These days, it’s rare to find a celebrity in the spotlight that also maintains a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. However, pop star and actress Selena Gomez is changing all of that by steadfastly declaring herself a Christian in front of her fans.
One of Gomez’s most recent displays of devotion happened last year, when she sang at a Hillsong Young and Free concert. It was her first time leading worship, and the experience allowed her to sing her first ever worship song, “Nobody.”
The song focuses on Gomez’s experiences with God, and features memorable lines such as “No one compares, could ever begin/ To love me like you do” and “it’s all because of you, all because of you.”
This experience was truly memorable for Gomez, who praises one of the band’s members, Brooke Fraser, as one of her favorite artists. In fact, Gomez frequently listens to Hillsong music before her concerts, and even unites her team in a prayer circle before taking the stage.
Gomez has stated in the past that her dedication to God stemmed from her troubled childhood. She was born to teenage parents who separated when she was only five years old, which put a lot of burden on her single mother. The family struggled financially, barely scrounging up enough money to fill up the gas tank or afford dinner. In order to get by, her mom had to work three jobs. Things seemed bleak until, by the grace of God, Gomez was able to get a role as Gianna on the show Barney and Friends.
This small part was the start of her rocket to fame. Her career exploded when she earned the role of Alex Russo on the Disney Channel program Wizards of Waverly Place. Money was no longer an issue for the young star; however, she soon began to succumb to the pressures of being in the spotlight. Gomez began to display herself in a more sexual way and started dated the infamously troubled Justin Bieber.
Not long after, she went into rehab for extreme depression and anxiety, choosing to forego the comforts and luxury of a celebrity facility and instead enroll in a Christian-minded center. It’s believed that her time here helped her to refocus on her life as a dedicated follower of God, as she once again entered the spotlight with a reinvigorated outlook in 2015. Her album “Revival” was released on October 9, 2015, which focuses more on the journey she undertook during her personal struggles.
In fact, it’s after this hiatus that she started to display her devotion to God in public. In an Instagram post from April 2015, Gomez uploaded a picture enjoying a grassy backyard with the caption “Our God is so good!” During a performance at the 2016 American Music Awards, where she won the award for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, she whispered the words “thank you, Jesus” in between song lyrics.
Nowadays, Gomez continues to reference God and Jesus on her social media accounts. Her Instagram account includes a quote from Ephesians 2:8, which reads “by grace through faith.” It’s clear that she’s thankful for the opportunities He has presented to her, especially for helping her to overcome her desolate childhood. She frequently attends mass at the Hillsong Church branches throughout the United States and calls herself a “sucker for all of it.”
In fact, she’s been trying to spend more time with her church friends rather than her Hollywood friends, as they are a better influence on her. Currently, she’s living in an Airbnb, and tries to avoid large crowds, opting instead to bond with folks from her parish and different pastors throughout the world. She recently quoted pastor Judah Smith on her Instagram by posting, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.”
In a world of decreasing moral values, it’s nice to know that there’s at least one positive role model out there for the new generation of Christians. While she’s strayed from the righteous path, she’s proven herself more than ever now.
With 117 million followers on Instagram, hopefully Gomez can continue to spread the good word and help some of her fans walk in the path of Jesus Christ.
~ 1776 Christian
