When Justin Bieber led thousands in his Spirit-inspired prayer for the Paris attack victims, it wasn’t his only outward expression of his faith.
That same night, Bieber transformed the Staples Center into a megachurch, at least according to the Los Angeles Times.
He credited his connection with God for helping him to get back on his feet after a string of widely publicized tabloid troubles,” the LA Times Mikael Wood writes. “And when a fan in the audience — one of a dozen or so selected by the singer’s team for a question-and-answer session — asked if he had any advice on how to get through a romantic breakup, he demurred, flashing a bit of the humility that every religious leader knows is crucial in establishing a bond with one’s flock.”
The pop sensation appears to be embarking on a spiritual journey that has radically transformed his life.
In 2014, Bieber tested positive for a smattering of drugs and prescription medications. Even major news outlets like ABC tracked the singer’s misdeeds, identifying international locales where Bieber had run-ins with police.
“I was in a weird place and felt it in my soul,” Bieber says of his recent return to Christ. “I was so lost, and I’m like, ‘Let me try to revisit my faith.'”
But in recent months, Bieber’s submitted himself to spiritual authorities and opened up about living with spiritual leaders, and working through his issues with other pastors, including his famed mentor Judah Smith.
Bieber’s return to the spotlight this year is tied significantly with his album “Purpose,” which has been banned in some countries for being “too religious.”
“As transparent an image-rehab attempt as any in pop history, “Purpose” finds the singer apologising for his supposed misdeeds,” Wood writes.
