Russell Brand’s conversion has been a a struggle to watch where positive developments seem to be matched by concerning actions and statements. While there is evidence of a national revival, of which Brand’s celebrity conversion is a part, not all seeds land in the good soil. Russell Brand recently went viral for his comments on urging the church to adopt new ways of understanding and receiving Scripture at a speaking event.
With our world rapidly changing, we're going to have to learn new ways of understanding Scripture. pic.twitter.com/eflBwtpkzF
— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) January 14, 2025
Now that we are tethered potentially to continual self, we are gonna have to, I believe, learn new ways of understanding scripture and new ways of receiving Him. Because as the word was written in the language of its time, anticipating all time for surely He exists beyond time and beyond space and outside of the senses, the ultimate reality is beyond the conditions of our reality as we appreciate and receive it. We, as inhabitants of this realm, are going to have to learn how to operate within technology. Otherwise, that technology, I reckon it could become pretty luciferian. It could become a kind of false light.
Russell Brand’s comments rightly raise alarm bells as should any novel claims about Christianity. But first, let us consider the best way he could have meant this. Russell Brand could be saying that with the emergence of new technologies and issues facing humanity, the church needs to develop theology to address modern issues. After all, the Nicene Creed emerged as a response to a pressing issue facing the church. With Covid, the emergence of AI, cryptocurrency, and UFOs abounding, the church should be vigilant to show what the Scriptures say about these things.
However, it is severely unlikely that this is what Russell Brand was talking about in the clip that he posted. Instead, it sounds like Brand is saying that the church needs to interpret Scripture in a way that appeals to modern sensibilities so as not to get lost in the times. Other clips from the same speaking engagement talk about how the Church of England presents Jesus as boring.
Russell Brand’s conversion has started to resemble Simon the Magician, in that despite being a new creation (or claiming to be one), he still has his old New Age habits giving him a sense of mysticism. Additionally, new converts should be learning and not teaching.
