As of December 2025, the hit Netflix series Stranger Things has sold over 3.16 million copies of books, comics, and other publishing projects related to its brand since season 1’s release. With over 1.2 billion total views across its seasons, it’s become one of the most-watched shows in the United States across audiences of all ethnicities, genders, and religions.
While many Christians debate over the content and language of the show, it’s clear that our culture is obsessed with themes that illustrate good and evil. It’s also evident that viewers are hungry to learn more about the actors and their actual lives.
Recently, Caleb McLaughlin, who plays Lucas Sinclair, has hit the headlines. The Stranger Things star recently revealed that he got serious about faith, attending church, and logging off social media so he could grow closer to the Lord. In a world of chaos, his story feels refreshingly ordinary. Not because we need to speculate on his confession, but because genuine faith from public spirituality is rare.
What does authentic faith look like when it’s rooted in community and obedience rather than visibility or platform?
Why Quiet Faith Matters
In one of his most recent interviews with The Christian Post, McLaughlin noted that faith has always been important to him: “I've always felt the connection with God in my spirit from, I can't even remember the day it started.” At just 24 years young, he added that while faith has always been a part of his life, he’s realized that it’s more important to him now.
“It’s just always been a part of me, but it's always been a different level to me [now]. Because I feel like sometimes you live your life, and you kind of like, get into the world a little bit, and then you kind of stop praying sometimes, and you're like, ‘Alright, I'm praying before I go to sleep. All right, great.’ But then you have those moments like, wait, I need to pray and talk to God and ground [myself].”
Like McLaughlin, many of us go to church, delete social media, and ground ourselves. But at the end of the day, it’s God we need more of. Especially growing up in the public view, McLaughlin noted that this acting career is his calling, but integrating his faith into it is something he’s still working at.
“God has called me to do this thing called acting and the performing arts. I never wanted to do it — it just happened. I love it more than anything now.”
Beyond Stranger Things, McLaughlin has been featured in “Concrete Cowboy,” “The Book of Clarence,” and “Shooting Stars.” His most recent film, “GOAT,” is set to release in February. While these films may not explicitly reflect McLaughlin’s commitment to Christ, he does note that his upcoming movies will explore themes of friendship and community that are crucial to our walk with the Lord.
Friends, the faith that forms all of us is formative and not branding. And especially for young believers in public spaces, the pressure is overwhelming. But our job isn’t to judge McLaughlin or those like him. It’s to reflect on why quiet faith matters to us.
Biblical Foundation: Faith That Grows in Secret
In Matthew 6:1-6, we see that faith that grows in secret reaps many benefits. I want to be clear: It’s good and necessary to share our faith with others. We should never be ashamed of the Gospel or make our actions not match our beliefs. Being a follower of Jesus isn’t a secret or something to be ashamed of.
But what I’m getting at is that your personal prayer life and faith are between you and God. Yes, your actions should match your beliefs. Yes, you need to share that faith. But Jesus spent years cultivating His personal and intimate relationship with God before diving into His public ministry at age 30.
Time and time again, Jesus would sneak away for time alone with God. He prioritized communion with His Father, even when it meant going against the grain and what others would comprehend. But His actions weren’t done in self-righteousness or pride. And this is the premise of what the passage in Matthew 6 explains:
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:1-6, NIV).
Faith is both an inward belief and an outward action. What matters is how we portray that in a disconnected and culturally confused world.
The Role of the Church in a Disconnected World
As a whole, the Church’s role is to ground us. And just like with McLaughlin’s story, the goal isn’t to spotlight those who are amazing or failing in the faith. No, we’re called to support one another and lift each other up. But this is why community shapes longevity for faith. Even in a disconnected world, this is our responsibility.
For McLaughlin, he notes that faith in God keeps him grounded in Hollywood. In a sense, we all need that grounding from our own Hollywood moments. But instead of fighting the pressure and temptation of the big screen, maybe we’re fighting pride, arrogance, or how to be kind to those co-workers who really push our buttons. Whatever the challenge is, McLaughlin reminds us that remaining in fellowship with our Creator through prayer, community, and a good church is essential.
“I pray every day and every night. I pray for my family, my friends, and the world. I don’t think about myself when I pray because prayer is needed for all. I grew up in the church. My father is a pastor. [Life] gets more complicated, and that is when your faith is tested. That is why I remain in the spirit. If I operated from the flesh, I’d always be disappointed (Evie Magazine).
Practical Action Steps
Today, your job isn’t to judge if McLaughlin is living out his faith, but to ask yourself if you’re living out yours.
Then, I’d encourage you to examine the motives of your actions. Are you doing them because you want to grow closer to the Lord, or because you want others to see your expressions of faith? These are difficult and humbling questions I’ve had to wrestle with over and over again, but they’re important to our overall spiritual growth and development.
Next, choose to be consistent. Whatever your faith looks like, prioritize spending time with God. Read every morning or evening. Talk to Him on your drive to work. Do what works for you. You’d be surprised how the Lord seeps into everything we do, when we invite and welcome Him in—from casual conversations, to everyday miracles.
Finally, recommit to spiritual habits that draw you closer to Jesus and make you more like Him. While stars like Caleb McLaughlin might inspire us, remember, he and others aren’t our gods. There’s one King on the throne, Jesus Christ, and He deserves our attention, praise, and honor.
A Prayer for Connection in a Disconnected World
Dear Jesus,
Thank you to the actors who point us to you and aren’t afraid to speak out about their faith. These people can inspire us, but they can also let us down. Instead of looking to them for truth and guidance, remind us to look to you. Sink our roots deep in you and your Word. We pray for humility in our faith and long obedience even when that path gets windy. We love, praise, and thank you, Jesus. Use us to show your love to others.
Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images Daniel Boczarski / Stringer
