropriate for Christians?

The Guardians of the Galaxy films are action-adventure movies appropriate for most families with older children. They contain comic violence, mild language, and some crude humor but are among the more family-friendly Marvel productions. Pratt's Star-Lord is a generally heroic character.

Why was Chris Pratt criticized for his church?

Ellen DeGeneres and others criticized Pratt in 2019 for attending Zoe Church, which holds traditional biblical views that do not affirm same-sex relationships. From a biblical perspective, a church holding orthodox Christian positions on marriage is following Scripture, not expressing hostility.