Kelsey Grammer has a clear answer for anyone who asks him to deny Jesus Christ: It is not happening.
The Emmy-winning actor best known for playing Frasier Crane spoke candidly about his Christian faith during an interview with Leah Klett, entertainment editor for The Christian Post. As the conversation moved from America’s history to its spiritual future, Grammer expressed confidence that God is at work.
“But if somebody asks me to deny that I believe in Christ, I’m not going to do it,” Grammer said.
The declaration came with a candid admission. Grammer said he does not spend much time in circles where religious expressions fill everyday conversation. Yet when it comes to acknowledging Jesus, he knows where he stands.
He also knows following Christ does not guarantee everyone’s approval.
“There’s bigger things out there than whether or not our neighbor thinks we’re the best guy in town,” he said.
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‘We’re not giving up the fight’
Klett asked Grammer, who starred in “Jesus Revolution,” whether America needs another spiritual awakening like the one portrayed in the film.
His answer carried an encouraging twist.
“I think we are in one,” Grammer said.
He acknowledged the spiritual opposition Christians face while pointing to the power at work against it.
“The enemy is always at work,” he said, adding, “but so is God.”
Grammer spoke of wanting to be part of what God is doing. He followed that thought with a determined declaration: “But the good news is it’s not going away. We’re not giving up the fight.”
That determination also shapes how he handles criticism. Grammer acknowledged how easily concerns about money, advancement and reputation can crowd into a person’s thinking.
“But when we know in our hearts that what we’re doing is good and is focused on the best for all mankind, the arguments don’t hold up,” he said.
Standing for Christ matters more than winning a popularity contest.
“And so we have a lot of things to do and some of them is just to stand up for Jesus,” Grammer said.
Faith, freedom and America’s future
Grammer’s optimism extends to the country he loves. He is helping promote “The America Opus,” a publication celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary through photographs and reflections on its history.
He described the project as a celebration of American accomplishments, with room to acknowledge failures.
“We’re just telling a story of the America we can be proud of,” he said.
What moves him most is the connection between the founding generation’s sacrifices and the freedoms Americans enjoy today.
“They were willing to die for it and they fought for it and they gave it to us,” Grammer said. “They did it for us.”
He believes that inheritance carries a responsibility to preserve freedom for generations still to come. He also argues that the nation must recover its appreciation for the individual.
“They’ve lost sight that the individual is America,” he said.
Grammer sees fear, hatred and political manipulation as recurring struggles throughout the country’s history. Even so, he remains confident America can recover its footing.
“There are always factions that will try to breed hatred for ourselves and for one another in order to gain power,” he said.
He believes the country’s founding framework gives it the ability to correct course through difficult seasons. His hope rests in the endurance of the nation’s best principles and the people willing to uphold them.
“The enduring message about America is that it actually will rise to the best,” Grammer said. “It will find its level.”
And amid the arguments over America’s future, his own commitment is settled: He will stand up for Jesus.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
