Did you know that Hollywood actor Denzel Washington considered becoming a Christian pastor?
According to Faithwire, the A-list actor whose father was a Pentecostal minister thought about preaching despite hating church as a child. Today, Washington has no qualms about his Christian faith. He has been a member of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ for over thirty years and professed that he prays and reads the Bible every day
Washington recalled from his childhood, “Because we had to go to church, I hated it…I rejected it in my early teen years, when you’re working stuff out.” Additionally, due to his father’s pastoral role, Washington was barred from watching most Western films. Thus the only movies from his childhood he remembers are Bible epics such as King of Kings and The Ten Commandments.
Despite his sheltered childhood, Washington has held roles in a dynamic collection of films including American Gangster, The Equalizer, and Training Day.
And of course, he no longer shies away from Christianity, and instead is quick to identify the impact it has had on his life. At a Christian charity event in St. Louis, Missouri, Washington attested, “There’s never been a time where God didn’t direct, protect, and correct me.”
Washington’s career aspirations ranged from studying pre-med, to political science and pre-law, to journalism, before he finally settled on acting. A Christianity Today article reported that Washington “chooses roles that he can bend in the direction of a positive message or a reflection of his deep personal faith.”
“Give thanks for blessings every day. Everyday. Embrace gratitude. Encourage others. It is impossible to be grateful and hateful at the same time,” Washington remarked at a charity event.
What a refreshing message from a man who lives out his Christian faith despite the secular influence of Hollywood.
