If you’ve spent any time in the world of Reformed theology, the name Steven Lawson used to mean one thing: fire. He was the guy with the booming voice and the unwavering stance on "doctrines of grace." But man, how things changed. By the time we hit early 2025, the conversation shifted from his preaching to a heavy, awkward silence—and then, finally, a public admission that left a lot of people reeling.
The Steven Lawson update 2025 isn't just about a guy losing his job. It’s a messy story of a five-year secret, a sudden firing, and a very public attempt at repentance that has the internet—and the pews—divided.
Honestly, it's a lot to process.
The Breaking Point: March 2025
For months, everyone was wondering where he went. After the initial shock in September 2024—when Trinity Bible Church of Dallas basically wiped him from their website overnight—there was nothing but radio silence. No tweets. No sermons. No books.
Then, on March 12, 2025, the silence broke.
Lawson posted a 500-word statement on X (formerly Twitter) that didn’t hold back. He described his heart as "shattered." He admitted to a "sinful relationship" with a woman who wasn't his wife. This wasn't some vague "lapse in judgment" or "technical mistake." He used the big words: betrayed, deceived, devastated.
What the statement actually said
- Ownership: He claimed he alone was responsible for the sin.
- The "Why": He explained that the six-month silence was needed to see if his own repentance was even real.
- The Process: He’s been in counseling for five months and is submitting to two pastors for accountability.
- The Marriage: He’s currently trying to make things right with his wife and family, asking for "mercy and grace."
It was a heavy read. You could almost feel the weight of it through the screen. But while some saw it as a humble step toward healing, others weren't so quick to move on.
The Five-Year Secret
One of the biggest "wait, what?" moments came from the details surrounding the affair. We aren't talking about a brief fling. Reports from people close to the situation, like Phil Johnson, suggested the relationship had been going on for five years.
Think about that.
That means while Lawson was standing on stages at Ligonier conferences, teaching at The Master's Seminary, and leading Trinity Bible Church, this was happening in the background. It’s that gap between the public persona and the private reality that really stung for his followers.
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There's been a lot of chatter about the nature of the relationship, too. Some reports claim it was an "inappropriate emotional relationship" rather than physical adultery, but Lawson’s own 2025 confession used the term "sinful relationship" and "adultery" was the word floating around most ministry circles.
Where is Steven Lawson now?
He’s definitely not in Dallas anymore.
Word on the street—and by that, I mean multiple reports from churchgoers—is that Lawson relocated to Nashville, Tennessee. Specifically, he’s been spotted attending Stephens Valley Church.
He isn't the guy in the pulpit there. Far from it.
He’s reportedly sitting in the pews as a layperson, undergoing counseling and trying to walk through a "restoration" process. His family apparently needed space, which explains the temporary move. It’s a far cry from the days of being a "teaching fellow" for R.C. Sproul’s ministry.
The institutional fallout
The bridge-burning was pretty much absolute.
- Ligonier Ministries: Scrubbed his content.
- The Master’s Seminary: Removed him as Dean of D.Min. studies.
- OnePassion Ministries: The website basically went dark.
- Trinity Bible Church: Cut ties immediately and stopped all compensation.
The 2025 Divide: Forgiveness vs. Disqualification
This is where things get really heated in the comments sections. Is a guy like Steven Lawson "restorable"?
Some people point to the 2025 confession as a textbook example of how a fallen leader should handle things—owning it, disappearing from the limelight, and seeking counseling. They say the Gospel is for sinners, and if we don't believe Lawson can be forgiven, what are we even doing?
On the other side, you’ve got people who argue that "forgiveness" and "ministry" are two different things.
The argument is basically: sure, God forgives him, but he’s permanently disqualified from being a pastor. You can't lead a flock when you’ve been living a double life for half a decade. Most of the Reformed world seems to be leaning toward this "permanent disqualification" view. They don't want to see him back on a stage in two years with a "comeback" book.
Why it still matters
The reason the Steven Lawson update 2025 is such a big deal is because of the "who." Lawson wasn't just a local pastor; he was a standard-bearer for a specific kind of "hard-truth" preaching. When the guy who preaches most aggressively about holiness falls into a long-term secret sin, it creates a specific kind of trauma for the people who looked up to him.
It makes people question the message, even if the message itself is true.
Moving forward: What to keep in mind
If you’re following this story, it's probably best to look at it through a lens of sober reality rather than gossip.
- Watch the fruit: Real repentance takes years, not weeks. The fact that he hasn't announced a new ministry or a "restoration tour" yet is actually a good sign.
- Focus on the victims: It’s easy to focus on the famous guy, but there’s a wife, children, and a whole congregation in Dallas that got left in the wake of this.
- Check the sources: Stick to the official statements and reputable ministry watchdogs. There’s a ton of "I heard from a guy" stuff on TikTok that usually turns out to be half-true.
The situation is still evolving, but for now, Lawson is a man out of the spotlight, reportedly doing the "hard work of soul-searching." Whether he stays there or tries to return to public life is the big question for the rest of 2026.
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For those looking to process this, the best next step is to look into the resources provided by organizations like GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment) which help churches navigate the fallout of leadership failures. Understanding the biblical qualifications for elders in 1 Timothy 3 can also provide a clearer framework for why the "permanent disqualification" conversation is happening.