Justin Bieber, 21-year-old pop superstar, songwriter and model, recently opened up about his past troubles and his renewed Christian faith, which he said has motivated him to "live like Jesus."
In a lengthy interview to Complex magazine, the "What Do You Mean" singer candidly discussed his past days of hard partying and legal woes.
"I could say it over and over again, I'm changing and doing this with my life" Bieber said. However, he acknowledged that people will likely not believe him until they "start seeing something tangible."
While admitting he has a long way to go, Bieber, who has been known to spend time with Carl Lentz, Hillsong NYC co-pastor and worship leader Joel Houston, City Church Pastor Judah Smith, and other influential young Christian leaders, said he has already changed significantly due to his Christian faith.
"At this point, my faith has gotten me to where I am," the singer asserted. "My faith has brought me to a whole other level. I love talking about my faith. I think that with Christians, they've left such a bad taste in people's mouths. Just like, overly pushy with the subject, overly churchy and religious ... You ever flicked on a channel and a late-night church show is on? Sometimes it's like, 'You better do this or you gon' die and you gon' burn in hell!' And you're like, I don't want anything to do with this. I'm the same way. I'm not religious. I, personally, love Jesus and that was my salvation. I want to share what I'm going through and what I'm feeling and I think it shouldn't be ostracized."
The Canadian popstar emphasized that more than anything, he wants to "live like Jesus."
"Not be Jesus-I could never-I don't want that to come across weird," he clarified. "He created a pretty awesome template of how to love people and how to be gracious and kind. If you believe it, he died for our sins. Sometimes when I don't feel like doing something, but I know it's right, I remember, I'm pretty sure Jesus didn't feel like going to the cross and dying so that we don't have to feel what we should have to feel ... We have the greatest healer of all and his name is Jesus Christ. And he really heals. This is it. It's time that we all share our voice. Whatever you believe. Share it. I'm at a point where I'm not going to hold this in."
As reported by the Gospel Herald, Bieber was baptized by Lentz last year and often worships at Hillsong NYC, even attending the Pentecostal church's annual conference in Sydney Australia in July.
The singer explained his, at times, conflicted relationship with the Church, telling Complex, it's "fellowship, it's relationship" but adding, "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."
He added, "That's the whole thing with religion that's been throwing off the people. It's not a 'have to.' It should be just like a personal relationship. Like, 'Hey, I love you because you first loved me.' If we can understand that we're all imperfect, let's come to God and come for his help. You're not weak by doing that."
Bieber's latest Kanye West-assisted LP is out November 13th.
