Did Justin Bieber cancel his tour because of his \"spiritual awakening\"? <\/p>\n
Sources close to the singer have indicated that the \"Sorry\" singer suddenly cancelled the remainder of his Purpose World Tour this week after \"spiritual soul-searching and his own view of the path in life he should be taking.\" <\/p>\n
SEE ALSO: Kate Hudson shaves her head for new role -- see the close-cropped look! <\/p>\n
His newfound spirituality stems from his increasingly \"intense\" relationship with a pastor. In recent months, Bieber has become heavily involved with Hillsong Church and one of its twelve lead pastors, Carl Lentz. Though insiders told TMZ that Lentz didn't recommend Bieber cancel the rest of his tour, he has definitely gained influence over the erratic star. <\/p>\n
Though Bieber himself denied that religion played any role in his decision to cancel the Purpose World Tour, a couple of buzzed-about outings with Lentz have had fans speculating otherwise. <\/p>\n
In pictures that have gone viral on social media this week, Bieber and Lentz are seen looking buddy-buddy while out and about in Los Angeles. In one photo, Bieber is all smiles as he walks next to a shirtless Lentz in very low-rise camo shorts. In another photo, Lentz wraps his arm familiarly around Bieber. <\/p>\n
See more photos of Carl Lentz:<\/p>\n
8 PHOTOS <\/p>\n
Carl Lentz, Hillsong Church pastor <\/p>\n
See Gallery <\/p>\n
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 13: Pastors Lauren Lentz and Carl Lentz attend the 'Hillsong - Let Hope Rise' premiere at the Westwood Village theater on September 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay\/Getty Images for Pure Flix) <\/p>\n
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 25: Carl Lentz attends the 1st Annual Casino Night hosted by J.R. Smith at Stage 48 on March 25, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat\/WireImage) <\/p>\n
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 3: (EUROPE AND AUSTRALASIA OUT) Hillsong NYC Pastor Carl Lentz pictured backstage at the Hillsong Conference at Allphones Arena in Sydney, New South Wales. (Photo by Toby Zerna\/Newspix\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 3: (EUROPE AND AUSTRALASIA OUT) Hillsong NYC Pastor Carl Lentz pictured backstage at the Hillsong Conference at Allphones Arena in Sydney, New South Wales. (Photo by Toby Zerna\/Newspix\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE\/SPECIAL RATES APPLY Pastor Carl Lentz is interviewed during the 'Elvis Duran Z100 Morning Show' at Z100 Studio on February 12, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE\/SPECIAL RATES APPLY Pastor Carl Lentz attends the 'Elvis Duran Z100 Morning Show' at Z100 Studio on February 12, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 10: Carl Lentz attends Hard 2 Guard at Baruch College on February 10, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
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To be sure, Lentz and Bieber's relationship isn't new. The star allegedly holed up at Lentz's home, which he shares with his wife, back in 2014 before his major Purpose-led career comeback, which the star has repeatedly said was fueled by a newfound spirituality. Bieber also attended a Hillsong conference in Sydney with Lentz earlier this year. <\/p>\n
Sources say that Lentz is \"not a typical pastor\" and that Bieber is \"becoming the Tom Cruise of that church,\" alluding to Cruise's de facto status as the celebrity face of the Church of Scientology. <\/p>\n
Bieber's manager Scooter Braun maintains that Bieber cancelled his tour to benefit his \"soul and well-being,\" and Bieber responded with a resounding \"no\" when paparazzi asked him if religion played a role in his decision. That being said, there's no denying that the Carl Lentz could be influencing Bieber's career decisions. <\/p>\n
Bieber also isn't the only young star to be involved in Hillsong. Two of his ex-girlfriends, Selena Gomez and Hailey Baldwin, have also routinely posted about the church on social media, though it's unclear whether or not Bieber was the one to introduce them to the church. <\/p>\n
Earlier this year, Gomez actually sang with Hillsong Young & Free earlier this year while leading a worship for the church in Los Angeles. <\/p>\n
See photos of Justin Bieber on the Purpose World Tour:<\/p>\n
35 PHOTOS <\/p>\n
Justin Bieber Purpose World Tour <\/p>\n
See Gallery <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Justin Bieber performs on stage during opening night of the 'Purpose World Tour' at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Justin Bieber performs on stage during opening night of the 'Purpose World Tour' at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Justin Bieber performs on stage during opening night of the 'Purpose World Tour' at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Justin Bieber performs on stage during opening night of the 'Purpose World Tour' at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Justin Bieber performs on stage during opening night of the 'Purpose World Tour' at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Mazur\/WireImage) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Mazur\/WireImage) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Mazur\/WireImage) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Mazur\/WireImage) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Mazur\/WireImage) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Mazur\/WireImage) <\/p>\n
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 20: Recording artist Justin Bieber performs at the 2016 Purpose World Tour at Staples Center on March 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Mazur\/WireImage) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Mazur\/WireImage) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: (EDITORS NOTE: This image has been converted to black and white.) Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Mazur\/WireImage) <\/p>\n
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 09: Singer\/songwriter Justin Bieber performs onstage at KeyArena on March 9, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Mazur\/WireImage) <\/p>\n
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 20: Recording artist Justin Bieber performs at the 2016 Purpose World Tour at Staples Center on March 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 20: Recording artist Justin Bieber performs at the 2016 Purpose World Tour at Staples Center on March 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 20: Recording artist Justin Bieber (L) and Chance The Rapper perform at the 2016 Purpose World Tour at Staples Center on March 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 20: Recording artist Justin Bieber (L) and rapper Big Sean perform at the 2016 Purpose World Tour at Staples Center on March 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic) <\/p>\n
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For more on Justin Bieber's denial, watch the video above. <\/p>\n
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Who is Justin Bieber's hot, shirtless pastor? Details emerge on their relationship - AOL<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Did Justin Bieber cancel his tour because of his \"spiritual awakening\"? Sources close to the singer have indicated that the \"Sorry\" singer suddenly cancelled the remainder of his Purpose World Tour this week after \"spiritual soul-searching and his own view of the path in life he should be taking.\" SEE ALSO: Kate Hudson shaves her head for new role -- see the close-cropped look! His newfound spirituality stems from his increasingly \"intense\" relationship with a pastor. In recent months, Bieber has become heavily involved with Hillsong Church and one of its twelve lead pastors, Carl Lentz Continue reading