Ex-Department Davidian Cult Member
My Non secular Recommendation to Justin Bieber …
‘Do not Go In opposition to Pit in Your Abdomen’
Printed June 11, 2025 1:00 AM PDT
TMZ.com
David Thibodeau — a survivor of the notorious 1993 Department Davidians siege in Waco, Texas — is giving Justin Bieber some sage recommendation on faith, as a few of his former pals query his affiliation with Churchome.
Justin’s internal circle’s been getting smaller, and we’re instructed a part of the reason being former pals consider Churchome, the Christian church he attends, is a cult, and Thibodeau has a whole lot of expertise in that space, having been a member of the Department Davidians — the David Koresh-led cult that had a weeks-long standoff with the feds earlier than their Waco compound burned to the bottom, killing greater than 80 members.
TMZ Studios
Thibodeau instructed us he sees a whole lot of good and a few dangerous within the case of Justin and Churchome. He says one main optimistic is the org is nowhere close to as hardcore because the Department Davidians had been.
For starters, Churchome isn’t a 24/7 operation just like the Davidians … actually, the church solely meets as soon as a month — which David says provides Justin time and freedom to analysis different religions, if he chooses to take action.
TMZ.com
Thibodeau warns JB, “Do not go in opposition to that pit in his abdomen that claims one thing is correct or mistaken?” He additionally cautions Justin to be cautious of Churchome’s management in the event that they solely have him learn “the scripture” with no outdoors influences.
David additionally mentions Bieber must be grateful he is older now as a result of youthful, much less subtle individuals are extra vulnerable to being lured into a spiritual group or cult, identical to what occurred to him with the Davidians.
TMZ.com
What’s extra, Thibodeau says if Justin’s pals assault the singer’s religion or church — it could solely serve to strengthen Justin’s bond with the church. He affords a greater strategy for these round him who disagree with Churchome.
In our documentary, “TMZ Investigates: What Occurred to Justin Bieber?” — out there now on YouTube — we instructed you about Justin’s ex-pal Ryan Good‘s falling out with the singer.
Ryan was a Churchome member, however sources instructed us he left as a result of he thought it was a cult … one thing its pastor, Judah Smith, has adamantly denied.
Thibodeau says he was capable of overcome the heavy affect of the Department Davidians by “counting his blessings” every day, and suggests the Biebs do the identical.
A few attention-grabbing info … Thibodeau was only a long-haired hippy when he was led out of the Koresh compound in handcuffs in 1993.
He was certainly one of solely 9 survivors of the cult, and he even wrote a ebook, “Waco: A Survivor’s Story,” concerning the 51-day standoff with ATF and FBI brokers.
