Justin Bieber Apologizes for 'Racist' Youtube Video, Posts Picture of Devotional to Instagram

By Leah Marianne Klett
Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber

Pop singer Justin Bieber recently made headlines due to internet videos taken several years ago in which the pop singer is seen making offensive racist jokes involving the n-word.

However, the "Boyfriend" singer seems to be sorrowful for his actions.

On Wednesday, Bieber posted a photo to his Instagram account of a page from the devotional Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. The page discusses how to deal with sin in one's life, emphasizing that when we follow Christ, we are treated by God on the basis of Christ's righteousness rather than our own.

Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber

Yesterday, the popstar released a statement apologizing for his actions, saying he takes full responsibility for what happened "years ago."

"Facing my mistakes from years ago has been one of the hardest things I've ever dealt with," Bieber said in the statement. "But, I feel now that I need to take responsibility for those mistakes and not let them linger. Once again, I am sorry for all those I have let down and offended. I just hope that the next kid that age who doesn't understand the power of these words does not make the same mistake I once made years ago. At the end of the day I just need to step up and own what I did."

Bieber's manager Scooter Braun also posted an image to Instagram of a separate statement, saying that how a man reacts to mistakes "defines him more than the mistake himself."

The 20 year old singer has experienced several run-ins with the law over the past year, including a DUI in Miami, an assault charge in Toronto, and felony vandalism probe in Los Angeles. Yet has seemed to be cleaning up his act, regularly meeting with Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz and posting Bible verses on his Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Lentz has publicly defended Bieber, saying everyone has a right to be loved and pastored, regardless of their mistakes.

"[Bieber and I] talked last night and there were moments there where I just had to take a breath and say "I don't know how you do it, bro," he told Relevant magazine. " I mean, people come up and put the cameras in your face, nonstop. They are horrifically rude. So, I think for us, we have never looked at what somebody does, we try to look at who they are-God has called us to talk to people. So whether you're a nobody or a somebody in this world's eyes, you should have a right to have love and to be pastored."

Bieber says that despite his past actions, he is a strong Christian and committed to his faith.

"I'm a Christian, I believe in God, I believe that Jesus died on a cross for my sins," said in an interview with the Associated Press. "I believe that I have a relationship and I'm able to talk to Him and really, He's the reason I'm here, so I definitely have to remember that."

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.