Pastor Steve Lawson Removed Indefinitely

Michie said:

Photo emerges of woman with Steve Lawson at John MacArthur's church

An alleged photo showing Pastor Steve Lawson next to a woman believed to be his mistress has emerged online amid new scrutiny about the role of a California megachurch in the scandal

www.christianpost.com

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Hmm that would be interesting if that really was his mistress and he lied about his relationship with the woman he had an affair with. It would make you question his actual repentance of the event in question. When he was removed back in September and he came out with it I was starting to think maybe he was repentant and on the right path I mean he did go to his elders and confess but I don't know now. Now as more news is starting to unfold about this story I really don't know. It's a shame because I loved Lawson, his books and his work for ligioneer he truly was a fantastic preacher but this affair just leaves an ultra bad taste in my mouth that I can't spit out...

Neostarwcc said:

Hmm that would be interesting if that really was his mistress and he lied about his relationship with the woman he had an affair with. It would make you question his actual repentance of the event in question. When he was removed back in September and he came out with it I was starting to think maybe he was repentant and on the right path I mean he did go to his elders and confess but I don't know now. Now as more news is starting to unfold about this story I really don't know. It's a shame because I loved Lawson, his books and his work for ligioneer he truly was a fantastic preacher but this affair just leaves an ultra bad taste in my mouth that I can't spit out...

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Its really too bad! I was hoping for some sort of public statement by now giving his account of the matter; hopefully with a full confession and taking ownership for his actions! It would be nice to see his reputation restored to the point where the value of his past work (books, publications, Etc.) might be appreciated and of benefit to others. He is permanently disqualified from public ministry IMO but I believe his legacy could be somewhat restored.

If anything else, I pray the way his children and grandchildren see him will one day be restored and this truly needs to be his focus right now.

Armchair Apologist said:

Its really too bad! I was hoping for some sort of public statement by now giving his account of the matter; hopefully with a full confession and taking ownership for his actions! It would be nice to see his reputation restored to the point where the value of his past work (books, publications, Etc.) might be appreciated and of benefit to others. He is permanently disqualified from public ministry IMO but I believe his legacy could be somewhat restored.

If anything else, I pray the way his children and grandchildren see him will one day be restored and this truly needs to be his focus right now.

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The affair has permanently destroyed his career idk if people would buy his books now that he's guilty of this kind of behavior. He permanently destroyed his reputation but I really hope he is repentant about the whole affair and can fix his relationship with God because that in the end is what really matters. If he was like Ravi Zacharias and was declaring the word of God while doing these kinds of things without repentance while being in a position of power I'd honestly hate to be him because he would not escape God's wrath.

It's Lawsons soul and relationship with God that I really care about. I mean his career is forever destroyed I don't think there's any repairing it but he more than anyone else should know that men in a position of power are judged the most harshly by God and God isn't going to just let an affair just slip through the cracks. I mean, after all God sees all. And if Lawson really is lying and trying to cover things up... I just really wouldn't want to be in his shoes and I hope he repents.

Neostarwcc said:

The affair has permanently destroyed his career idk if people would buy his books now that he's guilty of this kind of behavior. He permanently destroyed his reputation but I really hope he is repentant about the whole affair and can fix his relationship with God because that in the end is what really matters. If he was like Ravi Zacharias and was declaring the word of God while doing these kinds of things without repentance while being in a position of power I'd honestly hate to be him because he would not escape God's wrath.

It's Lawsons soul and relationship with God that I really care about. I mean his career is forever destroyed I don't think there's any repairing it but he more than anyone else should know that men in a position of power are judged the most harshly by God and God isn't going to just let an affair just slip through the cracks. I mean, after all God sees all. And if Lawson really is lying and trying to cover things up... I just really wouldn't want to be in his shoes and I hope he repents.

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I was speaking not for Lawson's benefit but for the body of Christ. Many have benefited from his works and it would be nice if some could continue to do so. I see this as what his restoration might look like but it really is up to him and so far, it is not looking good. I'd really like to use his material on the "Attributes of God" in future Sunday School classes at my Church but I also noticed that he cites Tozer quite often so I guess I could just refer to Tozer instead?

One thing I have learned from all of this is no one in the body of Christ is inexpendable. It is a matter of privilege that we have whatever influence and opportunity we do have. We are uniquely gifted for our service in the body but should we have to be cast aside (1 Cor 9:27), the Church will go on without skipping a beat!

Michie said:

Photo emerges of woman with Steve Lawson at John MacArthur's church

An alleged photo showing Pastor Steve Lawson next to a woman believed to be his mistress has emerged online amid new scrutiny about the role of a California megachurch in the scandal

www.christianpost.com

Click to expand...

What would a young woman want with an old fart like him, anyway?

FaithT said:

What would a young woman want with an old fart like him, anyway?

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Money talks. Steven Lawson had money from his book sales and from his position as head pastor.

My uncle was the same way. He was into drug dealing and cheated on my aunt with a much, much younger woman and got the younger woman because he had drug money. My aunt divorced him and stole $100,000 Canadian from him and took off to the Bahamas and we never saw her again. Same idea. When people have money they can attract people much, much younger than them and Steven Lawson had money.

That might have been what motivated Steven Lawson to cheat on his wife and abandon his relationship with God like this. Money can completely destroy people.

Neostarwcc said:

Money talks. Steven Lawson had money from his book sales and from his position as head pastor.

My uncle was the same way. He was into drug dealing and cheated on my aunt with a much, much younger woman and got the younger woman because he had drug money. My aunt divorced him and stole $100,000 Canadian from him and took off to the Bahamas and we never saw her again. Same idea. When people have money they can attract people much, much younger than them and Steven Lawson had money.

That might have been what motivated Steven Lawson to cheat on his wife and abandon his relationship with God like this. Money can completely destroy people.

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Ok.

It's a sad story.

But IMHO one of the worst aspects of the story is the hypocrisy. There were Cessationist conferences that Steve Lawson spoke at where they ripped into Charismatics, Q+A panels with celebrity speakers where they were critical of all the sexual scandals in the Charismatic movement and used it to say the movement was rotten. Would you sit on a panel and rip into people for sexual sin if you were married and had a mistress 50 years younger than yourself? The world must be looking at the church and think Christians are mad.

God Bless All

Michie said:

Photo emerges of woman with Steve Lawson at John MacArthur's church

An alleged photo showing Pastor Steve Lawson next to a woman believed to be his mistress has emerged online amid new scrutiny about the role of a California megachurch in the scandal

www.christianpost.com

Click to expand...

I believe that Dr. Lawson stated that they had an "inappropriate" but not sexual relationship. So I'm not sure one could say she was his "mistress". But what he considers an "inappropriate" relationship I'm not sure. I suspect it was more than just spending more time then he should have but less then a steamy bedroom scene.

Lawson is, tragically, a perfect case of how someone can ship wreck their ministry. I was never too much of a fan of Lawson but I felt he was a decent guy and his messages were decent. Now I have a hard time listening or reading anything by Lawson. It isn't that what he has to say is untrue. He had valuable insight. However, now I can't listen to him without thinking of his sinful behavior. Whether this is right or wrong of me, I don't know. It's just what it is. And I'm sure I'm not along.

I pray for Steve Lawson and my heart goes out to him. I think his repentence is sincere, but it is as though it is too little, too late. Many faithful kings in the Old Testament (e.g. David, Uzziah, Joash, etc.) failed as they grew older. We should all take Lawson's example, and those of the faithful kings who fell into sin, as a warning that we should take heed when we think we stand because we can surely fall, regardless of how long we have been faithful in Christ.