I have not written thus far on the latest sad case of a Christian leader and his very public fall, partly because I likely would not say much of anything different from past articles that I penned discussing Christian leaders and pastors who had sinned in similar fashion. The same biblical principles apply, although individual circumstances will of course vary.
And I do not know all the details about this latest case, and in some ways, I do not really want to know. But the very first reaction of any real deal Christian upon hearing about a well-known Christian who has a sexual – or other – fall should be one of prayer: pray for the one who has fallen and all those adversely affected by it.
It should not in any way be a reaction of ‘I knew it’ or some sort of glee in pointing out his sins and rejoicing in any way in his fall. These things should sadden us greatly, and they should send us straight to our knees, praying not just for the latest situation, but indeed, praying for ourselves.
So we all now should be praying for Steve Lawson. The 73-year-old preacher at Trinity Bible Church in Dallas, and President of OnePassion Ministries, and a major figure in the Reformed world, has stepped down due to an “inappropriate relationship” with a woman.
He is well known as an able expositor of Scripture. He was mentored by R. C. Sproul and has taught at Ligonier Ministries, and he was also associated with John MacArthur and his Masters Seminary in California. I just looked it up, and I own seven of his books.
Speaking of which, when Ravi Zacharias also sadly started to go off the rails toward the end of his ministry, his publishers and Christian book sellers pulled his books. I have all of his books, and will still hold on to them, with so much of value found in them. The same with Lawson’s books.
But let me repeat a few basic principles that always must be kept in mind in such situations. Two vital biblical texts MUST be kept in mind always at times like this. The first is 1 Corinthians 10:12 which says: “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”
And the second passage actually follows immediately on from the first. I Corinthians 10:13 says this: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
While other passages can be mentioned here – and I will share a few more in a moment – these two pretty well cover how we should look at these matters. The most important thing to do is simply remember who we are. And we are all frail, fallen and fallible creatures – even as Christians.
Verse 10 gives us the exact attitude that we all should have. If you are looking down at Lawson right now and viewing him with disgust, then you need to remember what Paul has written here. The one standing, looking down on a fallen brother, is a prime candidate for falling as well. ‘Pride goes before the fall’ (Proverbs 16:18).
And no, none of this is to make excuses for sin, nor is it to pretend what happened was no big deal. Sin can never be excused, sin is always horrific, and sin always has terrible consequences. And there is not a Christian on the planet who has not fallen in so many ways. It may not be this sort of sin, but many other sins nonetheless have occurred.
Moreover, we are foolish in the extreme if we go around bragging, ‘Well, I am better than him – I never committed adultery.’ Um, go back to the words of Jesus please: “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). I am pretty sure that includes all believers everywhere.
Some real humility is essential here. In this case, an often-misused saying is still relevant: “There, but for the grace of God go I.” Again, this is NOT to minimise sin nor make any justification for it. It is simply to keep us from adding more sin in this case – the sin of pride.
At this point let me mention something that occurred a few days ago. I had been asked by a terrific Christian leader to give a short devotional on sexual integrity to an online prayer group. After some thought and prayer, I decided to speak on 1 Peter 4:17 which tells us that judgment must begin in the household of God.
I told the group that we must keep an eye on ourselves and our churches. That does NOT mean we can never speak to sins in the world until the church is perfect, for the simple reason that the church never will be perfect, since no Christian ever will be perfect in this life.
I then actually mentioned both Zacharias and Lawson as examples of this. I then finished by quoting two other American Christian leaders. I had just come upon both these quotes in the past few days, and they seemed to be God-sent – not just coincidences!
Voddie Baucham had said this: “The wisest man in the Bible fell into sexual sin, the strongest man in the Bible fell to sexual sin, and the godliest man in the Bible fell to sexual sin. For me to think I’m above falling into this sin is to think that I’m wiser than Solomon, stronger than Samson, and godlier than King David.”
And John Piper said this in a moving sermon:
Some of you might say, ‘Wait, there are as many PhDs in theology who commit adultery as less-educated people.’ To which I would say, ‘Probably more.’ Why is it that people with PhDs in theology commit adultery? They don’t know God. You can read theology ten hours a day for forty years and not know God as beautiful and all-satisfying — as the highest treasure of your life. Who cares about knowing God the way the devil knows God? He hates everybody. His knowledge of God helps him hate people.
I closed my remarks by saying that there is just 18 inches between heaven and hell, between a godly life and a carnal life: that is the distance from the head to heart. We all can have plenty of head knowledge about what is right and good. But it has to pierce our very soul; it has to capture our heart.
When I finished, the organiser said that was not what he had originally wanted me to speak on, but he said it was what we needed to hear. I guess the older I get, the more I am aware of my daily and hourly need for grace. I need it every moment.
Sure, I will still call out sin, still deal with the culture wars, and still seek to be salt and light. But the more I know who God is, and the more I know myself, the more I know how weak and fragile I am, and how much I need God every second of my life. As I just wrote in a piece yesterday:
It was John Calvin in his Institutes of the Christian Religion who famously spoke of the need for a proper basis of all true knowledge: the knowledge of God and knowledge of ourselves. And in that order. As we begin to know God as he really is, that cannot but help impact us and help us to see ourselves more truly and more accurately. As we get more and more genuine knowledge and understanding of God and self, the only real result should be for us to be humbled. https://billmuehlenberg.com/2024/09/26/on-humility/
Another very important passage worth highlighting in this regard is Galatians 6:1-3: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”
That is a crucial word to keep in mind. But let me wrap things up by sharing just a bit from some others. Many articles and podcasts have already come out over the past week on this case. Let me briefly mention a few, and just share a few quotes or thoughts that I found to be helpful from each one.
Albert Mohler has a 13-minute talk on this. He said that none of us should look at this with any sense of moral superiority, and he said that “no man at any age is beyond temptation and the risk of falling.” And he mentioned something a pastor had told him: ‘You will not have sex with a woman not your wife if you are never alone with a woman not your wife.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7XsapHBc4s
James White also spoke to this for around 13 minutes. Two quick quotes from him: “You cannot ground your faith in men.” “All of your favourite people are going to disappoint you at some time or another. Maybe not on this level, but…” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwYngPXPVXc
Alley Beth Stuckey spent some 48 minutes on this. One quote: “Satan is loving this … Sin makes you stupid. That’s what Satan does: he exaggerates the pleasures of sin and minimises its consequences.” She says that yes, we all sin, as did King David, but we must not minimise sin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lrBm7AtEZs
Speaking of David, one last commentator, Tim Meshginpoosh, wrote a piece on this. He looks at King David and his sins, and all the many consequences that followed this, even though he was forgiven. He said this is what leaders who fall need to do:
-You need to be honest about what you did. This was not an “oopsie.” You cut corners on integrity at various stages in your life. You put your gratification before the vows you made to your wife, God, and the Church.
-If you’re going to use King David as an example, then look to how he sought to make it right with Bathsheba. He chose their son Solomon as his successor. Likewise, you need to take ownership of that baggage and work—as far as it depends on you—to settle matters with those you have wronged.
-While your sins are forgivable—thank God that God forgives all manner of sin—you must accept your consequences, which may include permanent disqualification from church office. The Church doesn’t owe you a job.
While it is fair to grieve that such ministers—some of whom have been helpful for us at key times in our lives—have failed terribly, we should also grieve for their victims, demanding full accountability, honesty, and transparency. And while we should all want their restoration to the Body of Christ, we also need to hold the line for Biblical requirements for church office. In other words, your pastor is not King David. https://julieroys.com/your-pastor-is-not-king-david/
9 Replies to “Christian Leaders and Sexual Integrity”
Thanks Bill.
The temptation to sexual sins are particularly common because the enemy knows that the damage done is so extensive and long lasting, and indeed profitable for the enemy’s “kingdom”.
This topic is pointed to in John 8:1-11 in the account of the woman taken in adultery, or should we rather say, in the account of the hypocritical Pharisaic double standards.
The hypocrisy and double standards in this story have been easily seen through most of human history, including those that claim to be most Godly.
The Pharisees were of course correct to quote Moses, and to sandwich Jesus between the Biblical and Roman law, but they failed to see that their own behaviour failed both the Mosaic Law and the teaching of Jesus in the sermon on the mount, as you have mentioned.
Two days ago I was reading Hosea 4 and verse 14 hit me like a revelation.
“I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore,
nor your brides when they commit adultery;
for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes
and sacrifice with cult prostitutes,
and a people without understanding shall come to ruin” (ESV)
Compare also v13 “Therefore your daughters play the whore,
and your brides commit adultery.”
I was struck by the sweetly poignant possibility that v14, is the writing that Jesus began to write on the ground. John 8:6b,8.
This verse gives it to the Pharisees, ramped up and double barrelled.
“So what do you say?” Answer “I will not punish”, answering them both as God and for himself.
Jesus would have written a fair bit of this verse on the ground before they recognised it, hence their impatience, but recognise it they would.
This verse takes the discussion into an understanding of the justice and redemptive compassion of God that the Pharisees did not expect, nor perhaps seriously engaged with.
We find this is again in Hosea 6:6,
“For I desire steadfast love[mercy] and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
This of course is one of the sticking points for the Pharisees, with Jesus, who was often preaching about, and living life beyond the mere Mosiac requirements.
Jesus’ retort, “Let him who is without sin”, picks up the theme of the verse that it is the men who have set the scene for the waywardness of their own women folk.
Jesus writes more of the verse, and as it dawns on the accusers that this scripture that Jesus is quoting, by writing on the ground, displays their own culpability, they begin to leave.
The fact that the adulterous man was not brought to Jesus doubles the power of the Hosean verse.
“Neither do I condemn you”, is a direct reflection of “I will not punish”, and confirms that Jesus and God are alike making a righteous judgment here, cp John 8:14-18.
Just to finish it perfectly, comes the call from Jesus, “go, and from now on, sin no more”, reflecting the resolution of Hosea 14 where there is the redemptive call, “return to the Lord”, and “whoever is wise will understand these things … for the ways of the Lord are right”.
Fits perfectly, I reckon.
Thanks for that Bruce.
Well written. Thank you. I’m here in the US and it has been so disheartening to hear people practically stomping on Lawson’s corpse. All books, videos and materials are removed. Some have even gone so far as not to mention even his name in prayer.
I read one Tweet that said “we are all owed a detailed history of what happened.” I wrote the person back “you aren’t ‘owed” a thing. You just want to be a vulture picking over the remnants while wallowing in the details to point fingers. Might take a look at your hand. It has three fingers pointing back at you.”
A former “friend” told the world on Twitter what the allegations were then later said to the effect “whoops, sorry about that.” Since I didn’t know what he was writing about, I looked it up. His comment had gone viral and served as the basis for many articles. I wrote him “the internet never forgets so the damage you caused is even worse as a “supposed” brother in Christ.” The fact that a former “friend” would publish details is 100% WRONG.
It seems we have forgotten the Good Samaritan parable and the “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” (John 8) told by Jesus. We grieve in our heart for Lawson, his wife and family, his church, his former ministry and for those who considered him a friend. It should stay between them and the Elders of his church. Do we wipe out his entire history? I firmly believe not.
How about we remember as Bill wrote and quoted others to know we are no different? We all struggle with sin most of it private. How many would want their life from when they took their first breath dissected for all the world to see and then the vultures to pick up from where your corpse lies? I sure wouldn’t.
Thanks Susan.
@ Bruce Knowling. Your thesis is well established, but I have to disagree with the comment that “it is the men who have set the scene for the waywardness of their own women folk.” Eve’s waywardness establishes imperial freedom to sin.
Russell, I would like to respond to the disagreement, but Bill’s platform is not the place.
I read of this a short time ago on another blog. I am sad as I have listened to many of Dr. Lawson’s excellent expositions of the gospel. Just shows how close all of us are to the flesh, it is always there and the siren song is always singing. I wish him well. As you say, God even had mercy of David, so I think he will have mercy even on me, a sinner.
Thanks Eric.
I think much depends on the magnitude of the sin. Adultery is serious enough, but redemption, forgiveness and working through recovery to the triggers that led to that sin are possible, but only after the guilty party has unlearnt the lessons that led them to betray their marital vows. Even so, we must beware of the trap of ‘cheap grace’- repentance, edification and change are often long processes.
Beyond that, though, there are certainly areas of grave sin. If a pastor or church leader has raped a woman (or man, or child), then there should be no possibility of clemency within the institution. They have violated the sanctity of the pastoral vows that they took upon ordination and done so in a brutal and inhumane way. On discovery or confession, they must be handed over to civil authorities and if found guilty, they should be immediately deprived of their clerical office and if permissible within church doctrines, excommunicated from further fellowship with that church. Here, the process of repentance and rehabilitation is likelier to be even more prolonged and avoiding cheap grace in this context is essential. The ex-pastor should confess their sins and pay the civil penalties attendant on their grievous offence. They also need to accept their permanent loss of status. If the affected church sees fit, its institutional and doctrinal processes need to be examined to insure that nothing like this is allowed to happen again.
Thanks Bill.
The temptation to sexual sins are particularly common because the enemy knows that the damage done is so extensive and long lasting, and indeed profitable for the enemy’s “kingdom”.
This topic is pointed to in John 8:1-11 in the account of the woman taken in adultery, or should we rather say, in the account of the hypocritical Pharisaic double standards.
The hypocrisy and double standards in this story have been easily seen through most of human history, including those that claim to be most Godly.
The Pharisees were of course correct to quote Moses, and to sandwich Jesus between the Biblical and Roman law, but they failed to see that their own behaviour failed both the Mosaic Law and the teaching of Jesus in the sermon on the mount, as you have mentioned.
Two days ago I was reading Hosea 4 and verse 14 hit me like a revelation.
“I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore,
nor your brides when they commit adultery;
for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes
and sacrifice with cult prostitutes,
and a people without understanding shall come to ruin” (ESV)
Compare also v13 “Therefore your daughters play the whore,
and your brides commit adultery.”
I was struck by the sweetly poignant possibility that v14, is the writing that Jesus began to write on the ground. John 8:6b,8.
This verse gives it to the Pharisees, ramped up and double barrelled.
“So what do you say?” Answer “I will not punish”, answering them both as God and for himself.
Jesus would have written a fair bit of this verse on the ground before they recognised it, hence their impatience, but recognise it they would.
This verse takes the discussion into an understanding of the justice and redemptive compassion of God that the Pharisees did not expect, nor perhaps seriously engaged with.
We find this is again in Hosea 6:6,
“For I desire steadfast love[mercy] and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
This of course is one of the sticking points for the Pharisees, with Jesus, who was often preaching about, and living life beyond the mere Mosiac requirements.
Jesus’ retort, “Let him who is without sin”, picks up the theme of the verse that it is the men who have set the scene for the waywardness of their own women folk.
Jesus writes more of the verse, and as it dawns on the accusers that this scripture that Jesus is quoting, by writing on the ground, displays their own culpability, they begin to leave.
The fact that the adulterous man was not brought to Jesus doubles the power of the Hosean verse.
“Neither do I condemn you”, is a direct reflection of “I will not punish”, and confirms that Jesus and God are alike making a righteous judgment here, cp John 8:14-18.
Just to finish it perfectly, comes the call from Jesus, “go, and from now on, sin no more”, reflecting the resolution of Hosea 14 where there is the redemptive call, “return to the Lord”, and “whoever is wise will understand these things … for the ways of the Lord are right”.
Fits perfectly, I reckon.
Thanks for that Bruce.
Well written. Thank you. I’m here in the US and it has been so disheartening to hear people practically stomping on Lawson’s corpse. All books, videos and materials are removed. Some have even gone so far as not to mention even his name in prayer.
I read one Tweet that said “we are all owed a detailed history of what happened.” I wrote the person back “you aren’t ‘owed” a thing. You just want to be a vulture picking over the remnants while wallowing in the details to point fingers. Might take a look at your hand. It has three fingers pointing back at you.”
A former “friend” told the world on Twitter what the allegations were then later said to the effect “whoops, sorry about that.” Since I didn’t know what he was writing about, I looked it up. His comment had gone viral and served as the basis for many articles. I wrote him “the internet never forgets so the damage you caused is even worse as a “supposed” brother in Christ.” The fact that a former “friend” would publish details is 100% WRONG.
It seems we have forgotten the Good Samaritan parable and the “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” (John 8) told by Jesus. We grieve in our heart for Lawson, his wife and family, his church, his former ministry and for those who considered him a friend. It should stay between them and the Elders of his church. Do we wipe out his entire history? I firmly believe not.
How about we remember as Bill wrote and quoted others to know we are no different? We all struggle with sin most of it private. How many would want their life from when they took their first breath dissected for all the world to see and then the vultures to pick up from where your corpse lies? I sure wouldn’t.
Thanks Susan.
@ Bruce Knowling. Your thesis is well established, but I have to disagree with the comment that “it is the men who have set the scene for the waywardness of their own women folk.” Eve’s waywardness establishes imperial freedom to sin.
Russell, I would like to respond to the disagreement, but Bill’s platform is not the place.
I read of this a short time ago on another blog. I am sad as I have listened to many of Dr. Lawson’s excellent expositions of the gospel. Just shows how close all of us are to the flesh, it is always there and the siren song is always singing. I wish him well. As you say, God even had mercy of David, so I think he will have mercy even on me, a sinner.
Thanks Eric.
I think much depends on the magnitude of the sin. Adultery is serious enough, but redemption, forgiveness and working through recovery to the triggers that led to that sin are possible, but only after the guilty party has unlearnt the lessons that led them to betray their marital vows. Even so, we must beware of the trap of ‘cheap grace’- repentance, edification and change are often long processes.
Beyond that, though, there are certainly areas of grave sin. If a pastor or church leader has raped a woman (or man, or child), then there should be no possibility of clemency within the institution. They have violated the sanctity of the pastoral vows that they took upon ordination and done so in a brutal and inhumane way. On discovery or confession, they must be handed over to civil authorities and if found guilty, they should be immediately deprived of their clerical office and if permissible within church doctrines, excommunicated from further fellowship with that church. Here, the process of repentance and rehabilitation is likelier to be even more prolonged and avoiding cheap grace in this context is essential. The ex-pastor should confess their sins and pay the civil penalties attendant on their grievous offence. They also need to accept their permanent loss of status. If the affected church sees fit, its institutional and doctrinal processes need to be examined to insure that nothing like this is allowed to happen again.