Steve Harvey on Pastor Stunts: Enough is Enough

Clearly, this article is not an endorsement of comedian, Steve Harvey, the comedian and talk show host. Born Broderick Steven Harvey, the popular figure has been a fixture of daytime television for some time, and the entertainment world as a whole longer than that. Harvey often interjects religion into his talks, and speaks fondly of having grown up in church. This video clip of Harvey “introducing Christ” is famous.

We don’t know much about Harvey’s doctrine, but in 2012 he tweeted out that First Baptist Church of Glenarden – which now has John Gray as pastor and has TD Jakes as its “apostolic covering” is “the best church.” He’s also a Democrat and voted for Barack Obama, so he may be no more Christian at the end of the day than Thabiti Anyabwile. So again, this is not an endorsement.

Harvey recently pointed out to his talk show audience how the pastor of Brown Baptist Church in Southaven, Mississippi zoomed into church on a zip line, as written about by Reformation Charlotte.

Clearly exasperated, Harvey said that churches were competing with one another for members, before playing the video and giving a rebuke of such gimmicks. Watch below.

Harvey said that he believed in the return of Jesus, but would be disappointed if Jesus returned attached to a harness before adding, “he don’t need to do this, here.”

Even the most nominal of Christians are put off by the stunts and gimmicks of mega-pastors who are mainly attracting lost people – and keeping them lost – with their endless entertainment and chicanery.

For more on this topic, read our post, Seven Great Reasons Pastors Shouldn’t Use Gimmicks.