By Jamali Jack (Kingstown Church of Christ, SVG)
Some time ago, a friend posted on Facebook (from YouTube) the first of a six part Steve Harvey interview on TBN with the caption: His Name is JESUS!!!!! Ordinarily, I would not have clicked on it, but recently I have found wisdom in being patient and giving people the benefit of the doubt by not casting judgment until I have seen their entire point (or in this case, entire video) through. The interview, conducted by renowned artiste Donnie McClurkin, has reaffirmed and intensified my belief that TBN is as far from the gospel as possibly can be. They have continued to make a mockery of religion in general and Christianity specifically. Their comments on the former make it a virtual expletive and their profession of the latter has reduced it to a form of emotionally driven, self-centered entertainment, packaged together in a money-making machine that feels like the Home Shopping Network of religion with unabashed and constant appeals for cash, I mean "love-gifts". One can step in puddles of water with more depth than what passes as biblical edification on TBN. I pray to God that more people can discover and appreciate the biblically sound and wonderfully produced programming at Gospel Broadcasting Network (GBN).
Some time ago, a friend posted on Facebook (from YouTube) the first of a six part Steve Harvey interview on TBN with the caption: His Name is JESUS!!!!! Ordinarily, I would not have clicked on it, but recently I have found wisdom in being patient and giving people the benefit of the doubt by not casting judgment until I have seen their entire point (or in this case, entire video) through. The interview, conducted by renowned artiste Donnie McClurkin, has reaffirmed and intensified my belief that TBN is as far from the gospel as possibly can be. They have continued to make a mockery of religion in general and Christianity specifically. Their comments on the former make it a virtual expletive and their profession of the latter has reduced it to a form of emotionally driven, self-centered entertainment, packaged together in a money-making machine that feels like the Home Shopping Network of religion with unabashed and constant appeals for cash, I mean "love-gifts". One can step in puddles of water with more depth than what passes as biblical edification on TBN. I pray to God that more people can discover and appreciate the biblically sound and wonderfully produced programming at Gospel Broadcasting Network (GBN).
Back to the Steve Harvey interview. In case you do not have the time or will to watch the entire episode, I have transcribed just two sections (and there are many more) that jumped out at me. The bold typeface in his quotes were added by me for emphasis and contrast.
In promoting his daily radio show, Steve Harvey said, "You see this thing called Christianity, that everybody be talking 'bout? You gotta quit painting it as this little white line, because the line has to be broader than that because you can't stay on this little white line like that. It's impossible to do. And so I just... on the radio, I paint a broader picture to have a conversation with God, to get in touch with God, to ask God for direction."
To that, I beg caution by referencing Matthew 7:13-14: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Would it not be wiser to be with the few rather than the many here? Mark 10:27 also states: And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37; 18:27; Philippians 4:13)
While attempting to explain a joke (?) that went the wrong way by unintentionally offending a listener who was on dialysis, Steve Harvey said, "What I do for a living is jokes. So, we had a sponsor came on and said, '[We] want you to be an organ donor.' And my father had said that he wouldn't [be] donatin' his organs 'cause he need all his, 'cause when he get to Heaven he gonna need everything with him. And you know, it was just a little statement an ol' black dude said. While on the radio I just kinda went off on it and took it a little bit far, you know? 'Cause I don't... I don't... I'm not donatin' a kidney... a kidney. 'Cause you know, I don't want to get to Heaven and be on dialysis. 'Cause I don't want... it's... I mean, you know, you done miss choir rehearsal. The heavenly choir singing, you ain't there cause you on dialysis. All this... gave 'way your eyes, you can't see the pearly gates. You don't see the streets of gold, Your... your wings is tore off, 'cause you flying...running all up in the stuff. You can't hear the Lord talking, you done gave away an ear. You got a seeing-eye dog. You... you at the last supper table, you done gave your teeth away. Ever'body eatin' meat but you. You settin' up there with a bowl of oatmeal."
Again, to this I can read II Corinthians 5:1-4: For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life (Romans 8:20-23; Matthew 18:8-9; Mark 9:43-47; I Corinthians 15:50). These passages give great comfort in the face of death for the faithful.
Other things like joking (with the passive approval and consent of the host and audience through their laughter) about his three marriages, divorce, lust and other issues that the bible is explicitly clear on were so blatantly irreverent I would hardly need to detail.
In promoting his daily radio show, Steve Harvey said, "You see this thing called Christianity, that everybody be talking 'bout? You gotta quit painting it as this little white line, because the line has to be broader than that because you can't stay on this little white line like that. It's impossible to do. And so I just... on the radio, I paint a broader picture to have a conversation with God, to get in touch with God, to ask God for direction."
To that, I beg caution by referencing Matthew 7:13-14: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Would it not be wiser to be with the few rather than the many here? Mark 10:27 also states: And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37; 18:27; Philippians 4:13)
While attempting to explain a joke (?) that went the wrong way by unintentionally offending a listener who was on dialysis, Steve Harvey said, "What I do for a living is jokes. So, we had a sponsor came on and said, '[We] want you to be an organ donor.' And my father had said that he wouldn't [be] donatin' his organs 'cause he need all his, 'cause when he get to Heaven he gonna need everything with him. And you know, it was just a little statement an ol' black dude said. While on the radio I just kinda went off on it and took it a little bit far, you know? 'Cause I don't... I don't... I'm not donatin' a kidney... a kidney. 'Cause you know, I don't want to get to Heaven and be on dialysis. 'Cause I don't want... it's... I mean, you know, you done miss choir rehearsal. The heavenly choir singing, you ain't there cause you on dialysis. All this... gave 'way your eyes, you can't see the pearly gates. You don't see the streets of gold, Your... your wings is tore off, 'cause you flying...running all up in the stuff. You can't hear the Lord talking, you done gave away an ear. You got a seeing-eye dog. You... you at the last supper table, you done gave your teeth away. Ever'body eatin' meat but you. You settin' up there with a bowl of oatmeal."
Again, to this I can read II Corinthians 5:1-4: For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life (Romans 8:20-23; Matthew 18:8-9; Mark 9:43-47; I Corinthians 15:50). These passages give great comfort in the face of death for the faithful.
Other things like joking (with the passive approval and consent of the host and audience through their laughter) about his three marriages, divorce, lust and other issues that the bible is explicitly clear on were so blatantly irreverent I would hardly need to detail.
Click banner to learn what the Bible teaches regarding marriage, divorce and remarriage.
The sad thing is that if one were to comment in the way I am doing now about the whole charade, there would be multitudes of people, whether religious or not who might raise up in arms and shout, "Why are you being judgmental? Why don't you just see the good in this and that?" Perhaps there was some good in this, but if so, I would leave that for those who can see it to identify and defend from a biblical standpoint.
What people fail to understand is that all this softcore religion is a seduction into hardcore destruction. People want to make Christianity what THEY want it to be and not what GOD SAYS (in His word) it MUST be. They want to convince others that no one can know for sure what is THE TRUTH and thus all attempts to diligently seek, ardently hold to, earnestly contend for and lovingly proclaim that truth is rendered bigotry. This goes against the principles of passages such as John 8:32, 2 Timothy 2:15 and Jude 1:3.
We must pray that men and women everywhere can develop in their hearts a sincere love for THE WHOLE TRUTH and nothing but the truth. Pray that they will resist the smoke and mirrors presentation of "another gospel" as presented on TBN and from many pulpits around the world that deceive millions even billions. Consider Galatians 1:6-9, II Thessalonians 2:7-13 and 2 John 1:9-11.
Finally, we must humbly remain focused in our own spiritual development by not only studying God's word but also by living it (Matthew 7:15-27). Continue, with haste, to carry out the Heavenly mandate that says: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
God Bless
What people fail to understand is that all this softcore religion is a seduction into hardcore destruction. People want to make Christianity what THEY want it to be and not what GOD SAYS (in His word) it MUST be. They want to convince others that no one can know for sure what is THE TRUTH and thus all attempts to diligently seek, ardently hold to, earnestly contend for and lovingly proclaim that truth is rendered bigotry. This goes against the principles of passages such as John 8:32, 2 Timothy 2:15 and Jude 1:3.
We must pray that men and women everywhere can develop in their hearts a sincere love for THE WHOLE TRUTH and nothing but the truth. Pray that they will resist the smoke and mirrors presentation of "another gospel" as presented on TBN and from many pulpits around the world that deceive millions even billions. Consider Galatians 1:6-9, II Thessalonians 2:7-13 and 2 John 1:9-11.
Finally, we must humbly remain focused in our own spiritual development by not only studying God's word but also by living it (Matthew 7:15-27). Continue, with haste, to carry out the Heavenly mandate that says: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
God Bless
