Many believe it is a cult.
Pastor Judah Smith recently addressed public speculation about whether his Seattle-based church, Churchome, operates as a cult — and did so with humor and transparency.
In a recent sermon, Smith recounted an unusual encounter that occurred just as he arrived at church. As he exited his vehicle, he was quickly surrounded by paparazzi and a woman filming on her phone who bluntly asked, “So, is this a cult or not?”
The 45-year-old pastor, known for his long-standing spiritual mentorship of pop star Justin Bieber, admitted that the directness of the question caught him off guard. “I’ve never been asked that so abruptly,” he told his congregation, noting that the moment was hardly ideal from a public relations standpoint. Nevertheless, he chose to bring the experience into his message, marking it as a first in his preaching career.
Using humor to defuse the tension, Smith quipped, “If we are a cult, we’re the worst one in history. We only meet once a month now. I used to hold services every Wednesday—clearly, we’re slacking.” His joke sparked laughter among the attendees as he pointed to Churchome’s relatively infrequent in-person gatherings, now largely supplemented by app-based outreach.
Churchome, based in Kirkland, Washington, has drawn greater media scrutiny largely due to Smith’s close relationship with Justin Bieber, which began over a decade ago. The singer’s mother introduced them when Bieber was still a teen. Since then, Smith has officiated Bieber’s 2019 wedding to Hailey Baldwin and even baptized the couple together in 2020. He continues to provide them with spiritual guidance.
Bieber has turned increasingly to his faith in recent weeks amid growing online speculation about his personal life and marriage. On April 24, he posted on Instagram expressing his struggles, writing that though people often judge him harshly, he remembers that he’s flawed and forgiven by God. He also acknowledged his own tendency to judge and act hurtfully, according to E! News.
Earlier in April, a spokesperson for Bieber commented that while rumors and inaccuracies would continue to circulate, they would not distract him from pursuing his spiritual and personal path.
Pastor Smith has contributed directly to Bieber’s faith-driven projects as well. In 2021, he appeared on the pop star’s gospel EP Freedom, delivering a spoken-word introduction on the track “Where You Go I Follow,” where he emphasized the uniqueness of Jesus.
Smith also appeared in Bieber’s 2020 YouTube docuseries Next Chapter, which provided a glimpse into the singer’s life during the pandemic. One episode featured a virtual counseling session with Smith, where Bieber reflected on using the downtime to grow his marriage rather than focus on canceled performances. Smith encouraged the couple, noting the added strain that public attention places on their relationship. Bieber responded by acknowledging their imperfections but expressed a desire to emulate the family-centered values Smith represents.
Bieber’s evolving relationships with prominent Christian leaders have continued to draw public interest, especially following the 2020 dismissal of former Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz for moral misconduct. After distancing himself from Hillsong, Bieber deepened his ties with Smith, whose family has pastored Churchome for three generations.