Celebrity pastors tend to get a lot of flak for ministering to individuals who can't seem to shake off nasty scandals and rumours. But Pastor Judah Smith from City Church in Seattle, Washington believes that these celebrities need God just like everybody else, so he's not going to turn his back on them.
While speaking to The Christian Post about his new book "How's Your Soul? Why Everything That Matters Starts With The Inside You," Smith opened up about his relationship with "Love Yourself" crooner Justin Bieber.
Bieber had a reputation for getting into bar brawls and getting arrested for driving under the influence, but Smith said the pop star isn't as bad as some people picture him to be.
"I feel like I have learned more from Justin Bieber than he could ever have learned from me. I have been allowed to love him and I feel like we are family. We talk almost every day," he said. "And I've learned that what does it profit a man to gain the whole world but in the process lose his soul? That all of the trappings that our culture tells us you pursue, leaves us as lifeless as you could possibly imagine."
Smith said celebrities might have incredible wealth and hundreds of millions of adoring fans, but the one thing they really need in their lives is God. It might seem like celebrities are on top of the world and don't need anybody in their lives, but Smith said that idea is wrong. What he tries to do is offer celebrities an authentic relationship so they can experience God's love in their lives.
"And yes, it is unique when a celebrity or someone of renown comes to church. It's like someone who is, if I can say it this way, is impaired in some way," he continued. "You have to do some unique stuff to make sure that they get a fair shake at hearing the Gospel. And so you've got to be protective at times. But what they need is what they all need: love, grace, relationship."
