Bieber Blows Off Church
While pop sensation Justin Bieber has developed a close relationship with Pastors Carl Lentz and Judah Smith, the 21-year-old admits he's often rejected his faith and communion with other Christians by going to church, where "weird" people go.
"Christians leave such a bad taste in people's mouths. I was like, 'I'm not gonna go to church.' I had these church friends and I was like, 'You guys are cool, I like you guys, but I'm not going to church,'" Bieber said during a Complex magazine interview published earlier this week.
"Then it was the same thing of, 'Just because you went to a weird church before doesn't mean that this is weird.' It doesn't make you a Christian just by going to church. ... "
"Like I said, you don't need to go to church to be a Christian. If you go to Taco Bell that doesn't make you a taco," continued Bieber, who later emphasized the importance of Christians coming together for praise, worship and support. "I think that going to church is fellowship, it's relationship, it's what we're here on the Earth to do, to have this connection that you feel there's no insecurities. I think that's where we need to be."