Steven J. Lawson removed as lead pastor due to inappropriate relationship with a woman
By Elizabeth Prata
It is publicly announced today on Trinity Bible Church of Dallas’ website that Steven Lawson confessed to his elders of an inappropriate relationship that he has had with a woman. The elders then removed Lawson from all ministries. He had been their lead preacher.
Their statement is below and also at the link.
Dr. Lawson has been a Teaching Fellow with Ligonier Ministries, Professor of Preaching and Dean of the Doctor of Ministry program at The Master’s Seminary, and Executive Editor for Expositor magazine. He is also on the board of The Master’s University and Seminary, Ligonier Ministries, and Reformation Bible College. In addition to Trinity Bible Church, Dr. Lawson has served as a pastor for over 40 years in Arkansas and Alabama. He is the author of 28 books. He and his wife Anne have four children. Lawson is 73 years old.
A minister is supposed to be above reproach, (1 Timothy 3:2) and maintain a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:7).
When he falls below reproach with some kind of disqualifying sin, it is devastating to all those around him, and to the global church. Not to mention bringing reproach onto Jesus.
Some went to Twitter to express their disappointment-
And I agree, it is entirely discouraging to hear of a solid pastor falling into disqualifying sin.
Other reactions,
Others displayed less grace when speaking of this sad situation,
The problem when a pastor falls into sin is that there are consequences for him, or course. Lawson has been removed rom his job as lead pastor. The link to his Teaching Fellow page at Ligonier Ministries no longer works. He will likely be removed from the roster at Shepherds Conference to occur in 2025. And so on.
But also, his church falls under a cloud. His fellow congregants are impacted. They may wonder if their conversion under his preaching is genuine, or perhaps regret lifting him up as an example to others.
But also his doctrines come into disrepute. The anti-Calvinists are having a field day over this sad news, and gloating about how ‘Calvinism’ is unwieldy and false. His eschatology is also coming under fire. So is ‘Lordship salvation’.
Any way satan can continue the mud slinging, he will do it. The rings of impact go out further and further, impacting many people, ministries, doctrines, and churches as the rings widen.
This is because we are ambassadors, ALL of us. We all are replicating Jesus message of Good News. We all are part of one body. When one falls, we all feel it. When one sins, we all bear that burden.
Remember to pray for your pastors and elders. Pray for each other. Pray for yourself so you do not fall into a snare of the devil. Pray for Lawson and his wife and children, who must be sorting through heaps of emotions right now, the least of which is betrayal.
Trinity Bible Church wrote at the end of their announcement,
We would ask for your prayers for the elders, for our Body, and for Steve and his family. Let us always be mindful of the words of 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.”
