I was alerted to this video by a friend who received it by e-mail. I located it on YouTube entitled, “How would you introduce Christ to a room full of people???“. As I watched it, I found the timing of this interesting since I posted a blog article about this very thing – “ God’s Work, Always in Faith“.  I spoke of how God does his work and anything he promotes will never be to appease or please the vanity of people, or even use such things to promote himself, his gospel, his salvation and be assured that any fanfare that appears in the name of Jesus Christ is not of him neither can it be for him.

This video portrayed the exact thing I was speaking about in the recent article about God’s work. I ask you to watch this video, it is a short one. The performance is by Steve Harvey, a actor and comedian who stood on stage to speak about Jesus Christ. Look at this video before you read on.

( YouTube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXmSHVoi7rI )

At the end, you saw that Mr. Harvey raised his hand to signify praise to Jesus Christ and many in the audience did the same. The fanfare, cheers, lights, musical accompaniment, all like a performance. The height of emotion, the pleasing atmosphere of worldly glory, the excitment. I am sure many of those Christians, including Steve Harvey, believed they praised Jesus Christ and went home thinking they had a good one for Christ.

I sat there dismayed and somewhat displeased to say the least. How the faith of God has deterrioated so badly, to such an extent, that many professing Christians would follow this fanfare as part of their praise of Christ. All failing to realize that this is the furtherest from faith as they can get while claiming faith in God. How their mouths are close to God while their hearts are very far away. How unhumbling this entire “show” has proven itself to be.

Allow me to define the word “unhumbling”

UNHUM’BLED, a.

1. Not humbled; not affected with shame or confusion; not contrite in spirit.

Having the kind of will that is the natural enmity of the heart to God and his law, not to be subdued, not having a contrite spirit.

There was no humbling feeling and experience with the fanfare performance. It was “unhumbling”. The enmity of the heart refers to the enmity of the mind, that being the carnal mind. Worship by the carnal mind is a false worship, because an enemy of God cannot worship God, neither can it ever worship God. There is no acceptance of the carnal mind as something that is spiritual. A carnal mind is of the flesh, which is of the world, the ways of the world. This fanfare is completely of the world and leads no one to God, but to spiritual death instead.

I believe that Steve Harvey sincerely believed in Jesus Christ, that he thought he was professing Christ his way, but Steve Harvey, as so many Christians are the same, fail to understand what faith is really about. Certainly he professed Jesus Christ and gave Christ first billing in his presentation, but Jesus Christ is not in the show business and does not want anything to do with it. There is no equating of Christ with Hollywood fanfare. It would have been far better if all the fanfare lights were shut down, no musical accompaniment, taking off his stage jacket and speak candidly, making no reference to any fanfare or hype as he spoke of Christ in a serious humble manner. That would be respectful.

Some may ask what the difference would be since this Church has used media as DVD movies to promote Christ and the gospel? The answer is in one word, “fanfare”. To reach others by the written word on paper or by visual media is acceptable if used properly. To present Jesus Christ or his gospel in an illustrious manner, like trying to attract customers to the circus tent, be it on paper or media is not appropriate and not of God. It has to do with “pride” and “vanity” which are the works of the devil and not the works of God.

A person who is emotionally triggered in the fanfare will be sorely distressed when he/she experiences what Christianity of God is truly about. When pride and fanfare fades, as it is always temporary, and real life sets in, where is the person’s faith? Interest built on fanfare and emotional hype is not the interest of God and not in God. This is why the television evangelists are drawing people away from Christ to a false god and all the hand raising to praise God will have no effect or value.

If people attend church to get that emotional fix, the highs, the raising of hands in a loud “praise the Lord”, to hear words they want to hear that satisfies their emotional desires. This is in contrast to a person who seeks the will of God in his word, his Spirit, humbly waiting and exercising faith quietly in prayer and act, seeking no emotional fixes or pleasures, but wants to be in the right spirit.

I hope those that read this catch on that this fanfare is to be shunned, walk away. If I was there watching a show for entertainment purposes and Steve Harvey began that showpiece, I would have gotten up and walked out, as being part of this hype and fanfare is a vex to faith and soul.

Such fanfare is not truly of Christ and can never be (Romans 8:6–7).

Now, allow me to give a contrast video to this. Right out of the mouth of babes. How God does use the innocent to show his wisdom and truth. In this next video labeled “Baby Preacher”, the small child is mimicking the evangelist preacher. Where would the child get this from? Interesting that the group watching are praising the child and laughing, because to them they do not see the mock God has given them through a child. Is it not true that when a child mimicks an adult, that if the presentation shows to be foolish, then so is the adult?

Watch this next video.

I find it amazing how God can give his message so simply, but so many cannot see it. The child mimicked the preacher and so many praised it and in sadness I say this.

May they find what faith is really about

Amen