Joshua Bassett’s Baptism into Christianity Sparks Concern From Fans

Former Disney Channel star and musician Joshua Bassett was baptized this morning at Bethel Church in Redding, California. Bassett’s breakout role in Disney’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series  alongside fellow actress and singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo took him to new heights, but also came with a lot of negative press attention.

It has long been rumored that Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett’s previous relationship and alleged love triangle with fellow ex-Disney actress and musician Sabrina Carpenter was the subject of Rodrigo’s Grammy winning debut album SOUR. The rumors alone sent social media into a frenzy.

Though many jokes at Bassett’s expense were intended to be light-hearted, things quickly took a dark turn. In an appearance on the Zach Sang Show in 2022 ahead of the release of Bassett’s 2021 EP Crisis/Secret/Set Me Free, he revealed that he was receiving death threats, and that his health had taken a turn for the worst amid the stress. Bassett also spoke out regarding surviving sexual assault as a child.

Following the love triangle rumors, Bassett came out as an unlabeled part of the LGBTQ+ community. This is why fans of the singer-songwriter are concerned regarding his sudden change of tune on Christianity, given the religious trauma that can come with several sects of Christianity.

Bethel Church, currently led by Pastor Bill Johnson, is home to a non-denominational branch of Christianity. Unlike other branches of Christianity, including Catholicism, Episcopalianism, and Lutheranism, in which typically only infants are baptized, this branch of the religion allows baptism at any age. Baptism in several sects of Non-Denominational Christianity is often viewed as a once and for all cleansing of sins, and a one-way ticket to salvation.

Bethel Church also supports Conversion Therapy, which seeks to convert people who identify under the LGBTQ+ umbrella to heterosexuality. This is where the concern for Bassett comes in, as some fear that he may have chosen to be baptized under the belief that his sexuality is a sin.

The church rebranded Conversion Therapy to be referred to as “The Transformation Center.” Bethel’s official website states that, “For those who identify as LGBTQ, we want you to experience the love of God and our love expressed in honor, compassion, respect, and safety.”

However, pastors from Bethel have been proponents of the “Once Gay” movement, which centers on people who are perceived as successfully completing conversion therapy. The church allegedly preaches beliefs that are even criticized by other non-denominational and evangelical churches regarding raising the dead. Former church goers on TikTok have come forward with a variety of negative stories.

Others feel that regardless of Bassett’s personal journey, Bassett has now become a beacon of hope for many young LGBTQ+ fans of his music and acting career, and that his choice to join this particular congregation was made in poor taste.

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Some Christian influencers have criticized the concern, believing that Gen Z does not respect Christianity enough and that Bassett simply could have come to the religion on his own.

After discourse about Bethel Church’s politics began trending across the internet this morning when news of Bassett’s baptism broke, Bassett spoke out about his choice of church. He claimed that he was unaware of the church’s controversial history.

This in turn led commenters to question why Bassett didn’t research the church he chose for such an important statement of faith.

Bassett’s religious journey is ongoing, and it remains unclear if he still intends to regularly attend services at Bethel following today’s revelations.

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