Comedian and actor Rob Schneider has described how Jesus took back control of his life in adulthood, explaining how Christ's forgiving embrace of him has reshaped his own approach to forgiveness.
The regular star of Saturday Night Live, who's believed to have converted in 2023, described marrying his Catholic wife as "the greatest thing that ever happened to me", having "strayed" from faith.
“Jesus only lets you stray so much,” Schneider recently told CBN News, reflecting on the faith he's rediscovered from his teenage years. “At a certain point, He grabbed me again and hugged me.”
In November 2023, on his 60th birthday, Schneider apologised in a viral X post for past unforgiveness when it came to how authorities and fellow performers had handled COVID-19, including Bruce Springsteen turning away fans from his concerts who hadn't received a vaccine.
"I offer my apology for my lack of Christ’s forgiveness to my fellow man.
"I was so angry at the people who shut down schools and indeed the world and who coerced others to do things against their will which hurt many people deeply.
"I offer my unconditional forgiveness and amnesty."
When asked about the current conviction with which he holds his faith, Schneider revealed he could never reconcile the atheist position "that human beings are just this freak accident"; instead he's confident that "empathy, compassion and love" lies behind the universe through its creator who is himself love.
It's this centrality of love, says Schneider, that distinguishes Christian faith from any other.
“There are other religions out there that say, ‘Well, kill your enemy; hate your enemy,'” Schneider said. “And we have a religion that says, ‘Love your enemy, love thy neighbour as thyself … love others.’ What a beautiful way to go through life.”
Schneider is currently working on a film about evidence behind the Shroud of Turin, which he describes as the "receipt for what Jesus has done for us."
He explained he felt "inspired" by God to take it on.
“As Jesus does, He’s a little nudge, a little nudge, a little nudge,” likening this to how, for him, Jesus invites all people to come to him and be saved.
“God could put His hand down and make everybody [love Him], but God wants us to come to Him of our own volition. That is the greatest gift.”