Disgraced Pastor Steven Lawson Publicly Repents after 5-Year Affair
Steven Lawson broke his silence months after he was involved in an inappropriate relationship, resulting in his termination from ministry.
"It is with a shattered heart that I write this letter. I have sinned grievously against the Lord, against my wife, my family, and against countless numbers of you by having a sinful relationship with a woman, not my wife," Lawson wrote on X on Wednesday. "I am deeply broken that I have betrayed and deceived my wife, devastated my children, brought shame to the name of Christ, reproach upon His church, and harm to many ministries."
This marks the first public statement Lawson has made since his termination from Trinity Bible Church in Dallas last September. It was revealed that he had been involved in a 5-year relationship with a woman in her 20s. He was also dropped from his roles at Ligonier Ministries, G3 Ministries, and The Master's Seminary.
Lawson explained that the reason for his months-long silence was due to him taking the time to "search my own soul to determine that my repentance is real."
"I alone am responsible for my sin. I have confessed my sin to the Lord, to my wife, and my family, and have repented of it, he added. "I have spent the past months searching my heart to discover the roots of my sin and mortifying them by the grace of God. I hate my sin, weep over my sin, and have turned from it."
"My sin carries enormous consequences, and I will be living with those for the rest of my life. Over the years, many have looked to me for spiritual guidance, and I have failed you. I beg for your forgiveness."
Lawson also noted that he has been undergoing extensive counseling in the past five months, including weekly accountability to two pastors and to the elders of a local congregation, as well as "under the oversight of an accountability team who monitor my progress and give me wise counsel in the decisions I have to make."
"I am growing in grace, reading and absorbing the Word of God, putting it into practice, praying, and meeting with other believers," he continued. "I am involved in the life of the church, attending and participating in prayer meetings, Sunday school, the worship service, and taking communion weekly. I am being fed the Word in the mid-week Bible study. Please pray for my spiritual growth into Christlikeness as I follow Him moment by moment during this recovery season."
He expressed gratitude "for the unmerited grace of God in the gospel to extend His full forgiveness to me. Again, I ask for your forgiveness as well."
"While I continue to do the hard work of soul-searching repentance, I do not intend to make further public comments for the foreseeable future," Lawson asserted.
In closing, Lawson asked for prayer for the "Lord's mercy and grace" in his intention to "make right the deeply wrong sins I have committed against my wife and family, and that in His time and way, He will bring about redemption and restoration in our marriage, for His glory."
It is with a shattered heart that I write this letter. I have sinned grievously against the Lord, against my wife, my family, and against countless numbers of you by having a sinful relationship with a woman not my wife. I am deeply broken that I have betrayed and deceived my…
— Steven Lawson (@DrStevenJLawson) March 12, 2025
Related Article: Steven Lawson Removed from Church Role Due to ‘Inappropriate Relationship’
Photo Credit: ©Instagram/drstevenjlawson
Originally published March 13, 2025.
