Steve Lawson - No one is immune from sin!

Another minister has fallen.

The saga of Steve Lawson

If you would rather listen to this content, I recorded it on youtube at 7 Lessons from a Fallen Minister

Popular pastor and Bible teacher, Steve Lawson has had to resign from his church and his ministry after having confessed (to the board) having an inappropriate relationship with another woman. He was the pastor of Trinity Bible Church in Texas.

There are many questions surrounding what took place. 

What took place? 

Who knew? 

When did this happen? 

What will the church do?

All of these are questions that many people want answers to. We should be careful with the information because sometimes, people want details just to gossip over them.

I just have a few thoughts on this matter.

First, no one is so far advanced in their Christian faith that they are immune to sin.

1 Corinthians 10:12 says, "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!"

No one is immune to sin. 

We like to think that we don't have to concern ourselves over certain temptations. And it is true that we each have our own particular areas of strengths and weaknesses. But anyone of us could fall if we are not careful.

Second, some sins are worse than others.

It is true that even one sin will condemn you to hell unless you are forgiven. However, that doesn't mean all sins are the same on earth.

We see this in daily life. While the Sermon on the mount, Jesus said if you have hatred for your brother in your heart, you are guilty of murder.

But murder in the flesh, murder in real life - not just in your heart, is far worse.

The law will never send you to prison because you had hate in your heart. But once you kill someone, it's a whole different story.

Third, Adultery is one sin the Bible gives serious warnings about.

Listen to what Proverbs 5 has to say about following after loose women. I think this would apply whether it is fornication or adultery.

"(8) Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house; (9) or you will give your honor to others, and your years to the merciless, (10) and strangers will take their fill of your wealth, and your labors will go to the house of an alien; (11) and at the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are consumed, (12) and you say, 'Oh, how I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! (13) I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors. (14) Now I am at the point of utter ruin in the public assembly.'"

There are SERIOUS consequences to sexual sin.

A few years ago, a preacher got rebuked for saying that 'God whispers about sexual sin.'

No! God shouts about sexual sin because it is a serious matter.

Back to Steve Lawson. Did he commit adultery or fornication? We don't know.

The reason we don't know is that his sin was not confessed!

What he confessed is having an inappropriate relationship with a woman.

I spent a lot of time around members of alcoholic anonymous groups. One of the things they emphasized was being honest about their failings.

Fourth, we are promised forgiveness if we confess our SINS.

If you look through the Bible, what you won't find is the sin of inappropriate relationships.

I am not interested in the details of Lawson's sin - what I am interested in is him confessing the right thing.

We use the word "inappropriate" for all kinds of things. You can have inappropriate clothes for the occasion.  You can make an inappropriate joke. The word "inappropriate" doesn't identify sin - and sin is what needs to be confessed.

Is it humiliating to have to name the sin? It may well be. But if we downplay it by using unbiblical words, we are not helping ourselves or others.

Part of the reason for this need is for Steve Lawson and part for the members of his church.

Until he clearly understands that he sinned against God, not just his church, his wife, his children, and the other woman, he cannot truly repent.

Many people are sorry when they are caught. But they are sorry for the consequences of their actions - not the actions themselves.

Fifth, the church needs to clarify this if Steve Lawson doesn't.

The elders have a duty to the congregation for this.  Again, this is not to mock or humiliate further him, but to show and warn the congregation of the dangers of playing with sin.

Part of the reason the state punishes people who commit crimes is to deter other people from doing the same thing. We need to see the consequences of specific actions.

Right now, we see some consequences, but we don't really know what these consequences are for.

Did he tell some off-color jokes? Did he send some flirty texts? Did he have an abusive relationship?

Again, we don't know and so we can't be properly deterred.

Sixth, we need to pray for everyone involved.

There are many hurting people now. Our duty is to pray for repentance, for forgiveness, for reconciliation.

Even if Steve Lawson is truly repentant, his relationship with his family and friends will never be the same.

Seventh and finally, we need to be careful lest we fall.

Men probably need to employ some form of the Billy Graham rule. That is, don't spend time alone with other women. It is sometimes modified to don't go somewhere alone with a woman where alcohol is served.

In other words, men - be careful.

For women - understand this, you have not found a good man if he will cheat with you. You have found a cheater. In addition, understand the need for modesty - for your own soul's sake and for the sake of others.

Ok, that's it. 

This is Pastor John, Christ is still king, God bless you.

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