Disney star Joshua Bassett of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series was baptized at Bethel Church in Redding, California, on Sunday after recently declaring his faith in Jesus Christ.
Bassett shared a clip of himself on social media explaining why he chose to get baptized.
“Hi, my name is Joshua,” he said in the video while standing on stage at Bethel Church. “And long story short, I grew up Christian, and I ran the other way as far as I could go in pursuit of ‘truth,’ and that only ended in addiction, depression, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, etc. And no other teacher gave me anywhere near the peace that Jesus Christ did. And I’m here to publicly declare him as my Lord and Savior.”
As Christian Headlines previously reported, Bassett posted a tweet on Jan. 5 saying, “Jesus Christ is the only way. His death and resurrection are historically documented. Turn away [from] hate, seek forgiveness and come home to Him.”
According to Church Leaders, Bassett’s baptism at Bethel Church was met with both praise and concern from his followers, particularly in light of his association with Bethel.
“We love you, but please do some research about this church,” one user wrote.
“So happy for you! But always do a little research on the church you’re going and always read the Bible to know if what the pastor preaches goes according [to] the word of God. Love you,” another commented.
On Monday, Bassett issued a statement on Twitter regarding the concerned comments on his video.
“I visited this church and happened to get baptized here – I was unaware of some of their policies and beliefs, and do not endorse all of them. My heart is for Christ and Christ alone,” he wrote.
Bassett is known for his role as Ricky in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series on Disney+. As a singer-songwriter, he released his first single, “Common Sense,” in 2020, followed by another single titled “Lie Lie Lie,” which was featured on his first EP in 2021. At the time, the EP went viral due to rumors about his alleged relationship with fellow High School Musical: The Musical: The Series cast member Olivia Rodrigo. His fourth EP, Different, was released in 2022.
Bassett has also been outspoken about how he was sexually abused as a teen and that he suffers from anxiety and depression. In a video posted to Instagram in 2021, he came out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Related:
Disney Star Joshua Bassett Embraces Christianity: ‘Jesus Christ Is the Only Way’
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Rodin Eckenroth/Stringer
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for Christian Headlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
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