By Leah MarieAnn Klett, Assistant Editor Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Actor Zachary Levi believes the ancient story of Israel’s most famous king still offers a powerful lens for understanding today’s divided culture, particularly the spiritual forces he warns are often overlooked.

“We are, and have always been, battling principalities and powers,” the 45-year-old “Shazam” star told The Christian Post. “Yes, there’s flesh and blood that’s associated or involved in all of this, but I think that’s part of the problem. We are all being conditioned, actively, not passively, actively conditioned to hate each other.”

The Louisiana-born actor hosts and narrates "David: King of Israel," a four-part docudrama streaming on FOX Nation that explores the life of the biblical king from shepherd boy to giant slayer to ruler of Israel.

The series combines historical commentary, reenactments and narration from Levi to examine the complex life of David, a figure revered in Scripture as “a man after God’s own heart” despite his well-documented moral failures.

According to Levi, who has described himself as “Christian-adjacent,” the ancient biblical narrative remains relevant in a moment when cultural and political divisions appear increasingly sharp.

“We are all being propagandized from all sides to see the other as ‘other’ and dehumanize them,” the actor said. “People start believing the world would be better if the other side just disappeared or agreed with everything they believe.”

But Levi said that viewing the struggle as merely political or social misses a deeper spiritual dimension addressed throughout Scripture.

“We’re being led to believe we’re in some battle with the flesh and the blood sitting across from us at the Thanksgiving table,” he said. “And it’s like, no, no, no. We are battling ideas. We are battling bad ideas. And we need to be able to humanize each other across that table.”

Raised in a Christian household, Levi, who recently starred in the faith-based film “Sarah’s Oil,” said his mother instilled in him the belief that spiritual forces operate beyond what can be seen.

“My mom raised me and my sisters from the beginning, recognizing that there is a spiritual plane,” he said. “Whether people want to admit that or not, there is a realm outside of this physical, tangible world that exists. And in that realm there is light, and there is darkness, and there is a constant battle going on for our souls.”

The actor said, acknowledging that spiritual struggle helps explain the depths of human cruelty seen throughout history and even more recently with the Epstein Files. 

“If you don’t start with at least the premise that there is spiritual battle going on, then it will blow your mind to see the levels of depravity in the human condition,” he said. “But when you look at the Bible or history, you see that this struggle between light and darkness has been going on forever.”

That tension, Levi said, is precisely why the story of David continues to resonate thousands of years later, even for those who aren't believers.

“David’s story is incredible,” he said. “It’s action-packed. There’s drama, intrigue, giants, witches; it’s like Lord of the Rings. It’s epic. … I might sound kind of blasphemous saying this, but the story of David is, in some ways, more relatable than the story of Christ.”

Levi quickly clarified that the life of Jesus remains “the ultimate story” for Christians, but said David’s flaws mirror the moral struggles people face today. Among those failures were David’s adultery with Bathsheba and his orchestration of the death of her husband, Uriah. Yet the king’s repentance and restoration remain central themes in Scripture, said Levi, and in the new series.

“Jesus was perfect. That’s harder for broken human beings to relate to,” he said. “David, on the other hand, is this full human being, a man after God’s own heart who still made some really horrible decisions.”

“He made some truly awful choices,” Levi said. “But he could still find God’s grace and forgiveness and redemption. And that’s much closer to what our own journeys look like. … I never looked at David and thought, ‘What a horrible person.’ I thought, ‘Oh, he’s a person and I’m a person, and I’m supposed to be learning from these stories.’”

For Levi, who welcomed his first child into the world last year, the biblical narrative illustrates a core tension between human nature and spiritual calling. That understanding, he stressed, should also shape how people respond to those who commit wrongdoing.

“The Bible shows these men and women of God failing over and over and over again,” he said. “Not to say they’re bad, but to show that mankind is in a constant battle between the flesh and the spirit.”

He added, “The flesh is capable, in all of us, of doing very depraved things. … We should see the perpetrators of darkness not as the darkness itself, but as people who have become conduits of it, often unwittingly. That doesn’t absolve them of responsibility. But it explains how they can be used by it.”

“If we only see people as evil and nothing else, then we dehumanize them and never give them the opportunity to be redeemed,” he said.

Levi pointed to prison ministries that share the Gospel with violent offenders as examples of how faith can transform lives. At the heart of David’s story, Levi said, is the moment when the king recognizes his own brokenness, repents and returns to God.

“The restorative, redemptive power of those moments shouldn’t shock us,” he said. “For those of us who understand the life-changing power of God’s love, it should inspire us.”

“It’s a story that ends with a man who comes to the end of himself,” Levi added, “and recognizes he can only fall on his face before his Creator.”

Both a Hollywood actor and singer, Levi has received critical acclaim as Chuck Bartowski on the NBC drama "Chuck," voiced a Disney prince in “Tangled” and even played a superhero in the DC and Marvel Universes. 

But despite his success, Levi said he’s guided by three biblical principles he believes lead to a faithful life: humility, gratitude and trust.

“Humility is recognizing that you are not the center of anything. God is the center of everything,” he said. “Gratitude is obvious. And trust is relinquishing control and believing that God knows what’s around the corner even when we don’t.”

The Radical Loveauthor said he hopes the series shows viewers that humanity’s struggles today are not entirely new. Despite that reality, he emphasized the ultimate outcome of the spiritual battle he believes shapes human history.

“May people watch this and say, ‘Oh, that’s right, this is where we come from,’” he said. “We’re still struggling through the same darkness.”

“The light wins,” Levi said. “God wins. We know this to be true. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a cakewalk getting there. … May I reflect God’s love and God’s light in this world,” he said. “And may that power transform the hearts and minds of people. … For years, I’ve felt passionate about wanting to help this world. And wherever God wants to use me, I’ll go.”

Though some have suggested he pursue ministry or even politics, Levi said he’s content allowing God to guide the next chapter of his life. Until then, the actor offered the reminder that every person, not just pastors, can serve as a messenger of faith.

"For years, I've gone to church and I've sat there, and I've had thoughts of God's given me the gifts of charisma and speaking and wisdom and caring about the people that I'm speaking to. And I've asked myself, 'Is that [what I'm] supposed to do?'" he said.

“If God wants me to do something drastically different, He’s going to have to open that door so wide and throw me through it," Levi continued. "We’re all pastors on some level. We’re all teachers and helpers wherever God has us. … And if I can preach God’s love from the pulpit of my career as an actor, then I still get to do that.”

News Source : https://www.christianpost.com/news/zachary-levi-says-spiritual-warfare-still-shapes-the-modern-world.html