According to recent reports, new evidence has surfaced regarding the firing of prominent Texas pastor, Steven Lawson, who was removed from his leadership positions at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas. Phil Johnson, the executive director of Grace to You, who also serves as an elder at John MacArthur’s Grace Community Church, recently came forward with new details regarding the reported “inappropriate relationship” that led to Lawson’s dismissal.
News of Lawson’s firing, who served as a Trinity Bible Church of Dallas pastor and president of OnePassion Ministries, sent shockwaves throughout the Christian community. According to reports, Lawson had confessed the relationship to church elders and was subsequently removed from his post.
However, Johnson took to X, in a since-deleted post, shedding more light on the controversy. “Inappropriate is too ambiguous – as if someone merely caught them holding hands. This was a 5-year relationship with strong romantic overtones. Both parties insist no literal fornication was involved, but their tie to one another was adulterous in spirit, if not in fact,” he wrote.
Johnson further claimed that the unnamed woman is substantially younger than Lawson. “He is 73. She is in her late 20s. She is not a member of his church. In fact, she lives in a different state nowhere close to any of the ministries Steve served. I don’t believe any good end would be served by exposing her identity to the public.” he continued.
According to Johnson, Lawson was not entirely forthcoming with his confession, only doing so after he was confronted by the woman’s father. “Steve informed the elders, but only after the girl’s father had confronted Steve and threatened exposure. This was not a noble confession of sin,” he continued.
After deleting the post, Johnson shared a followup message, explaining why he decided to remove his prior statement from social media. “In deference to the elders of Trinity Bible Church of Dallas, I removed the comments I posted this morning regarding the Steve Lawson scandal. Those elders shepherd the local church Lawson belonged to, so their pastoral duty takes precedence over mine,” he said.
Continuing, he said, “These are godly men, committed to the truth of Scripture, and I’m fully confident they will do the right thing. They have every right to set their own pace. If anyone thought I was being critical of Trinity’s elders, please forgive me for allowing such an ambiguity. My trust and respect for them could not be higher. I do not envy the difficult position one man’s spiritual failure has put them in, and I have no intention of second-guessing how they shepherd their flock, especially via social media.”
Johnson concluded, “For those who think they still have legitimate questions about the matter and how it is being handled, please address your. And please bear in mind that what Christ has done and is doing in building that church is infinitely more important than any scandal that would seek to tear it asunder.”
“The elders at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas regretfully announce that effective immediately, Steven J. Lawson has been removed indefinitely from all ministry activities at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas. Several days ago, the elders at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas were informed by Steve Lawson of an inappropriate relationship that he has had with a woman. The elders have met with Steve and will continue to come alongside him and pray for him with the ultimate goal of his personal repentance. Steve will no longer be compensated by Trinity Bible Church of Dallas,” according to an initial statement from Trinity Bible Church of Dallas.
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