Answer: Yes
Disclaimer: It is not our role to determine whether or not somebody is a Christian. We just use our discernment based on the evidence we have found on the internet to come to a likely or best-guess answer. Our answers do not actually determine who is or is not a Christian and it is ultimately between the person and God. Not us.
Victoria Loren Kelly is an American musician, songwriter, and actress born December 14, 1992, in California. The songstress’s inception to stardom was through an acoustic cover of Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin’ Bout You” on her Youtube channel. Her videos were constantly laced with religious elements and in no time ushered her into the spotlight.
The American Soul, R&B, Pop, and Gospel musician has grown steadily in the music industry and has decorated her sleeves with various awards and nominations. She’s a two-time Grammy Award recipient, BET Awards, Billboard Music Awards, GMA Dove Awards, and a host of other awards and nominations.
Married in 2018 to André Murillo, a professional basketball player in Germany, Kelly has fortified her career and diversified into acting and television presenting. In 2016, she voiced Meena in the animated movie, “See” and reprised the role in “The Sequel” in 2021.
Getting signed at twelve years with Geffen Records was not baffling for the Californian who hails from a musical family. Her dad is a singer and bassist, and her mom plays piano and saxophone. No doubt that her breakthrough acoustic cover of Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin’ Bout You” went viral on YouTube with over 23 million streams.
With an unflinching flair for singing contemporary religious songs, Kelly has been on the radar of questions about her Christian status. Hence, this article will scrutinize her music, comments, and media posts to properly answer the question: Is Tori Kelly a Christian?
Is Tori Kelly Religious?
Tori Kelly has not been suppressive concerning her faith. The musical star has in rhetorical ways expressed her religious disposition through songs, social media platforms, and other oratory declarations.
Kelly was part of a song, “Together,” with For King and Country and Kirk Franklin in 2020. She released a gospel album, “Hiding Place,” in 2018.
Kelly told ABC News Radio in a 2018 interview that her faith has been a huge part of who she is right from a very tender age. She said:
“You kind of get to a point where your faith really becomes your own, and it’s not about what your parents say or what they believe. But it’s really like, ‘No, this is real to me.’ I’ve experienced the presence of God and I know that this is my own faith.”
“My faith is everything to me! I did grow up in the church but I think maybe like some other people who grow up in the church you kind of get to a point where your faith really becomes your own and it’s not about what your parents say or what they believe,” She enunciated. “It’s really like, ‘Oh no, this is real to me. I have experienced the presence of God and I know that this is my own faith.”
The lyrics of a song are most times alluded to as being part of a singer. The title of her songs to the lyrics highlights Kelly as religious. Her 2018 released music titled “It Is Well, (Souls Anthem),” featuring Kirk Franklin, is a contemporary adaptation of the song “It Is Well With My Soul“. Not only does the title of the music reflect religion, but the lyrics too. Below is an excerpt from the song:
“This fight I’m in is not of flesh and blood
The weapons that I need are in Your love
Lord, don’t You ever let me go
You make it well with my soul”
Does Tori Kelly Believe in God?
Speaking with YouVersion in 2018 about a featured song, “Together,” with For King and Country and Kirk Franklin, Kelly said her faith has been a “huge part of who I am since I was a kid. Faith became real and personal for me in high school,” she said.
“One day you’re going to grow into your own skin and be the girl that God uniquely made as you. And you don’t have to compare yourself to anybody,” Kelly said at the end of the testimony, in a message to herself and anyone else who might be struggling with finding their true identity. “I didn’t have to change myself; I can just be myself.”
With a broad shoulder, Kelly has affirmed her belief in God. In a 2020 interview with fellow singer and songwriter Ally Brooke as part of Brooke’s podcast, “The Ally Brooke Show” Kelly admits that her belief in God is the sole reason for acting very differently in an industry that is saturated with “sin”. She said:
“But I think what’s helped me kind of stay grounded, if you will, is just knowing that I’m still just Tori. If all of that went away, my identity is in Christ. And my identity is in who God says that I am.”
“It’s easy,” Kelly confessed, “to start believing the hype because we’re the center of attention, in the spotlight, and have fans.”
Is Tori Kelly a Christian?
A Christian is someone that has put faith and trust in Jesus Christ and his work. Jesus Christ is regarded by Christians as the son of God whose supreme act of love by dying on the cross reconciled man with God.
In a 2020 interview with Ally Brooke, Kelly professed her Christian faith:
“It really comes down to knowing what your priorities are … and … knowing that all of this is amazing,” Kelly said, with smiles gushing off her jaw while tracing her growth in the music industry. “What we get to do is amazing, right? And not everyone gets to do this. There’s a very, very small group of people in the world that gets to do what we do. And it’s incredible. And [I’m] so grateful for it. But I think what’s helped me kind of stay grounded, if you will, is just knowing that I’m still just Tori. If all of that went away, my identity is in Christ. And my identity is in who God says that I am.”
Her 2018 album, Hiding Place, derives its inspiration from the book of Psalms 32 in the Bible, which says: “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with songs of deliverance.”
Tori Kelly while commenting on the faith-based themed song said: “That always stuck with me: this idea of God being a place of safety, a place where you can hide from all the crazy things that this world can throw at us. I want people to feel uplifted and encouraged when they listen.
In her perfect rendition of the song, “Sunday” from the 2018 “Hiding Place” album, the gospel singer pinpoints that going to church on Sundays doesn’t make her a saved Christian, rather it’s God’s grace. Below is an excerpt of the song:
“I know they, they don’t see my flaws
Or these hidden scars
And all the mess I’ve made
Oh, so don’t, don’t let Sunday fool ya
Here’s my hallelujah
Every single day, I’m running to Your grace
I’m tired of this dirty heart
That keeps our world apart
I need Your loving fire (need Your loving fire)
And even in these church clothes
I can’t dress up my soul
To be free is my desire”
One attribute of a Christian is regular fellowship with other Christians. Kelly has been spotted attending church services several times. In April 2018, Kelly openly shared her Christian faith at Pastor Greg Laurie’s Harvest Christian Fellowship Church in Riverside, California.
As a gospel musician, Kelly has never been ashamed of her Christian faith and is always willing to share with her fans frequently. She uses many of her social media posts to share Christian messages of faith, love, redemption, and salvation.
Is Tori Kelly Baptized?
Tori Kelly was raised by Christian parents and she developed so much interest in the doctrine of Christianity at a very early age. The Californian singer, songwriter, and actress have attested to be a devoted Christian and as such is believed to be baptized.
What did Tori Kelly say about Jesus?
In an interview with Switch of Life Church late last year, Tori was asked why she preferred singing Christian music over secular music, and her reply was:
“Jesus is number one. There’s that conviction. Certain opportunities will come up and I’ll just have to say no.”
“I can’t rely on these accomplishments, these goals, and these dreams, which are great and good things…But even good things can be idols.”
While recounting her growth and how Jesus played an integral part in her career, the gospel singer hinted: “I was 9 when I started singing in church. So church was always a big part of my life, Jesus was always a big part of my life!”
On several occasions, Tori Kelly through her Twitter account has said so much about Jesus. On December 24, 2009, she tweeted, “Thank you Jesus for coming down to earth. Now we have a reason to live. We have hope. Merry Christmas everyone!” Then tweeted “Jesus, your name is power, breathe of living water, such a marvelous mystery’ (Love this song. Singing it at church this morning)” on August 1, 2010.
Conclusion
Tori Kelly rose to fame at 14 years old because of her YouTube videos. When she became well-known, the singer never hid her Christian faith. Instead, she used her platform to remain grounded in Christ and glorify Him.
Think we were wrong? Write your reasoning in the comments and prove us wrong!