Blake Long

It’s been a rough time for those in the Reformed/Calvinistic community. Steve Lawson, a prominent preacher in Reformed circles, has been disqualified from ministry due to “an inappropriate relationship that he has had with a woman,” according to a statement from Trinity Bible Church of Dallas.

New details have emerged but my aim is not to hash those out. I can understand the need to know what actually happened, but we should trust that the elders at Lawson’s church are sorting through it carefully. The fact of the matter is Lawson’s public ministry is over. And it’s heartbreaking and discouraging to see another leader fall.

What we can—and should—do, however, is self-reflect. We should immediately direct our attention to 1 Corinthians 10:12, which says, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.”

What’s the lesson in this verse? It’s quite clear, certainly in light of Lawson’s fall: don’t think this can’t happen to you. Nobody is immune to falling, and falling hard. No one is exempt from egregious sins and bringing reproach upon the name of Christ. Every single one of us has it within us—that’s why we lean upon Christ all the more. That’s why we be intentional about pursuing holiness by being dependent on the mercy and grace of Christ.

It’s naive and arrogant to look at Lawson’s fall—or anyone for that matter—and say you’d never fall. We certainly don’t want to ever fall, but we can’t say never. We lean on Christ, of course. He holds us up. But if left to ourselves, we’d be doomed. Even as Christians, if we take our eyes off of Christ, we are that much more prone to falling—and falling hard.

There is grace for falls, to be sure. Thank God for that. The late RC Sproul once said, “A true Christian can fall into grievous sin, but he cannot fall away completely.”

We must, by the grace of God and power of the Holy Spirit, protect ourselves from falling into egregious sin. Take practical precautions. We’re not immune. The recipe for falling still resides in our sinful flesh, and we must not ignore that. We must be mindful of our sinful inclinations.

We must take heed lest we fall. What does that look like? It involves, in part, looking at ourselves in the mirror and holding ourselves accountable for our temptations; being aware of the ways we lean away from Jesus. It involves being active in the local church and being vulnerable with those around you. It means welcoming people in your life who aren’t afraid to call you out on your sin, if it reaches that point.

But more than anything, like I wrote above, it means not believing we’re above falling; not thinking this can’t happen to us. We all need the grace of God in Christ to live the Christian life.

Just as the elders of Trinity Bible Church of Dallas said. “…may we be reminded that we are ALL sinners, and Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners – and Christ remains Head of His Church, which is bigger than any fallen man.”

We are all sinners in need of a savior, Jesus Christ. He is the one who keeps us, who holds us up. Depend on Him, friend. And take heed lest you fall.