Disgraced pastor and former dean at The Master’s Seminary, Steve Lawson, had a “5-year relationship” with a woman in her “late 20s,” Phil Johnson, an elder and pastor at John MacArthur’s Grace Community Church, stated in an X post today, which has since been deleted.
“He is 73. She is in her late 20s,” Johnson wrote.
Johnson also stated that the woman is not a member of Lawson’s church, Trinity Bible Church of Dallas, and “lives in a different state nowhere close to any of the ministries Steve served.”
However, Johnson did not immediately respond to our comment on X and an email, asking whether the woman had ever attended The Master’s Seminary (TMS) or The Master’s University (TMU), but instead deleted his post.* The Roys Report (TRR) also emailed TMS President Abner Chou and TMS Executive Vice President Nathan Busenitz with the same question, but did not hear back.
According to abuse experts, “any sexualized behavior by a church leader/spiritual leader toward someone under their spiritual care, who by nature is in a position of less power and authority” is clergy sexual abuse. Texas has a law criminalizing clergy sexual abuse, but California does not.
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In his X post, Johnson also stated that Lawson informed the elders at his church, Trinity Bible Church of Dallas, about his “inappropriate” relationship, “but only after the girl’s father had confronted Steve and threatened exposure.”
“This was not a noble confession of sin,” Johnson added.
Johnson also expressed his view that calling the relationship “inappropriate” is “too ambiguous—as if someone merely caught them holding hands. This was a 5-year relationship with strong romantic overtones. Both parties insist no literal fornication was involved, but their tie to one another was adulterous in spirit, if not in fact.”
In Trinity Bible Church’s statement released last Thursday, the church referred to Lawson’s sin as an “inappropriate relationship” and said he had been “removed indefinitely from all ministry activities” at the church. The statement also said Lawson had informed the elders at Trinity Bible Church of the relationship. It didn’t say anything about the father threatening to expose Lawson.
At a service last Sunday, Trinity Elder Mark Becker addressed the scandal briefly but didn’t offer any details about Lawson’s misconduct and discouraged questions, stating: “The only questions that are important at this point concern us as a church, as a local body, and how we will move together forward from this.”
A Trinity congregant said in a comment on X that he “fully expected Mark to be forthcoming with the flock. . . . Instead, we were left in the dark. Heartbroken by it all. Not sure if we will stay.”
Johnson responded, “Do stay. If they were trying to cover or minimize the sin, you’d have grounds to leave. But that’s not their aim. They’re doing the best they can in an impossible situation. Speak to them privately & individually before leaving over what they did or didn’t say publicly.”
TRR has reached out to Trinity Bible repeatedly since Thursday, asking for clarification about Lawson’s misconduct and the woman involved, but Trinity has not responded.
TMS has not made any public statements about Lawson. However, in an email to TMS students last week, Busenitz said Lawson had been “removed from pastoral ministry,” had failed “to be a one-woman man,” and was “permanently disqualified” from ministry. But the email didn’t give any details about Lawson’s misconduct or whether the woman was ever associated with TMS or TMU.
The ministry Lawson founded, OnePassion Ministries, released a statement saying that Lawson had “confessed to the board that he has had an inappropriate relationship with a woman, a sin that has disqualified him from ministry.” The statement gave no details about Lawson’s relationship with the woman or whether Lawson was in a position of authority over her.
Lawson also served as a teaching fellow and board member of Ligonier Ministries. Ligonier has not made any public statement about Lawson but has removed him as a fellow at the ministry’s website. Lawson’s messages and videos continue to be posted at Ligonier’s website.
*This article was updated to include that Johnson had deleted his post. After we posted that update, Johnson posted an explanation on X, saying he deleted the post out of deference to the elders of Trinity Bible Church and directed “those who think they still have legitimate questions” to ask Trinity Bible Church or Lawson. Johnson still did not address whether the woman was ever a student at The Master’s Seminary or The Master’s University.
Julie Roys is a veteran investigative reporter and founder of The Roys Report. She also previously hosted a national talk show on the Moody Radio Network, called Up for Debate, and has worked as a TV reporter for a CBS affiliate. Her articles have appeared in numerous periodicals.
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107 Responses
In short, my heart is broken to hear this news. I met Dr. Lawson about four years ago at a Preaching Seminar here in Southern California, and he was a very kind and warm Man. I wish him well and the restoration of his marriage and life. I do not take the position that God can no longer use him again as some do. I think there is too much evidence that when People truly repent of their Sin, God can and do use them again, even if it is not in the same manner.
He’s not truly repenting. This relationship went on for 5 years. Think about the math here: If she is 25 then this man started a relationship with her when she was only 2 years out of high school. It most likely included e-mailing, phone calls, texting, dinner dates, gift exchanges and long conversations not to mention the emotional bonds and possible sexual bonds. My daughter is 16 and to think that a 68 year old man would start grooming her in 48 months and continue an immoral/manipulative relationship with her for 5 years is disgusting. God has used him. God has allowed Steve’s pride go before he fell and is now an glaring warning for other men in the ministry to be on their guard and not sin!
Amy, you used the word “groomed.” Do you have knowledge of how this relationship evolved and progressed? Willing women do not have to be “groomed” into causation.
There is no indication that she is now 25 years old. In fact, 25 is not “late 20″s” as Phil Johnson has stated. So, this affair certainly did not begin when she was 20; besides, 20 year old women know exactly what they are doing.
Contrary to what was in the Johnson statement, there likely was sexual intimacy in the relationship. It is all so sad.
Funny how no one said that about Princess Diana who was 19 when she met Prince Charles. Instead, everyone believed she was badly treated after being exploited into the marriage to be a brood mare. So why would you believe that this 20 year old is any less naive and instead paint her as some wanton hussy who lured him into a trap and should therefore take the blame? I find it distressing when anyone – let alone other women – are so quick to blame the female whenever infidelity takes place, especially when it is so glaringly obvious that Dr Lawson was the more powerful and prominent figure and well capable of controlling his actions. You write like a Lawson groupie – unwilling to see any wrong in the object of your affection.
“20 year old women know exactly what they are doing.”
What can one say to something so categorically inaccurate? Except that it’s categorically inaccurate.
This doesn’t mean that 20-year-old (or 18-year-old, or 30-year-old) women (or men) have no agency in or responsibility for their choices and the outcomes of their choices. However, even if any of us believes we know “exactly what we are doing” and how it will turn out, we’re wrong.
Anne,
It is the power dynamics and the spiritual abuse. Many walk away from the faith.
What he did was unacceptable, but you are sure making a lot of assumptions. By you knowing so much about how grooming works I could assume that you have experience…but I would not do that.
And you would have the heart of Christ, not the accusers who brought the woman caught in adultery…..
The “heart of Christ” is to promise freedom from the power of sin (John 8:34-36, Matthew 1:21) and to therefore say to the woman caught in adultery to “GO AND SIN NO MORE”, something he also says to the disabled man in John chapter 5.
He didn’t say “GO AND SIN NO MORE” to the Pharisees because he knew that they DID NOT BELIEVE in the power of God for one specific reason: John 5:44, 12:43.
John 3:18 explains why Jesus did not go about condemning.
That’s not AT ALL to say that he condoned sinning (i.e rebellion and ANTI-LOVE: Romans 13:8-10).
The meaning of HIS NAME and The CROSS prove that (even to those who ignore the entire thread of the Bible, specifically the New Testament).
FIVE YEARS? I’m not sure which I’m more shocked by, that his conscience allowed him to get away with it or that no one had any inkling.
Something about a seared conscience comes to mind.
I completely agree. Your words are mine. It is possible to become so hardened to the Holy Spirit that we know longer “feel” anything but I’m wondering how family and friends were able to be so blinded. Heartbreaking.
Exactly. How could a movement that pride’s itself on having razor sharp discernment on church matters and ministries not even detect this? How unqualified are these folks at protecting Christians hypocrites.
An “an inappropriate relationship” with woman in her late 20s that he only confessed to after the woman’s father threatened to expose him?! A minimum of 5 years of lying and deception from the pulpit. Hypocrisy to the max. He ignored all the alarms of his conscience for a long time.
Did the Word of God ever return void to the listening ears during those five years?
Phil Johnson: “. . . the girl’s father confronted . . .” So disrespectful to describe a 20-something adult as a child.
“…girl’s….” sounds so MacArthur-ish. TMS and Grace Church condescension.
Irony . . . Robert Morris called his target victim “a young lady” despite her having been a twelve-year-old girl when abuse began. Phil Johnson refers to Steve Lawson’s more-than-friend as a “girl.” In both cases, language is used to minimize the perceived severity of a man’s behavior.
At what point in your life do you cease from being someone’s child? My children are grown adults but they are still my children and I am still a mother. Maybe you’re alluding to the fact that the father projected himself into the situation because she IS an adult? Regardless of age, if I see someone harming my adult child and my adult child is not making a good choice – I’m going to offer voice into the situation, if not intervene on their behalf.
Jennifer, the issue is calling a 20 something year old woman a “girl”. It’s what Phil Johnson said, not about the father intervening in his daughter’s situation
The problem is that she is referred to as a “girl” by the pastor reporting (tweeting). She will always be her father’s daughter, but it would be just as accurate to state “the woman’s father”, and less… icky. Although, with a 50 year age difference, I see why he might be prone to refer to her as a child. She is not a child, she is a woman. It was not a parent referring to her as a “girl” it was one of Lawsons pastoral peers.
Women are often disrespected in this particular brand of christianity, and treated like children in these situations.
If she’s in her late 20s now, it’s not hard math to guess that she was in her mid 20s when it started, and The Masters Seminary is probably the most likely place for him to have met her. The fact that TMS is remaining silent makes this a slightly more probably speculation.
There are NO woman who attend the Master’s Seminary, plus, this young lady doesn’t live a State that any of the ministries are located!?!
Stop gossiping, it’s a sin!
The Bible has many passages that condemn gossip:
Proverbs 20:19: Do not associate with gossips.
Both Romans 1:29 and 2 Corinthians 12:20, condemn gossips as having depraved minds, and unfitting for Christians.
1 Timothy 5:1 and 2 Thessalonians 3:11, condemns gossips as “busybodies” who “speak about things not proper to mention.”
Titus 3:1-2, tells Christians to be peaceable, considerate, and gentle toward everyone, and to slander no one.
1 Thessalonians 5:11, calls Christians to build each other up and encourage each other, instead of tearing each other down and spreading gossip.
2 Timothy 3:1-3, describes gossips as being “without self-control, brutal, and not loving good.”
The Bible also says that people will be judged for the words they use, including gossip… so consider what you are declaring, and how God will see it!?!
Julie already debunked that there are NO women there. Also, the MacArthur world is small and intertwined. Their lack of transparency creates space for speculation- and it’s not idle speculation. If he had ONE inappropriate relationship with a woman he met through his ministries, it is irresponsible to assume that was the only one- and there should be an appropriate way for other victims to come forward.
Where were you when your Calvinistic Heresy Hunter brothers spoke gossip and called other believers “false teachers” online? Why didn’t you rebuke them? I guess you rebuke those that attack those you idolize or are in your Calvinistic camp.
People posting here are discussing the article and aren’t gossiping or starting rumors.
Brian, those are some excellent verses you provided in your comment, but what about the situation where a church leader will use them to suppress the reporting of abuse? Here is a prime example of how those scriptures can be twisted by a leader in order to keep victims silent, or in this case – intimidate witnesses of abuse:
Reporting Abuse About a Church Leader Is Gossip – Witness Lee – https://youtu.be/GiNW5AulkQI
She would not have had to be a student to meet him at the Master’s Seminary. She could’ve been support staff, a librarian, IT professional, or administrative assistant.
She was that father’s little girl. . .
“They’re doing the best they can in an impossible situation. Speak to them privately & individually before leaving over what they did or didn’t say publicly.”
If this is the best they can do, in a situation that is so commonplace as to be a punch line, then how pathetic is that, from men with such a profound concept of their own superiority? Congregants do not owe this leadership anything, certainly not to try to get a “private & individual” meeting with Big Cheeses they may never have spoken to.
When people show you who they are, believe it.
I’ve met Dr. Lawson at Southern Seminary when he gave lectures on the church fathers. He is a brilliant man with intellectual depth in various subjects. Many are not aware that he was a certified public accountant prior to entering the ministry. He has a marvelous sense of humor accompanied by a captivating laugh.
Something surely was missing in his personal life as he entered this latter portion of it. The woman involved was/is not a victim.
“Something surely was missing in his personal life as he entered this latter portion of it. The woman involved was/is not a victim.”
So it’s his wife’s fault? Seriously? And since when do Christians value intelligence over character? And I bet he’s not laughing now.
And a staggeringly low percentage of all comments I’ve read even mention the devastation of his wife and children.
It is YOU, Mary, who mentions his wife being at “fault,” not I.
Many factors can contribute to the psyche and inhibitions of a septuagenarian, especially males. He simply may have lost his way within his family; it happens and it is not a sin. Forty years of marriage and 40 years of preaching can cause the head and the heart to find an open door. In this, Steve is still human, and a male with much to offer. There is no blame toward his wife or his ministries, simply earth-bound weariness of them both.
Anne, ‘sometimes it just happens’ is such a GROSS response to clergy abuse. Please stop acting like this was an accident or inevitable, or a “whoopsie”. This PASTOR carried on an intentional relationship with a woman 45 years his junior for 5 years. That’s an active and ongoing choice, and if he couldn’t help himself he REALLY has no business being in any sort of leadership or decisionmaking position.
Also, almost no one would care about this if he didn’t spend his entire career (gleefully) condemning others for their intentional choices.
He may be brilliant and charming and all of that- but he’s also a liar, and adulterer and a hypocrite, and utterly disqulified from ministry or leadership, since he’s shown he’s so convincingly deceptive.
He preached hellfire and brimstone and eternal burning for the non-elect, almost gleefully, but actively chose to betray his marriage vows for 5 years. Don’t trust whatever “gospel” he preached- it has no power, it can’t even transform him enough to be faithful.
and if something was missing in his life, he should have tried therapy, not an affair.
“He may be brilliant and charming and all of that- but he’s also a liar, and adulterer and a hypocrite,”
Those often coincide.
No matter how great of a person he is/was, “whenever power is used in a way that wounds the vulnerable—that exploits trust—abuse has occurred. The word abuse simply means to use wrongly. When a person in power uses another who has come for help for his or her own ends, abuse has taken place” (In Our Lives First by Dianne Langberg, p. 112). Steve Lawson had great sway through his influence and fame. This is what is meant by “power” in the quote. The woman involved may have enjoyed his company, she may have felt valued and known by him and she might not have considered herself to be a victim of abuse, but she was used wrongly by Steve Lawson. That is the definition of abuse. And Steve Lawson is responsible for how he took advantage of his position and misused her. I just hope the affair doesn’t have lasting painful affects on her life🙏🏼
Jesus was not missing, so why is that an excuse to blame his wife? Jesus is our source and meets all our needs. He is our all in all and we cannot expect another human to take his place – especially to excuse a pastor of grievous lies and deception and lust.
If not for “the father” confronting Lawson, how long would the charade have continued? All talk of restoration to ministry is foolishness. God can raise up a new wave of pastors to replace the fallen ones.
I am so sorry for all who are heartbroken but I also rejoice that the Lord has given them all &even us yet another call to repentance. May He help us repent sincerely, return to His Word. Build your foundation on none other but The Lord, Jesus Christ. He Himself teaches us if we remain in His Word 1 John 2:27.If each as a little child is connected to the head, then as body we will function. The church of Christ is not unity in a building or denomination but in the Holy Spirit by His Word. Not the words of men.
He had a five-year relationship with a woman approximately 45 years his junior.
Who does he think he is, Robert De Niro? And she must’ve been really brainwashed, otherwise what’s in it for her, the opportunity to change his adult diapers in the not too distant future? And how dare the church discourage questions from the congregation! This is a time to ask questions not a time to be silent.
Five years no fornication? Hard to believe. But either way he was living a lie for at least 5 years — all the while preaching his TULIP heresy. Where was his relationship with God? Conviction?
Why would Steve Lawson think a 5 year non sexual pen pal campaign with a girl in her twenties to be an irresistible endeavor ? How’s that for weird. Maybe Steve turned into a Enuch in his late sixties. Since she is in another State then who contacted who ?
As usual, there are some good comments and some not-so-good comments in this thread. Nathan, you may want to re-word or re-think your editorial comment which labeled TULIP a heresy. Are you really saying that people who teach and confess Reformed doctrine are guilty of heresy? Or that Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, B.B. Warfield, Charles Hodge, J. Gresham Machen, James M. Boice, Donald Grey Barnhouse, R.C. Sproul. and the 17th Century English Puritans were heretics?
Julie Roys should know that neither this woman or any other has ever attended The Master’s Seminary. Roys knows Dr. MacArthur’s position on women in the ministry and that females are not allowed to attend TMS. Why Roys put this question to the school is curious.
Actually, I asked former TMUS administrator Dennis Swanson whether women ever are allowed to attend classes at the seminary. Dennis replied, “Some of the counseling classes, I believe, but very limited.”
Julie thanks for your response. And for all your work investigating to expose the truth. It can be difficult to dig out the truth from underneath multiple years and layers of lies and coverups. I do pray this young woman will have the strength to press charges if she is able and most importantly will know that God sees her and can heal her too.
Press charges?? Against a man you–as a legal adult– have been cavorting with (however deeply) for five years? Just what charges would that be and in what type of court? We’ll wait here.
Clergy abuse is illegal in some states. There is no legal way for a church leader to have a relationship with a member of their congregation in those states. We don’t know what state their affair happened in, or if she was a congregation member in one of those state, but it’s definitely possible that what he did is illegal as well as immoral.
this is why transparency is important.
Man. I expect this from the prosperity gospel Robert Morris types. But this one breaks my heart 💔😞
I don’t. That whole group of John Macarthur’s gang are all legalistic thugs that think they’re holier than thou and coverup spousal abuse and undermine women. God’s grace over them is over. Time for the whole reformed camp to open their eyes and realize they’ve been living in false idolatry and worshiping men rather than God. Read the bible for yourself and realize that reformed theology/calvinism is false teaching.
The fact that Johnson deleted the posts – none of which appeared to be slanderous in any way – makes me wonder if what he posted was true about the nature of the relationship and was about to be exposed as a liar.
What was wrong about the post? Did Lawson learn that the elders already knew? Thus, the “hiccup” sermon? As a way of swaying the congregation to his side? So, if he isn’t allowed to return, he can do what he did in Alabama and start a new congregation with loyalists from his old church?
Is the woman involved a lot younger than we’re being told, thus pushing the beginning of the “five-year” time frame into when she was a minor?
I would like to add to the comments so far. Lawson was a proponent of Lordship Theology (I listened to one of his sermons) where your works prove your salvation. This is mostly a Reformed belief. So, would the logical question be, Was he ever a Christian? Just asking. Now, I do not adhere to Lordship Theology and believe he is a Christian who has gone astray and hopefully he will allow the Holy Spirit to bring him to a thorough repentance so he can get his life straightened out. I also believe that the young lady involved was spiritually abused. Julie has done a great job helping us understand spiritual abuse. I pray she will realize what happened to her and get counseling. Lastly, from my years of experience, wives often turn a blind eye to their husband’s questionable behavior and could have put a stop to a sticky situation before it got out of hand. For the glory of God, they keep their mouths shut. I personally only know one pastor’s wife who confronted her husband and threw him out. Best thing that could have happened.
I was blessed by Steve Lawson preaching and writings committed to reformed theology, truth and Christ. OK! It’s finished! Lesson: Know that nobody right now hiding behind orthodoxy even in christian ministry but who had chosen Mammon, family privileges, secret sins, maintaining power at all cost even above the truth, without repentance, self righteous, all this above Christ, know this: The hounds of Heaven are after you who made Godlinees a means of gain. Some of you might even be condemners of Lawson right; now; Lawson did it too. I have prayed that God takes out all those who have nothing to do on a pulpit, even less touching it. celebrity or not. The hounds are coming. Sometimes I wish we would have an incineration reminder when someones dares touching a pulpit while blaspheming God. Sinners,we all are. Hypocritical pastors it does not work. God does not hold any flag beside His throne. Where is the trembling of the knees like a mighty Knox? Isaiah 33:14-17
“So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” – Acts 24:16
I won’t say Steve is a “favorite,” but I have trusted, and learned from some of his messages.
How?! How do you pull off the charade, and for so long, unless as said, you either have a seared conscience, or unless you do not truly believe what you are teaching.
I would say I’m “disappointed,” except I’m actually “disgusted.”
But for the Grace of God there goes I and you and you and you and you.
Remember the woman at the well AND the woman caught in adultery? And King David. Is this sin really worse than a “little white lie?” Is it more fun to gossip about? FYI. I have NEVER met Mr. Lawson nor heard him speak.
Neither the woman at the well nor King David were Christians!
Nobody was a Christian before the cross and resurrection.
Christians have ONE to imitate (1 Corinthians 11:1).
If you or anyone uses as reference point people living under the Old Covenant (David) or Old Testament Gentiles/pagans (the woman at the well) then you’re implying that Jesus, the cross, the resurrection, the Holy Spirit indwelling (John 7:39 & 14:16-27) and the New Covenant/Testament (which we also have WRITTEN DOWN) make no difference.
Do you realize that?
The definition of a Christian is given in John 1:12-13, Romans 8:9 & 14 and 2 Corinthians 13:5.
Passages like Romans 8 and Galatians 5 & 6 (and probably 90% of the New Testament) couldn’t exist in the Old Testament.
Please remember Luke 12:48:
“TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED”.
That beautiful, humbling, loving, quote from John Bradford, or whoever first coined it, is a wonderful reminder to us all, at all times.
However, I Corinthians says sexual sins are the only sins against the body, while others are outside of the body, so it is far more serious than a “white lie.”
The bigger picture here is of one getting lost – when they represent themselves to be the tour guide.
“Is this sin really worse than a ‘little white lie?’”
Yes. Yes it is. It’s much worse.
Are any pastors and teachers and Christian leaders given training in the realities of transference and counter transference as our therapist and other people in helping professions? I’m pretty sure the answer is no. What people don’t understand is that leadership and public ministry is a set up for the kind of thing that happens between sincere people who develop deep bonds, that are nevertheless inappropriate. To me, too much of this happens because of a lack of preparation for the kinds of relationships and ministry brings about, especially between men and women. It’s not just a matter of self-control, it’s a matter of understanding, the psychological and interpersonal dynamics attached to helping professions and leadership roles. Hope we will start learning from these kinds of experiences that we need to prepare people more thoroughly in advance better to build the guard rail at the top of the cliff to run the ambulance service at the bottom.
Julie, I appreciate your investigative work. I attend Trinity Bible Church and was present for Mark Becker’s sermon. He was not trying to say that the only question that is important is where the church is headed nor do I think he was discouraging questions. In the sermon which I just listened to again on the church website, he says that it’s been a sobering, emotional week with many questions, and there will continue to be many questions. Given the context of his comment and having experienced the leadership of the elders, I think the heart of the sentence you quoted could have more accurately been stated by Mark as “what I think is most important to address right now…”. Acknowledging everyone’s pain and the re-affirmation of what Trinity will continue to strive for was comforting to many. I also believe it’s essential that more questions are addressed by the elders ASAP, but I don’t think it’s fair at this point to assume that they’re trying to gloss things over or dismiss valid concerns.
Quite apart from the woman’s family and herself for being exploited in the way she was, I feel sorry for Dr Lawson too. I don’t hold to Calvinistic theology at all, but this situation exposes it for its weaknesses most clearly. At its core is determinism, so this means that it was God’s will to make him behave in this way and to remove him from the pulpit (which seems ironic if he could not help what he did as though it was an avoidable choice he made). If any good can come of this, then let him question what his theological position is becuase it seems to me that Calvinism has no room for Grace (and therefore there is no Jesus) – whatever these Calvinistic preachers say to the contrary – and that is something he needs most of right now. Maybe God has used him in a greater manner than his arrogance believed it to be – and out of it will come humility and repentence for preaching the wrong God – one who is without mercy and without grace and who is the creator of all sin and evil as well as good.
A gross mischaracterization of reformed theology. If this comment isn’t removed it should be ignored.
Calling a 5 year inappropriate relationship with a woman (while continuing to preach on sin and having a very active social media presence) “nothing worse than a little white lie”?? (latest comment).
Do people realize that the name of Christ is being defamed through all of this (and the Robert Morris scandal among others) because secular media are rightly reporting on it?
Many pagans and atheists would not think of carrying on secret relationships while presenting another image in their work!
Folk professing Christ are implying that not only does the HOLY (HOLY!!) Spirit indwelling make no difference but that it makes people worse than pagans.
Well I for one believe that that’s precisely why Romans 6 & 1st John (especially chapter 3) were written.
Galatians 5:19-24 is also a litnus test.
As it says in 1st John 3:7 & 10, echoing Jesus’s words about “knowing them by their fruits”:
“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does not do righteousness is not of God, neither is he that does love not his brother”
This fall stings like few others. Lawson was my second favorite preacher teacher right behind McArthur. Just saw Lawson speak at G3 last year. Of course we don’t put our faith in man, but man this is a major gut punch. I listened to his videos many for motivation to get out on to the streets to witness. All I can say is Lord come quickly.
I wasn’t surprised at Lawson’s infidelity.
Only fools got surprised.
Lawson allied himself with John MacArthur, whose church and university are full of all sorts of abominations. Master’s university has %50+ divorce rate. MacArthur’s church is even worse. Yet MacArthur’s propaganda machine presents themselves as models of high morality. So many people around MacArthur or who worked directly for MacArthur ended up in wife abuse, people abuse, child abuse, child molestation and other such horrible sins. MacArthur’s ministry is more like Sodom and Gomorrah.
Steve Lawson has always been an abominable creature, neglecting his duties to his local church and doing a lot of church hoping and conference speaking in different states, polishing his celebrity persona and basking in his glory. As for his sermons, it was 1 hour platitudes and synonyms. What he could say in 10 minutes he ended up extending to 60 minutes.
I don’t believe this is sexual abuse. First, there was no sex. Secondly, she lived in a different state, all she had to do is not answer his texts or emails. She is an adult who knew he was married, but chose to carry on the affair, she was not coerced. She had nothing to lose, he had everything to lose. I don’t think she’s a victim. She’s an equally guilty party.
Veria, every statement you make is an assumption and speculation, because they are not being transparent, there’s been no independent investigation, and they are intent to keep things quiet.
Unless you have some inside knowledge, it could be equally true that there WAS a sexual component, he pursued her, she was his student, he also knew he was married and chose to carry on an affair, she WAS coerced, held power and authority over her and told her this was God’s will, and she will lose everything.
See? See how we don’t actually know what happened because there’s no transparency?
Based on the fact that he had a secret relationship for FIVE YEARS, I’m less likely to believe any version of things he puts forward- he’s proven he’s good at lying.