Pastor rebukes Carl Lentz for slamming shots with Justin Bieber

Joe Schimmel of Good Fight Ministries and pastor of Blessed Hope Chapel in Simi Valley, California has expressed concerns about Lentz's friendship with Bieber after the two were seen in photographs drinking at Blue Door Bar in Queenstown, New Zealand.

"[T]he chief concern from these images has to be how someone, who calls himself a pastor, is engaging in such an activity with someone who has a history of abusing substances," Schimmel told Christian News Network.

"How can Lentz give an account for himself when he takes shots alongside someone who has been arrested and pleaded guilty to DWI?" he added.

The photographs were reportedly taken in March during Bieber's visit to a Hillsong conference in New Zealand, and released by secular outlets, but it just recently been brought to light in Christian forums. One of the images reportedly showed Bieber going shirtless while he and Lentz are standing at the bar.

Schimmel contended that the photos of Lentz joining in with Bieber "do nothing but paint a picture of someone who is being influenced by the world rather than edifying and building up a young man in his walk."

The California pastor said that he is concerned that Lentz's decision to drink with Bieber could influence or affect the singer, who is looking up to him as a father figure in faith.

The Sun reported that Lentz baptized Bieber after the singer said he wanted to re-commit to God. Lentz and Bieber had become extremely close following the baptism, and the singer even moved in with the Hillsong pastor for a month in 2014.

Schimmel stated in 2015 that he had prayed that Bieber would find genuine repentance and faith in Christ and advised Christians to inspect the pop singer's fruit as Scripture instructs.

He noted that even after Bieber unveiled a "Jesus" tattoo on his leg several years ago, he was arrested on two separate occasions for vandalism and drug possession.

"Genuine believers are new creations in Christ and old things have passed away and all things become new," Schimmel said.

"The apostle Paul stated that those who truly belong to Christ 'have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires' and bear the 'fruit of the Spirit,'" he continued.

Bieber is an official member of Hillsong NYC, which has about 8,000 members, but he has also been seen attending other services across the U.S. and overseas.

Hillsong is popular among the "young Hollywood" crowd, including the likes of Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian, as well as their half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner. Bieber's manager Scooter Braun, musician Bono and basketball star Kevin Durant have also been seen attending the church.