Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to read the headlines that a prominent pastor has fallen into sin. But the national news that surfaced earlier this month was a gut punch that I wasn’t ready for. The vast majority of church scandals are surrounding pastors that I would quantify as shallow in theology and deep in charisma. They are the false teachers that are entertaining the masses and itching ears each Sunday. So, for the most part, I’m not too surprised when I see celebrity pastors fall because most of them were never biblically qualified in the first place.
However, when Pastor Anthony sent me a text on the afternoon of Thursday, September 20th informing me of the news that Steve Lawson had been removed from ministry due to an inappropriate relationship with another woman, I was utterly shocked. Steve Lawson was on my Mount Rushmore of influential theologians. In fact, when it comes to faithfully expositing the Word of God, he likely would have occupied my top slot.
Over the past decade, I have been deeply edified and greatly shaped by the ministry of Steven J. Lawson. So this news was dizzying for me. It’s a weird place when you start hypothetically hoping that your hero committed a certain sin, rather than other sins. It’s an even weirder place when you find yourself wishing he would have died suddenly instead of THIS. At 73, he was (seemingly) so close to the finish line.
As more details come to light, including the duration of his sin, more questions arise for me to wrestle with. Is this man a false teacher? Is this man even regenerate?? Speculated answers won’t help my emotions. Like hundreds of thousands around the world who have been impacted by Lawson, I am having to navigate the confusion, sadness, anger, and discouragement.
Thankfully, the discouragement is quickly satiated by the truth of the Bible. The truth is that nothing can hinder the redeeming work of the gospel of Christ. The good news will continue to be heralded, men and women will continue to come to saving faith in Jesus, the Lord will continue to build his church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
This gut punch serves as a warning. Sin is no respecter of persons. And the deceitfulness of sin is mighty. The rightful response of the Christian should obviously include grief and prayer, but I think it must also include humility. These kind of tragedies can serve us well if we approach them as check-points for self-examination and introspection.
In 1 Corinthians 10:12, Paul writes, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” It’s important to understand that none of us are beyond the snares of the enemy. The moment we think we are not susceptible to sin is the moment we let our guard down, which becomes the moment that we give the devil an opportunity (Ephesians 4:27).
The serpent is just as crafty today as he was in Eden (Genesis 3:1). Sin is dangerously deceitful (Hebrews 3:13). Its desire is to rule over us (Genesis 4:7). In fact, sin is not satisfied until it brings forth death (James 1:15). Which is why we must “take heed.”
But how? How do we take heed? How do we stay vigilant? How do we stay spiritually alert? How do we “gird up the loins of our mind” (1 Peter 1:13)? Certainly this answer could be an entire dissertation. We could explore exactly what is meant by “taking up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). We could discuss how exactly one “keeps in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). We could ponder Jesus’ words in Gethsemane to “watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Matthew 26:41).
But, for the sake of driving home a biblical precept that is difficult for many of us, I want to highlight the importance of community. Hebrews 3:13 says, “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” In other words, we need to be encouraged and challenged by our spiritual brothers and sisters daily. We need one another.
Over 50 times in the New Testament, we are commanded to feel, say, or do something to “one another.” Why? Because community is of utmost importance. God has wired us for community. That’s why bars, clubs, and social organizations are so popular. The church, however, is to practice a type of community that is different. We are to enter in with the intent of being fully known.
Being fully known is scary. That’s why most of us won’t do it. We’ve been hurt too much. We’ve lost trust. We’d rather attend a weekly Sunday-morning masquerade than to bear our soul to somebody else. Or, worse yet, what if we are entrusted to bear somebody else’s burden?
Our culture has driven us toward selfishness, secrecy, isolation, and autonomy. And Satan drives our culture (John 12:31). The enemy’s strategy is always to divide & conquer, because he knows that we are stronger together (Ecclesiastes 4:12). Therefore, if we are to be strong, then we need to be together. We need to prioritize community. It will likely be inconvenient. It will exhaust you. People will annoy you. But it might just save your soul.