The Idolatrous Celebration Of "Steve"

In the ongoing saga of the Celebration Of Gospel, offered by BET, a plethora of talents were on display. Some of those talents included secular singers such as Fantasia and Kelly Price, who pretended to be saved for a few minutes, homosexual choir directors who pretended that their anti-biblical practices really didn't matter, and comedians that admit that the church can't turn its back too quickly because certain cuss words may simply fly out of their mouths under the right circumstance...

Then, in what was the ultimate in "star worship", Gospel singers and the gospel industry itself as represented gave a special tribute to the guest host, Steve Harvey, whose claim to gospel fame is hosting the show for 10 years and writing a book 'Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man' in which he claims it's good for a young lady to not rush into sexual activity, by waiting at least 90 days (establishing a 90 day rule) before engaging premarital sex. In other words, the message is have sex if you want to, only find out of this is a person that you really want to have it with after some time. From a secular teacher this is par for the course however there's more that the church should be concerned about.

Obeisance Of The Gospel Industry

As we watched gospel industry elites such as Donnie McClurkin, and Marvin Sapp commend Steve Harvey for the "progress" that he's making both spiritually and materially one couldn't help but be reminded of who these singers were really honoring. To be clear, although Steve "thinks" he's a Christian (I suppose by osmosis) because he has done many good things and doesn't approach things like he used to, I am yet left asking the questions,

1-When did Steve Harvey repent of his sins?  and

2- When did Steve Harvey forsake his sins and follow Jesus?

Personally, although I enjoy many of Steve Harvey's talents, I find it difficult if not impossible to give him a gospel centered tribute for anything he's done with the exception of enduring what was a difficult life. For that I commend him. However what was done by these gospel artists was certainly over the top if not flat out idolatry. 

Pastor Burnett Why Do You Take Such A Hard Line On This?

Although this has to do with the overall rejection of the "Celebration Of Gospel" as a show and BET as a provider of anything supposedly spiritual, Steve Harvey espouses and promotes views that are antithetical to a Christian worldview. I'm not simply talking about misunderstanding of doctrines, but I'm talking about non-christian dogma and in many cases flat out secular dogma, repackaged in the name of Christian thinking. The good thing is that Steve Harvey himself never says that any of his philosophical leanings are biblical, the bad thing is that by him using Christianity as a platform, too many listening to him, even Christian leaders, can't distinguish the difference. Aside from the admonishment to no sex during the trial period, here are a few additional examples:

Men Can't Love

"[A] man's love isn't like a woman's love. ... I'm not saying that we're not capable of loving. I'm just saying that our love is different—much more simple, direct, and probably a little harder to come by."

Now these are blanket statements. And to many it seems like nothing is wrong. however there is a very big premise that is being made here that sets up the other dogma that he sets forth in the book. Here Steve states not "some" men's love, but "a man's love". As if speaking for all men, or speaking for the solid nature of a man's love. Therefore one that reads this is led to believe that this is some sort of universal truth among men, not talked about much but generally known by men that he's revealing.

Steve sets forth the standard (out of thin air) that men engage love differently than women and that we do not find things to love as often as women...As I suggest, this is the sad canvass on which the rest of his book is painted; men, loving differently than women, can't value the same things, therefore there is a disconnect in value systems and a reason for broken relationships. Note, there is no responsibility take for sin at all. In fact sin is a non-issue. Steve's basic premises are further compounded by other statements such as these:

"Women are complicated creatures. You need stuff. Lots of it. And you expect your man to provide it, even if you haven't explained what it is you need or want, or even if what you needed and wanted five minutes ago is wholly different from what you need and want now. ... Now men, by contrast, are very simple creatures. It really doesn't take much to make us happy. In fact, there are only three things that pretty much every man needs—support, love, and 'The Cookie.' Three things—that's it. And I'm here to tell you that yes, it's that simple."

Women Are Materialistic Need Much Care

Here's the second and even more basic premise of his book and teaching. Women are materialistic and needy. Women need to be "taken care of" by a man. Further, men are once again stated as being simple in our capacity to "love"...all we need according to Steve Harvey is 1- support, 2- love and 3- the Cookie...(sex) I suppose on a regular basis...however this is all we (as men) need, whereas women need lots of material and they need a man to provide that for them. Steve basically states that IF your man cheats, it's not his fault or because of his own sins, it's the woman's fault. He says this:

"Newsflash, it's not the guy who determines whether you're a sports fish (illicit sexual encounter) or a keeper (relationship) —it's you. (Don't hate the player, hate the game.) When a man approaches you, you're the one with total control over the situation. ... Every word you say, every move you make, every signal you give to a man will help him determine whether he should try to play you, be straight with you, or move on to the next woman to do a little more sport fishing."

So in the world of Steve Harvey men approach women as a sport, in this case a "sports fish" and determine IF he should throw her back or not depending upon HER actions, not HIS SIN.

Steve talks deeply about cheating and why a man cheats and it all ends up the same...cheating is basically beyond a man's control. He primarily describes that a man's love is on a psychopathic benge, between knowing what to do and choosing not to do it and caring less about the outcome or failure until confronted. He affirms that women are basically irresponsible in dealing with men and lend to relationship failure with their actions. There's plenty more to deal with and say, but this is not a book review only a few insights to raise the question:

Why Are Gospel Artists Compelled To Honor Steve Harvey?

As I stated. I like Steve Harvey and in his defense he didn't personally ask for any of this, nor did he write a book entitled or tailored after the Bible or the biblical message. In short, HE's not to blame for this. However the artists and so called industry cannot under any circumstance believe that what was done was honoring to God or representing Christ in any manner.

If Steve Harvey wants to be saved, let him confess his sins, repent become a disciple of Jesus and learn Christ like all other individuals who come to Christ. How does one go from being a "King Of Comedy" littering the audience with sexually explicit jokes, profanity and other things to being hailed for a supposed introduction of Jesus, to being crooned by the industry's elite gospel personalities and singers?

Has The Gospel Music/Entertainment Industry Been Rejected By God?

In the poll to the right of the screen (your right) although many of the results have been lost, many of you indicate that you don't believe that the gospel music industry should exist. Although that is a highly debatable question, one thing is for sure, God hasn't ordered worship through the industry or otherwise to anyone including Steve Harvey, Adelle 'All my lips is big' Givens (in the audience too) or any other supposed 'king' or 'queen' who does not yield to the cross, accept the Lordship of Jesus and begin to live according to his word...

Where this is no biblical teaching, there cannot be a continued clear morality. You see, what Steve Harvey is a victim of is this "once saved always saved" dogma that is being taught and has traditionally been taught within baptist and neo-pentecostal circles. Having believed that once salvation was experienced or baptism received, there is no encouragement to righteous living and true holiness. It is only through the dedication to righteous living and true holiness that God can control the mouth and actions, even when one stumps their toe on a door in the middle of the night. One can still bless God instead of cursing his creation. I know, because I know what Christ has done for me.

The church doesn't need anyone to encourage them to allow their sins. The church needs the biblical teachings of 1- personal responsibility as it pertains to sin 2- knowledge of how through Jesus we have power over sin and 3- How through our commitment to Christ we can live not just a lifestyle that is en vogue, but a lifestyle that is real and full of power.

 Luke 4:8 ~  "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and HIM ONLY shalt thou serve."

Blessed!