Quite why I want to “stick my oar in” regarding the fall of Dr Steven J. Lawson I don’t know. I only know that I am very sad about it. And I know that some people are saying things with which I disagree. Here then, are my thoughts, written at no one’s request, for no other reason than I am bugged by it.
Dr Steve Lawson was a very capable preacher and writer who I once heard speak on Expository Preaching and from whom I personally benefited. In particular his lecture on the use of metaphor in preaching was of great help to me. I believe he is a saved man and that upon repentance his sin will be wiped away. But there are consequences. In this case he is no longer qualified for the Christian Ministry.
I say “upon repentance” because there are hints that full repentance was not in evidence at the time of the disclosure of Dr Lawson’s indiscretion with a woman who was not his wife. A video snippet of his last sermon showed him referring to a scenario in which a man’s whole ministry ought not to be judged on the basis of “a hiccup.” The release by his Church was also couched in language which might suggest that they did not consider Lawson to be sincerely contrite. But maybe I’m reading something in to the release that isn’t there? Maybe not!
What is disturbing is the “hiccup” comment. Whatever happened between him and this other woman cannot be called a “hiccup.” It’s a sin. It’s infidelity in some form, and sin is not a “hiccup.” I hope to hear a clearer confession of sin from Lawson some time soon. Please, don’t leave the word “hiccup” rattling around in the consciousness of the Church!
In the sermon Dr Lawson asserted that a person’s ministry and its fruit should not be brushed away because he fell into sin. I completely agree in cases where a man has served the Church faithfully for years but has fallen into the lust of the flesh at a particular point, thus ending that ministry. I truly pray that this is what occurred in Lawson’s case. In other words, this may not be like the case of Ravi Zacharias, who pursued sinful practices for years and covered them up with lies and manipulation. I threw his books out, which wasn’t a big sacrifice as I was never much of a fan of Zacharias’s way of weaving himself into every story he told in his apologetic talks.
But I think better of Steve Lawson. As things stand I think that unless seedier details emerge we should take pity on him and take heed to ourselves. Lawson’s work for the Lord was good work. It benefitted many. His books, although not my cup of tea, should not be withdrawn from publication as if there was now something bad about them. If they were written in sincerity that sincerity is yet stamped upon them. If they are withdrawn because the publishers choose no longer to be associated with him as an author that is their business. But he can be forgiven. Yes, he fell into sin. But we are not any better than he. We should condemn his sin and he should face the consequences. But we must take care. Proverbs 4:14-15 tell us,
“Do not enter the path of the wicked,
And do not walk in the way of evil.
Avoid it, do not travel on it;
Turn away from it and pass on.”
Let us be radical (no, not in the pathetically contrived David Platt way). Let us be radical about avoiding sin. And let us pray for Dr Lawson and his family, knowing that there is nothing good in us that is not bestowed by our Savior (Rom. 7:18).
