• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

  • CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.

Justin Bieber’s pastor Judah Smith asked if Churchome is a cult

Michie

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Feb 5, 2002
185,910
68,378
Woods
✟6,193,313.00
Country
United States
Gender
Female
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Pastor Judah Smith has responded to a question about whether his Seattle‑based Churchome congregation is a "cult."

During a recent sermon, the longtime spiritual adviser to pop star Justin Bieber recounted how a passer‑by asked him to confirm or deny if the ministry is a cult moments after he stepped out of his car.

Smith told his congregation that paparazzi and a woman with a phone camera surrounded him before she asked, "So, is this a cult or not?"

Continued below.
 

RileyG

Veteran
Christian Forums Staff
Red Team - Moderator
Angels Team
Site Supporter
Feb 10, 2013
39,079
22,323
30
Nebraska
✟903,507.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Celibate
Politics
US-Republican
I think he left Hillsong after that scandal with his pastor at the time.
Ah, I see. I'm not too informed on that.

Thanks!
 
Upvote 0

Michie

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Feb 5, 2002
185,910
68,378
Woods
✟6,193,313.00
Country
United States
Gender
Female
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
So, there is nothing about why the person asked him if the group is a cult.
The speculation that Churchome was a cult supposedly came from Ryan Good, Bieber’s former road manager and the current creative director at Drew House, a clothing brand cofounded by Good and Bieber.
 
Upvote 0

com7fy8

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2013
14,891
6,703
Massachusetts
✟664,099.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
The speculation that Churchome was a cult supposedly came from Ryan Good,
But the article seems to say not a word about why.

Well, there are things about the pastor being connected with Justin for some business thing.

And it seems Justin has had some temper problems, which he has admitted in your first article you have shared here, if I remember correctly.

And they went to a football game together.

These three items alone, I would say, do not come close to meaning a pastor could be a cult leader.

By the way > our Apostle Paul worked enough to support the ones who were with him. And he did all the ministering of God's word and caring spiritually for the church. So, I can see that doing some business does not automatically mean someone could be a cult leader.

But what can be cult-ic . . . note "-ic" > is how any of us can look at somebody else and criticize that one . . . while congratulating our own selves that we are not like that person. And big-name people are very popular targets for this, may be because they will not be around to have a talk with you about what you have been saying about them..

Meanwhile what really hurts can be what we have a way of not mentioning, maybe not even seeing >

arguing and complaining

beauty discrimination

unforgiveness

self-congratulating judging of others

While we stay weak for these things, we can stay weak for various personality and emotional and relational trouble, weird stuff which does not require cult membership.
 
Upvote 0