Justin Bieber Loves Jesus

When Justin Bieber strode onto the stage of the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles on Sunday (Aug. 7) night to accept a Teen Choice Award, he thanked his fans profusely, then quickly turned his attention to something more eternal.

"I wanna say that anything is possible if you set your mind to it," the Canadian superstar said, grasping the award's blue-and-yellow surfboard that towered over him by several inches. "You gotta keep God first and always remember to keep family first."

Then, pointing toward the crowd with a sweeping gesture, Bieber added, "Jesus loves every one of you!"

It's hardly unusual for celebrities to give God a shout-out at award shows. In fact the phenomenon has become so ubiquitous that one critic wondered whether throwing out "God props" had jumped the shark.

But what young Bieber said is different. It wasn't the rote "I want to thank Mylordandsaviorjesuschrist" that we've heard so many times from the awards podium, often uttered by artists collecting prizes for music or films that would be hard-stretched to conceive as honoring the Creator. (See: Plenty of hip-hop and rap artists.)

Bieber, who is never shy about talking about his Christian faith, went beyond the approved script for Hollywood expressions of faith, invoking the "J-word" and taking it several steps further by telling whoever was listening that they are, in fact, loved by Jesus -- and not the less specific "God."

Anyone who has paid attention to the Cinderella story that is Bieber's warp-speed rise from obscurity in small-town Canada to the most popular teenager on the planet will know that in addition to being cute as a button and preternaturally talented, "the Biebs" is a bona fide
person of faith. In fact, he's indicated that the name of the album he's in the studio recording right now will be "Believe."

Rarely does Bieber, who turned 17 in March, miss an opportunity to talk about his faith, whether in an interview with Rolling Stone, on numerous talk shows or even on the red carpet. He seems keenly aware of the blessings that have come his way and exactly where they have come from.

"All the blessings I have come to me from God," Bieber told Rolling Stone in February, adding that he feels obliged to "plant little seeds" of faith with his fans. "I'm not going to tell them, 'You need Jesus,' but I will say at the end of my show, 'God loves you."'

The poignancy of Bieber's comments about Jesus, made after receiving his award from Sean Kingston, a close friend and touring partner who had been badly injured in a jet-ski accident, surely was not lost on Beliebers glued to their TV (and computer) screens.

For weeks after Kingston's accident in Miami, Bieber took to Twitter offering his prayers for his friend and asking fans to pray for him, too. When Kingston left the hospital in June after making a full recovery, Bieber tweeted, "God is so good. ... I love you, bro."

If Bieber's acceptance speech Sunday was any indication, perhaps the pop idol's feelings about explicitly telling his fans about Jesus has evolved over the past six months. He's growing up, finding his voice (musically and otherwise) and becoming even bolder about what he thinks and feels.

"Justin Bieber, like many teenagers, says what's on his mind," said Diane Winston, an expert on media and religion at the University of Southern California. "After winning four awards, he felt Jesus' love. He probably felt enough of Jesus' love for everyone in the room, and he said so. ... Last night's audience saw that uncensored and spontaneous."

Still, Bieber's invoking of Jesus is unusual for a celebrity. Image is everything for celebrities, and most try to appeal to the widest audience possible.

Most teen stars are more carefully produced and packaged than a pair of glass slippers, polished to perfection (at least on the outside). Apart from giving superficial nods to faith as a means of assuring their fans' parents that they are inoffensive entertainment, it's rare to hear
a teen star talk about his or her spiritual beliefs with any depth and consistency.

Perhaps having reached the highest stratosphere of ubercelebrity has made Bieber immune from worrying about alienating his audience. The lad has 11.6 million fans on Twitter -- known collectively as "Beliebers." That's larger then the population of more than a few countries.

Or maybe Bieber represents not only a new breed of celebrity -- allowing his fans unprecedented access to his life and thoughts via more than 10,000 tweets since 2009 -- but a new generation of "believers."

The way Bieber speaks about his Christian faith is neither defensive nor offensive. He doesn't sound like he's trying to be right, pious or triumphant. Rather, the way he speaks about his beliefs feels like a genuine extension of the way he connects to his fans. Authentic. Humble.
Loving.

Bieber's mother, Pattie Mallette, a deeply faithful woman who embraced Christianity not long before she gave birth to her only child when she was just a teenager herself, has said she believes Justin has a "prophetic call" to be the "voice of a generation."

As Bieber approaches his 18th birthday and the threshold of adulthood, his voice is growing stronger and clearer.

Millions of fans around the globe hang on his every word. And when Bieber says "Jesus loves every one of you," many Beliebers might actually believe him.

Cathleen Falsani is author author of the forthcoming "BELIEBER!: Fame, Faith and the Heart of Justin Bieber" (Worthy, Sept 2011)

 

 

 

Follow Cathleen Falsani on Twitter: www.twitter.com/godgrrl

Comments

[Yongho Oh]

12:05 AM on 08/15/2011

wow.. just amazing little kid Bieber.

[skipling]

07:04 PM on 08/14/2011

Seems like a sweet little mister.

[GayGrandpa]

06:42 PM on 08/14/2011

I do not wish to be too critical because all this young man is saying is Jesus is important to him and he wants to share that. Good, great, but now go give all your money to the poor and tell your fans to do the same and maybe then you will be truly a hero for God...right up there with Mother Theresa...LESS TALK - more action!!! Especially for those millions struggling feed themselves and their family. Please, share that Jesus with you fans!

“Jesus looked steadily at him, and his heart warmed towards him. Then he said, "There is one thing you still want. Go and sell everything you have, give the money away to the poor - you will have riches in Heaven. And then come back and follow me."

At these words his face fell and he went away in deep distress, for he was very rich. Then Jesus looked round at them all, and said to his disciples, "How difficult it is for those who have great possessions to enter the kingdom of God!"

The disciples…astonishment knew no bounds, and they said to each other, "Then who can possibly be saved?"

Jesus looked straight at them and said, "Humanly speaking it is impossible, but not with God. Everything is possible with God."

Mark 10:21-27.

We Americans spend an astonishing $41 billion a year on our pets ...meanwhile the poor starve, no wonder God is so adamant on this subject!

[Asmodean1]

12:43 AM on 08/15/2011

I am guessing your christian. A republican. Watch Fox news. Are against Taxing the rich. Would have no qualms about voting for wealthy politicians. But here would attack a 17 yo kid and feel he should give it all to charity - because he is only a singer.

[swilli1020]

06:07 PM on 09/08/2011

"I do not wish to be too critical?" Had you stopped there you too would be God's hero. Comparing the kid to the young rich ruler parable makes no sense. Yes, it's easier for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle than it is a rich man to gain access to Heaven.
I submit that this kid probably gives more to charity, the poor in one month than you and I combined have ever given...in our life time. You come off more like the pharisee in the parable of Jesus and the Publican. You know the story I am certain....Pharisaical behavior turns off our Atheist friends faster than anything...and you know they're right..we are hypocrites...Well I am off to read Matthew 7 for judging you...but you know what, you don't help winning more to Christ by casting your assumptions...

[iLdoRight]

09:28 PM on 08/13/2011

Honest principled Christian love can only be achieved when one knows the object of the love well enough to be able to honestly say, "I know a very high percentage of what this person believes and stands for and I agree with their purpose and beliefs", however with all the misinformation that floods our senses about what Jesus was and is all about one may wonder how many actually have the right mental image of Jesus in mind. "Do you know the real Jesus", was a cry I use to hear from a radio and TV evangelist back in the 60s and he would point out things that people think that are wrong according to the Scriptures. Listening to the Holy Scriptures many times from Genesis to Revelation can help one get a much more honest understanding of what Jesus felt about many things, the Hebrew Scriptures were what Jesus knew, Jesus knew His Father and what He believed and wanted done. I do not know the inter most thoughts that Justin has about Jesus so I have no real opinion on that but if most any want to know Jesus better, having a recorded copy of the Bible and listening to it all many times will probably greatly increase one"s knowledge about what Jesus believes and wants.

[YourNewNeighbor]

06:14 PM on 08/13/2011

Jesus is great. He forgave me for having lusty thoughts about Sister Gonsalva at the Seminary, 2,000 years before I did it.

[KidSampson]

07:07 PM on 08/12/2011

Why not? They both have great hair.

[Kimberly Duwe]

03:17 PM on 08/12/2011

Oh, my-nonexistent-God. It makes me feel better about this if I fantasize about the backlash that would have resulted if he'd substituted "Allah" for "Jesus" in his little speech...he'd probably get banned from the radio.

[ClintBMD]

11:10 PM on 08/12/2011

Or the God-fearin' crowd would have implemented a Second Amendment solution.

His flame will go out if he can't restrain himself from evangelizing. I think it's just about run its course anyway, though.

[Timothy Thocher]

02:41 PM on 08/12/2011

When will Americans Quit caring about what marginally talented, imbecils, say and think. Soon we will all be required to read the Gospel according to Snookie, or the Zen of Brittney Spears. Lets save our society and start reading and listening to people with true intellect and education.

[segdae22]

10:03 AM on 08/12/2011

Wow - a lot of hate in here for the Biebs. I'm not a fan by any means but lighten up people. He's just a kid. And kids his age, if they are brought up in religious households, tend to be very outspoken about their about faith. I may not agree with his beliefs but he's entitled to voice them and he's not trying to shove them down our collective throats. I think we all need to take a step back and take a collective breath and chill.

[Asmodean1]

12:45 AM on 08/15/2011

yes. Yes indeed. 100% with you on this. fanned for clear sight of an issue.

[ClintBMD]

08:12 AM on 08/12/2011

Justin Bieber's grasp of abstraction and $1.50 will buy me a small cup of coffee.

[djbeach]

01:43 AM on 08/12/2011

Under educated Justin needs a strong dose of science and reason.

[skyleg]

11:58 PM on 08/11/2011

Awww. How perfectly indoctrinated poor little rich boy is. I bet he loves Santa and the Bunny rabbit also.

[missygoose0314]

08:23 AM on 08/12/2011

Easter Bunny, but good point! It's all fiction.

[Asmodean1]

06:44 PM on 08/15/2011

Ever think that if you took santa and da bunny outta both hollidays.... you would be left with just----another day sitting in a pew.

[joeschmeaux]

10:24 PM on 08/11/2011

I guess the plan was to turn him into a huge teen(y bopper) idol, then try to convert as many of his fans as possible. It's kinda scary, considering the apparently large number of children who all but hang on his every word. I hope there's a big backlash against brother justin.

[wowme]

07:09 PM on 08/11/2011

But would Jesus Love him?

[OneFish]

12:45 PM on 08/12/2011

We'll never know. If there even was a "Jesus" he's long dead and gone and we have nothing but a name and a long tradition of hucksters using it.

[Slacktoo]

06:56 PM on 08/11/2011

It's funny how our society has secularized so much in the past 50 years, that it is seen as awkward and out of place to discuss Jesus.

[AZLibDem]

11:48 PM on 08/11/2011

Yeah, you never see anything about Jesus here in the Religion section.

[geo999]

11:24 AM on 08/12/2011

Nothing that isn't mocked.

[Slacktoo]

01:40 PM on 08/12/2011

I meant discussing Jesus from a religiously fervent viewpoint, like Bieber has here.

[missygoose0314]

08:26 AM on 08/12/2011

Jesus? Hey, no problem. He was a philosopher who preached tolerance, and equal rights for all, including women and gays. Oh, and he was a man who was sexually active as well, even though the ilk who have turned him into some quack prude would deny that because of their own fear of sexuality.

I got no problem whatsoever with Jesus Christ. I'm an atheist and I'm more of a Christian than the nutjobs who label themselves as such but don't bother to preach or practice his value set.

[GayGrandpa]

08:18 PM on 08/14/2011

This is usually what I am telling my pastor when I can get a ride to church...Pastor, MOST OF THE TRULY CHRISTIAN FRIENDS I HAVE are atheist, but they do pray one simple prayer often: GOD PLEASE PROTECT ME from your followers! Amen and Amen!