Justin Bieber: Religious Retreat In New Jersey Continues After Selena Gomez Split
Justin Bieber’s ongoing religious retreat in New Jersey seems to have inspired reflective social media posts from the singer.
On Monday, the 20-year-old shared a biblical quote with a selfie showing him writing in a journal.
Justin captioned his Instagram post, “The old is gone the new is here’ #workinprogress.”
The line is taken from 2 Corinthians 5:17 in the bible: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come — The old has gone, the new is here.”
Daily Mail Online reports a bible reference site explains that the “old” indicates attitudes of the personality which are replaced with “new things, full of life and the glory of God.”
“The newborn soul delights in the things of God and abhors the things of the world and the flesh.”
Thanks to upside-down writing skills at MTV, the title of the text Justin wrote in his journal is revealed as, “How to kick anxiety’s ass.”
“It is impossible to worry and live in peace,” the Canadian wrote.
He also drew a “life station” with two tracks coming from it: a “peace train” and an “anxiety train.”
In addition to Bieber’s mother’s revelation in the 2013 Believe movie, that her son suffered from anxiety issues, looking at the singer’s ongoing legal lawsuits, previous incident prone conduct, media and paparazzi intrusion, and recent breakup with Selena Gomez who has since released an emotional new song and video “The Heart Wants It Wants” — it’s not at all surprising the heartthrob has sought help to deal with the pressure.
Towards the end of October, Bieber reportedly stayed with his pal, Pastor Carl Lentz and his family in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. Lentz is based at the Pentecostal Hillsong Church NYC, and works from the Manhattan Center and The Wellmont Theater in Montclair, which borders Glen Ridge.
The pop star previously attended Hillsong services with Selena in Los Angeles just a few months ago.
Last year, Justin revealed he broke down in tears during a New York service with Pastor Lentz, when he tweeted,
“Love to my guy @carllentzNYC for the amazing sermon at church this morning. Love you man. I broke down today. Thank (you) (sic).”
It’s also claimed Lentz baptized Bieber in May, just before the N-word videos furor broke.
On Tuesday, October 28, comedienne Carey Reilly revealed on her “Not So Skinny Mom blog”, that she saw Bieber that morning at the Forest Avenue Elementary School her son attends in Glen Ridge.
Here’s a photo of @justinbieber at my kids’ school today. pic.twitter.com/aQmmcGBl0E via @biebbodyguards
— Charles Ornstein (@charlesornstein) October 28, 2014
Justin has since been spotted by multiple eyewitnesses at numerous services at the Hillsong Church in Montclair.
Some shared online posts about their sightings.
Thank you for being so kind and talking to me today I love you @justinbieber pic.twitter.com/dMGoGo8UBF
— lily (@avonsrhythms) October 28, 2014
Great to meet @justinbieber tonight at chapel! Thanks for coming! pic.twitter.com/0wNuTzEG8z
— Bruce Gradkowski (@bgradkowski5) November 9, 2014
Over the weekend, Bieber dropped by the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Bible study on Saturday with Lentz, and Hillsong Church NYC on Sunday, November 9, with model pals Kendall Jenner and Hailey Baldwin.
Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner at hillsong tonight pic.twitter.com/MxFHyLwMY3
— Josh (@Josh3Estrada7) November 10, 2014
Justis Cilino, who was at the church on Sunday and later tweeted Bieber, told NJ.com there was no advance notice the singer would be there.
“I don’t feel like the congregational leaders thought there needed to be advance notice,” Cilino, 18, said. “He’s human just like all of us. He’s broken just like us. We are all there for the same purpose, and that is to worship Jesus.”
“It was amazing to see him there worshipping and praising God,” Cilino went on. “He was so worshipful and I was speechless. He was actually just sitting in the congregation.”
On Tuesday, the singer was spotted carrying a notebook and pen as he emerged from an SUV in New York City.
While the singer’s breakup and recent Instagram unfollow of Selena continues to generate hysterical media and fans’ comment, it seems Bieber is staying close to New Jersey, his Christian faith and Pastor Lentz.
[Images via FameFlyNet/Just Jared.]
