John MacArthur Speaks Out on Steve Lawson: “The Lord Said ‘That’s Enough.'”
During a Grace Community Church Sunday night service, Pastor John MacArthur answered a question about his friend, former Trinity Bible Church pastor and former Master’s Seminary professor Steve Lawson, stating one of the ways God loves and purifies the church is “to expose someone in a position they have no right to be in.”
MacArthur provided an update on his heart surgery, recovery, and an estimated 5-6 weeks before his strength returns enough to preach, even while noting humorously that he was “strong enough to have a conversation.”
Describing Lawson as an “unfaithful leader,” MacArthur noted that “the enemy makes an effort to plant someone in this church who has a corrupting influence.” He stated that Lawson remains his friend but doesn’t understand how Lawson could “preach past his conscience.”
MacArthur finished by saying, “While my heart is crushed for the sinner, it is grateful for the Savior who has purified his church.”
Details have been thin regarding the exact nature of Lawson’s “inappropriate relationship” revealed a little over a month ago, yet sources close to the situation have reported that the young woman Lawson was involved with has been cooperative and repentant regarding her sinful relationship with the long-serving pastor. Lawson remains silent and, by all reports, unrepentant and uncommunicative, but the young woman’s reported repentance is encouraging and should cause believers not to seek to expose her identity.
Reports from GCC staff had revealed a genuine possibility that Steve Lawson would have been tapped to fill in for John MacArthur when he no longer was preaching at Grace Community Church (while a permanent replacement was sought), so it appears providence protected the church from being led – even temporarily – by a disqualified false shepherd.
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So, she, an unattached single woman, obviously can just move on without consequences other than, “Yeah, I repent”? but let’s publish Lawson’s name everywhere?
If I were a newspaper, I’d find her name and publish it everywhere. She spent 5 years, five years, choosing to help bring out the worst in a man through an adulterous affair and only allegedly repented when caught. I call BS.
This doesn’t negate all the issues with Lawson but give me a break
Yes! Genuinely repentant sinners who are in their 20’s get treated differently than leaders who abused their position by turning into disgusting, leering old men who are unrepentant and knew better. What part don’t you get? Seriously!
she is not a leader of a flock who has dedicated her life in preaching and teaching God’s word!!! BIG difference. I’m shocked you don’t understand what a big deal this is. it’s BIG.
Seems rather quick for her to be suddenly “repentant” after a 5 year adulterous relationship. But God knows her heart, not me, and giving someone repentance is His work.
This false shepherd ate the sheep! Enough said!
Does this not bring into question the tens of thousands who never suspected anything as they faithfully and captively set under this man’s teachings? Why are they so unable to discern? I mean this was five years! What about his supervisors, or peers, or elders? What about John MacArthur? How could this man go unrecognized as a wolf by so many, so called Christians, for so long? How could a degenerate’s teachings be so well respected and openly received by so many followers. There must have been glitches, there must have signs, right? I sure hope that I would not be fooled for 5 years by a wolf. Maybe all who followed him should reevaluate themselves. Maybe there is something very significant in his followers’ walk with God that the words of hallow man are found to be captivating and affirmed. Just a thought here but those who followed with no inkling of anything have to examine themselves for maybe their version of Christianity is too easy, too light, wrongly focused at least to some degree, and too susceptible to ear scratching teachers (whatever their itch may be)?
If you listen to MacArthur’s comments, it is clear that he now thinks that Lawson should have never been appointed to the positions he held — and MacArthur appointed him to some. In addition, MacArthur obviously thinks that Lawson was never, “one of the elect.” Maybe Calvinists ought to do some rethinking of their theology.