Several months ago, famous actor and celebrity Russell Brand made the monumental decision to give his life to Christ. As Brand is discovering, the path of faith is not always an upward trajectory where Christians experience a variety of seasons, enduring valleys and peaks in their walk with Christ. Brand shared the video message via Instagram, where he wrote, “I’ve been a Christian for 3 months, and this is what I’m feeling…”
Brand illustrated a common feeling that Christians experience from time to time, where they don’t feel as close of a connection to Christ as they once did. “I’ve been a Christian now for three months, sometimes I find it quite difficult. What I mean by that is I feel like Christ is far away. I don’t feel like the intimate connection with Christ,” he said.
Brand recited a verse from chapter three of the Book of Corinthians, where Paul rebuked the inhabitants of Corinth for their sinful, worldly nature, highlighting their “infancy in Christ.” He pointed out that they were still “controlled by their sinful nature,” living as “people of the world.”
“Today, I’ve decided to read this from Corinthians. It’s Corinthians, chapter one, verse three. It’s a letter, and what I like about it is how Paul writes to the Corinthians like their right bloody idiots. Have a listen, dear brothers and sisters. “When I was with you, I couldn’t talk to you as I would spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world, as though you were infants in Christ. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger, and you still aren’t ready. For you’re still controlled by your sinful nature. You’re jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?”
Brand further noted a church sermon he had just heard that discussed how, even when God doesn’t feel close, he is always there, working his divine will. The actor pointed out how it is important how one responds to this feeling. Do we revert back to temporary, secular offerings to make us feel better? Or do we remain steadfast in our devotion and pursuit of Christ?
“I heard yesterday in church that even when I can’t feel God, God is working on me. God is working me into the shape that he needs me to be in. What I wanted to ask you today is how you cope when you feel that you’re not close to Christ. Surely, there’s more to this than just feeling okay.
He continued, “You know, if you want to feel okay, drink a bunch or take a bunch of drugs or eat a load of candy for temporarily, at least that will offer you some sort of salve, or at least distraction. Thanks for joining me. Let me know what you think about that letter, and let me know what you do when you feel suddenly remote.”
Watch Brand below:
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Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.