Steve Lawson Ministry Issues Statement: ‘(His sin) disqualified him from ministry…he regrets the damage he has caused’
Steve Lawson’s OnePassion Ministry has released a statement about his recent implosion and revelation of an inappropriate relationship with a woman, filling in some of the gaps from the church’s own statement about his actions and what the consequences will be.
OnePassion Ministries, which Lawson founded, exists to “ignite a supreme passion for God and His glory in all people throughout the world” and to “equip and energize a new generation of Bible expositors.”
Lawson is well-known as an advocate for careful and robust Bible exegesis, and the ministry served to “impart the knowledge of the truth by equipping pastors and church leaders, maturing lay people, and launching a new reformation in the church today.
The website, which at present only consists of a single page with a statement, reads:
OnePassion Public Statement
The board of OnePassion Ministries mournfully announces that just recently Steven J. Lawson confessed to the board that he has had an inappropriate relationship with a woman, a sin that has disqualified him from ministry. In response Steve has resigned from all his duties at OnePassion Ministries.
All scheduled events and engagements have been cancelled.
Steve has confessed and regrets the damage he has caused to his family, the church, the reputation of OnePassion Ministries and most of all Jesus Christ.
We are saddened for the glory of Christ in this matter. The truth of the gospel will continue go out to the lost world as it is empowered by the Holy Spirit and not by men. It is a reminder that we have been warned of the craftiness of the enemy.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).”
The statement confirms that Lawson is disqualified from the ministry and not just on indefinite leave, as well as is at present personally repentant, something the church’s statement was unclear on.
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Wow, this just shows that Man at his best is just man and is subject to failure, just look back over all the patriots of scripture. My prayers are for Bro Lawson and his family and for the true church that the eternal God will bring us through to the other side of this VICTORIOUS!!
Loser still won’t call it “adultery” because he is an unbeliever, so he calls it an “inappropriate relationship” like an atheist feminist.
If it is full blown adultery then he should state it as such, and not simply call it an “inappropriate relationship.” At this point though I don’t think we can assume it’s adultery until we know for certain. Beware calling Steve an unbeliever lest you make yourself out to be God.
@Jorgen
I almost never respond or comment to things posted on the internet because of all the hate and anger. Please do not take this comment as either of those. I was just wondering though, is that hurt, anger or both you are trying to display in your comment?
This is tragic on so many levels. We should be praying for all those hurt buy this (his wife, his children and others especially the church and ministry) instead of casting stones as the Pharisees had done. I am fairly confident that as he brought it out into the open and not others, that he is already feeling bad enough.
While yes, it may be “adultery” and “SOUNDS” like it very well could be. We do not know to what level this was. Nor do we know if this is actually his regret and repenting to the leadership, over thoughts of lust towards a woman (even without acting on his impulses) should that be the case. As we know “that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
So, perhaps the act of adultery that you seem to be condemning may very well be the beginning steps of his repentance. Repentance for a sin that you and I and so many others have fallen prey to ourselves at least once in our lives. We do not know but perhaps he felt convicted to “confess his sins as we are to do one to another”, knowing what it would cost him greatly to be right with God. I am not trying to justify sin all, his, yours or mine; merely the way that it seems that it is being viewed, as though he couldn’t have possibly been a believer.
I reality we do not know anything, and it is easy to criticize and condemn with the minimal amount of information that we have now or will have unless Mr. Lawson, makes a statement personally. Should he do so, we might know more, but even if he does, ONLY GOD knows his heart!
We should be careful to avoid statements like “loser” and “because he is an unbeliever” as it is ONLY GOD that knows the heart of man!! None of us, see the full picture, unless we understand your comment to mean that at this point in time, you have so many more FACTS that are unknown to the rest of us?
I pray that you receive this well and understand that none of us EVER, see the full picture that God sees! Therefore, we must all be very careful. This is especially important assuming that you are a believer yourself and merely a person who trolls the internet seeking to hurt others or their families. If the later is the case perhaps there is repenting needed by more than one.
“inappropriate relationship” would imply quite a bit worse than thoughts of lust. Thoughts of lust do not constitute a relationship. Such a relationship would unquestionably meet the Biblical definition of adultery.
As you say, whether or not he himself repented, as a matter of the Holy Spirit convicting him of his sin, how much time elapsed, etc. are all factors we must consider when judging the fruit, as to whether or not he is truly born again. The Bible says one who is born of God will not continue in sin (1 John 3). We may sin, but we will not continue in it. And when we do, there are consequences. The grace of God must not be perverted into a license to sin (Jude, 2 Peter, etc.). This is how we determine whether or not he may truly be born again. But the fact that he is disqualified from ministry, according to scriptural standards, has already been established, even by himself. No doubt he is disqualified.
As you say, we do not have enough information to make a determination, and should be very careful.
Some may disagree, but that’s how I see it. In some cases, where the fruit is very evident, we know with quite a bit of certainty that the individual is not a born again Christian. In other cases, it’s a tough call. And there are times when we do need to make that call. Right. For example, when people go around claiming the nazis where Christians, we have to make that call, and explain how they were not. That’s an extreme example, but it makes the point. Jesus would not have told us to judge by the fruit, if He didn’t intend for us to judge by the fruit.
I’m not rebuking anyone here, Just sharing my thoughts. Could be wrong.
We don’t know all details, but let’s say it is Adultery and Steve Lawson is repentant, he may not qualify for the ministry but God’s grace can forgive him. To say that “we know with quite a bit of certainty that he is not a born again Christian” is to deny that Christians can be restored to God’s fellowship by repentance and forgiveness of sins.
Keep in mind that King David committed Adultery and God severely chastened him for it. He did not even come forward but had to be confronted by Nathan the prophet. Yet the Bible never says that David was an unbeliever. If fact God Himself described David as a man after God’s own heart – except for the matter of Uriah the Hittite (which was Bathsheba’s husband David had killed to hide his sin), then we should give those in similar sins benefit of doubt in hopes that they too will repent as David did. (Psalm 51).
Christ gives instructions how to practice church discipline on unrepentant believers, but also how to restore those who repent to fellowship. (Matthew chapter 18), and the only reason He gives for the church to deal with it publicly is if the one sinning is not hearing the matter and willing to repent. Christ says if the offending brother hears and repents, “thou hast gained thy brother” (vs. 15).
The Apostle Paul also gives instructions how to handle this in 1 Corinthians chapter 5; and he mentions to restore the brother in 2 Corinthians 2:6-8; Galatians 6:1.
Christians should pray for those caught up in a public or grievous sin, and call that one to repentance that he or she might be restored. That’s the difference Christ makes as opposed to the world that kicks their own when they are down.
I agree that Steve Lawson’s public sin warrants disqualification from the ministry he had, but if he is truly repentant, God’s grace will forgive and restore him. The context of “by their fruits ye shall know them” is said of Christ in Matthew chapter 7, and the context there is False Teachers. To my knowledge Dr. Lawson was teaching biblical truth, not heresy. He violated scripture and sinned against God. Once he truly confesses to all parties (mankind and God) he can be restored to fellowship with other believing Christians. However he is disqualified from the Pastoral and Bible Teaching ministry according to the guidelines in 1 Timothy chapter 3.
After things calm down and he is seen as truly repentant and restored , he could be used by God on an individual basis to share with others as a witness what God did in his life.
To write him off as a false teacher is to give him no hope. Christ gives hope. The False Teachers Christ spoke of are those who insist on spreading heresy and have not desire to repent. They are apostates. An apostate does not want God’s forgiveness.
I did not say “we know with quite a bit of certainty that he [Lawson] is not a born again Christian”
That’s a completely dishonest, deceitful, fake quote. A total fabrication, and false accusation.
Now are you, yourself, going to honor Matt 18, and repent for sinning against me?
Or are you going to continue in your sin?
What I said was “As you say, we do not have enough information to make a determination”, and as it pertains to the part that you cherry-picked, took out of context, and derived your fake quote from, “In other cases, it’s a tough call” – Which applies to this case. We don’t know in this case.
And of course, Matt 18 is a perfect example of the fact that we can and should call out fakes and frauds. Those who call themselves Christians, yet continue in sin, remain unrepentant. In that case we can say with quite a bit of certainty that they are an unbeliever. We not only can, we should. (and again, I’m not talking about Lawson – just a hypothetical case – I am well aware that Lawson has repented)
But in Matt 18, Jesus prescribes three chance to repent, after which they are to be treated as an unbeliever. Paul gives three chances in 2 Cor. 13:1-3.
That’s three chances to repent, for a trespass against a brother, before we can say, with certainty, that they are an unbeliever, to be treated as a gentile or tax collector. Though trespasses against the Lord are not ours to forgive, it seems to me that we can and often should make the same evaluation if someone defiantly, repeatedly refuses to repent to Him. In such a case, it’s clear they are an unbeliever.
The ultimate questions are how many chances should be given to repent, at what point can we say they are an unbeliever, what constitutes continence in sin, what is true repentance, how are trespasses between brothers and sisters different than trespasses against the Lord, and so on. We can debate according to scripture. But if I were to say that someone who remains rebellious and defiant, and continues in sin for as long as it takes to refuse to repent three times, they’re likely an unbeliever, that would be in keeping with scripture.
There are indeed cases where we can say with quite a bit of certainty, and often should.
If one repents of trespasses against us, then we are to forgive an unlimited amount of times. But if they refuse to repent, that’s an entirely different deal.
But as I said, I’m well aware that Larson has repented. I should not have to go to great lengths to explain my original comment to which you responded. It’s clear enough that I was not talking about Dr. Lawson, when I said that in some cases we can be certain about the individual in question, and I believe most everybody understood that.
The other guy above, talking about not knowing his heart. I’ve heard it a million times, anytime somebody sins, “we don’t know their heart!”
Yes we do. Mark 7:21-23. Pop quiz. Where does Jesus say sin comes from?
A) the heart
B) the heart
C) the heart
D) all of the above
Then the implication “let’s say it was adultery”, as if by the secular world’s definition. I already said it was adultery, by Gods definition. Just the relationship. It was unfaithfulness, and the Bible repeatedly refers to unfaithfulness as adultery. But if it ever reaches the point of physical, that’s always going to be the result of a continuance in sin. That’s never the first sin. There are always many sins leading up to it.
Maybe the major error, Mr. Strickland, is the assumption that the individual described in 1 Cor. 5 was a truly born again believer. Paul does not refer to him as a brother, or anything of the sort. Only that he was among them. The individual in question might’ve called himself a believer, but he certainly wasn’t. And they’re not told disfellowship him gently. No, they’re told kick him out , deliver him to Satan, and purge the wickedness from your midst.
If we say someone isn’t truly a believer, that’s present tense. It is not to say they never will be. Rather it is to say, we hope one day they will truly repent and submit to the Lord. It is said so those who hear will know. Because their eternity is on the line also. And on judgement day, when Jesus is on the throne, He is not going to judge anyone based on what anyone in their local church or fellowship thought about anything whatsoever. Whether or not they’re brought into fellowship, or back into fellowship, in the here and now, has no bearing whatsoever on where they will spend eternity (which 1 Cor. 5 also notes, if you pay close attention – disfellowshipping may be the wake-up call that is needed)
When God’s word makes such calls, and says such seemingly mean things, it is not out of hate. It is out of love. So it is when we say such things, and do so honestly.
Is it possible for a man to be a professing Christian for decades, to be a well-known minister, to have constantly preached in line with scripture, never spoken a word of heresy, to be highly regarded among men, and to have never truly been born again? You’d better believe it is possible. It’s absolutely possible.
As I stated before, I don’t agree with Jorgen’s assessment in this case, without having more information, but that is not to say that it isn’t possible. You’d better believe it’s possible.
We talk about 1 Cor. 5, and how it should be applied, but I don’t know of any church or denomination in existence, at this time in history, that has honored it. You go in many churches, and the pastor’s children are the most sexually immoral people in the building. So commonplace, it’s an old joke.
The church has been falling away for a very long time. Only now are the birth pangs increasing.
Sure, the way you and Jimmy describe it C.T., is the way it has been for a very long time, almost borderline antinomianism. But when’s the last time you ever heard of any church anywhere honoring 1 Cor. 5, and kicking out all the sexually immoral? It never happens, especially not with any consistency and impartiality, without hypocrisy. As soon as a church does that, the wicked start shouting Hester Prynne, because they’ve been conditioned and brainwashed to believe contrary to scripture. So what’s the point in even discussing what that scripture says, and how it applies, when we all know good and well the church isn’t going to honor it in the first place. Something unbiblical will be done, no doubt, in this case, as it is in every other, because that’s the only alternative. If the sin continued to the point where it became physical, then yes, he should be kicked out, just like millions of others should’ve been kicked out. It should be done. Will it be done? No, it won’t. And we know it won’t.
Heck, I’m posting on a site where I was ridiculed by other posters for being an old virgin. These days, being sexually immoral is just about a required prerequisite for attendance. Prevailing psychology and sociology rules. And a man such as myself is considered to have something wrong with him, and to be too abnormal for fellowship.
That’s about how much the church doesn’t follow 1 Cor. 5. These days, it just about does the opposite of what the Bible requires.
It’s a waste of time to even bring it up. It will not be honored.
Being a false teacher is a violation of the role of leadership. Don’t split hairs with unknown false teaching and willful deception. This man has engaged in repeated willful and sustained deception. Lawson committed adultery in a public way- in the presence of staff at remote location meetings. All of which implies an attitude of arrogance and impertinence, not remorse or someone “caught up in the affair.” He stole money from ministry to transport/pay for illicit activities. He is a thief- again a sign of narcissistic behavior/attitude indicating he didn’t think consequences were for him. None of these show a spirit moving to remorse, repentance, and restoration.
Restoring a person who is broken by their mistakes is one thing, letting the shepherd off the hook because of his position is another. Lawson isn’t suicidal as shown by his choices post discovery. To restore this man to leadership sends a terrible message. What do teens or young men see? “Hey, to heck with these sin scare tactics, do what you want. These fools with their misplaced forgiveness won’t do anything about it.” Counseling is good, but actions are key. He can remain a member of the church if he ends the relationship with the woman. He cannot divorce, marry the mistress, and wander amongst the congregation. OH NO! As June Hunt wrote, reconciliation by the offender requires time, consistent honest interactions with the one hurt (here the congregation), and a change of behavior.
If a former rapist becomes a Christian in prison, once released would you let him coach your daughter’s soccer team? Or would you wisely say, “That’s a bridge too far. Too much temptation.” Restoration is great, don’t throw critical thinking out the window.
I don’t know why you had such a knee-jerk reaction to my post. But Mr. Strickland, one cannot be restored to something they never were. Alright. Saying someone is not truly a born again Christian, cannot possibly be the same as saying a Christian cannot be restored to fellowship. You make no sense whatsoever. And I think you’re somewhat confusing sins against the Lord with sins against one another. We can forgive trespasses against us. We cannot forgive trespasses against the Lord. Could an individual who is disfellowshpped and kicked out per 1 Cor. 5, be restored? I suppose so, but they would have to repent before ever stepping foot back into the church, and there would have to be sufficient time to evaluate the fruit, to ensure the repentance was genuine. (inasmuch as I understand the scripture, though the scriptures you referenced do not apply to instances where the Lord has required an individual to be kicked out). The first and foremost test being that the individual in question should not be demanding, or even expecting, to be brought back into fellowship. That’s automatic bad fruit right there, by itself. He or she should, for the sake of the Lord, be willing to suffer any perceived wrong. (1 Cor. 6 follows 1 Cor. 5, for a reason)
In the case of one who is not truly born again, there are some who the Bible says are beyond redemption (False teachers already condemned from long ago – Jude, 2 Peter 2, those who God has given over to strong delusion, to ensure they will be condemned – 2 Thess. 2), we don’t know who they are. And I would never, of anyone, say they are beyond redemption. I’d never say that. I never have said anything of the sort. The Bible says there are indeed such people who are already condemned as they live and breath, but I don’t know who they are, and wouldn’t presume to know.
If we fail to make the calls, when applicable, we not only would be complicit in the perversion of grace into a license to sin, we would be unloving. It’s not ultimately about whether or not somebody is in fellowship with others in the here and now. It’s about where they will spend eternity.
But as I said, I made no such call about Dr. Lawson. I don’t know if you severely misread what I wrote, or your devious response was intentional. That’s for the Lord to know. But you do need to repent for making up a fake quote, in an attempt to draw something I said out of context, to mean something entirely different, thereby falsely accusing me. Mr. Strickland, you should repent of that. You owe me an apology. And it needs to be said here, just as public as the sin you committed.
So by Matt 18, if Mr. C.T. Strickland checks back here, and I suspect he will, then I’ll know in due time with quite a bit of certainty, and if there is no repentance for falsely accusing me, he will be as a gentile or tax collector to me, and I will consider him to be an unbeliever …
Dude. You’re going to give yourself a heart attack or some kind of wretched autoimmune disease if you don’t calm down. Get off the internet and get outside. You’re thinking about this way too much.
I will still listen to his sermons if they remain available . He is a great teacher.
If we remove every pastor that lusted after a women then who would preach?
Only men blind from birth would be qualified to be a pastor
This was not merely a one time moral failure. This went on for FIVE years. During those five years, he lived a lie. He lived a lie with his wife of 54 years. He lived a lie within all of the organizations he leads. He lived a lie everytime he preached. He lived a lie with his brethren. He lived a lie with Jesus Christ. People need to stop treating like this was a weak moment by a person who otherwise had a solid realationship with God. He did not have a solid relationship with God or this would not have gone on for five years, only to be confessed because he knew it was going to be exposed. What was going on in his relationship with God during the five years he was hiding a secret life? Yes, we are all sinners, but that is not meant to be an excuse for sin. His Calvinist friends need to ask how a person who calls himself ELECT of God and who believes in irresistable grace could live in sin for this long. Did God ordain this? I’m not trying to be sarcastic. I’m just asking. I hope he repents and comes to know Christ. That is what matters.
T and Timmy,
We are to worship and raise up Christ not man. While this is tragic…Steve is just a man. We are quick to condemn, let him who is innocent throw the 1st stone. A husband of a wife for 40yrs 4 grown children. Him 70 something, this woman 20 something. He has lost everything! And so he should!
I pray for his family, the members of his church, and Steve’s heart and soul. Mostly I pray for the damage to God’s manifestative glory here on earth for those who are disillusioned by the fall of this man. May there be a crying out to hold “ALL” men accountable. And never forget that means all men, those who think they do not fall under the preview of their brothers are setting themselves up to fall. 1Cor 10:11-12