Reflections on Pastor Steve Lawson's Fall

My heart is heavy today, the more I dig into what happened with Steve Lawson, I am gutted and I figure the best way to deal with my feelings is to write them out.

Pastor Steven Lawson

I've looked up to him for years and have been so impacted by his powerful preaching of God's Word, I listen to the expositors podcast, I'm always right there when one passion drops a video, G3 is on my bucket list…To hear of his fall into temptation and sin… it's just devastating. 

But as much as it pains me to see this happen to someone I respect so much, I have to remember that none of us are immune to the enemy's schemes. Even the most godly among us can stumble if we're not careful.

The Reality of Temptation

The hard truth is, temptation is something we all face in this fallen world. Like it says in 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind." Being a pastor or spiritual leader doesn't make you exempt. If anything, those in ministry have an even bigger target on their backs.

James really nails it in chapter 1 when he describes how temptation works: "Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." It's a slippery slope that can quickly spiral out of control if we entertain those desires.

Guarding Our Hearts

So how do we as believers safeguard ourselves against falling into the same trap? God's Word gives us some key principles:

1. Run the other way. When temptation comes knocking, flee from it! As 2 Timothy 2:22 says, "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace." Don't stick around and try to resist in your own strength.
2. Stay alert and pray up. Remember what Jesus told His disciples in Gethsemane? "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." We've got to keep our guard up and lean hard on the Lord through prayer. 
3. Walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:16 tells us plainly, "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." The more we stay in step with the Holy Spirit, the more power we'll have to say no to sin.

Hope in the Cross

when one of our leaders falls, it's easy to lose heart. But even in the pain and brokenness, we have to cling to the hope of the gospel. 1 Peter 2:24 is such a beautiful reminder: "He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."

No matter how far we've fallen, the blood of Jesus is more than enough to cleanse us and make us right with God again, if we repent. 1 John 1:9 gives us that assurance. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Now, this doesn't mean there won't still be consequences to face. The Bible is clear that our sin can impact generations. Exodus 34:7 warns that God visits "the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation." The ripple effects of our transgressions can impact generations. All the more reason to walk in holiness and integrity.

Pressing On

So in times like this I need to keep my eyes locked on Jesus. May thsi be a wake-up call for us to be more vigilant, to lean harder on God's grace, and to recommit to purity with everything in us.

In Christ, there is always forgiveness, restoration, and hope on the other side of failure. Proverbs 24:16 says, "for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again." By God's strength, may we rise above temptation and live in a way that brings our Father glory. He's worth it.

Clinging to grace,

Manuel

The Temple's True Purpose

 

 "And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers." Matthew 21:12-13 

I just watched a video that included a montage of Pastors preaching from books they've written (and just so happen to be selling in the lobby by the way) and it gave me pause. Obviously, I am a christian marketer and graphic Designer so please take everything I say with as many grains of salt as necessary, but as I reflect, I can't help but think about the state of the modern church... what role commerce plays in the house of God.

The temple was meant to be a sacred space, a house of prayer where people could encounter the living God. But all too often, we've turned it into something else entirely.

A Den of Thieves

Instead of a place of worship, we've made the church a den of thieves - a place of corruption and greed. We sell our religion like a lifestyle, hawking t-shirts, mugs and books, and cheating the elect out of true doctrine and theology. Like the merchants in Jesus' day, we take advantage of the poor in spirit who are desperately seeking atonement.

Lakewood Church

But Jesus will not stand for it. By overturning tables and rebuking the money-changers, He exposes our greedy, corrupt hearts. He shines a light on our wickedness and gives us an opportunity to repent and turn back to Him.

The Heart of God

This is the heart of God, church. He is a God of justice who confronts sin and rightly condemns it. But in doing so, He also extends an invitation to repent and be cleansed and restored. Like a skilled surgeon, He uses a sharp knife to cut out the cancer of greed and pride from our hearts, so that we can be made whole and healthy again.

The merchants in the temple had a choice when confronted by Jesus: repent and accept God's forgiveness, or harden their hearts and continue in their sin. We face that same choice today. When God's Word confronts the sin in our lives, will we allow Jesus to cleanse His temple, or will we cling stubbornly to our wickedness?

A Living Temple

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. I pray that we as a family - Tiffany, Kairi, Rylan, little Nugget and I - would have the wisdom to submit to God's correction. May we invite Jesus to overturn the tables of greed in our hearts and drive out every unclean thing, so that we can be a living temple of His presence - a house of worship, prayer, and sacrifice.

Among the church, there are many who come each Sunday and play the part of a good Christian, but inwardly are far from God. They are religious but not born again. If that's you today, I plead with you - don't harden your heart. Allow Jesus to do business with you, to expose your sin and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. He loves you too much to leave you in your greed and pride.

Trying to walk out my faith in His Grace,

-Manuel

Standing Firm on God's Word

Today I've been hearing about the victory won in the story of Pastor Matthew Meinecke in Seattle. As a fellow believer, along my beautiful wife Tiffany, and a father to our precious children Kairi, Rylan, and little Nugget on the way, this story hits close to home. It's a powerful reminder of the spiritual battle we face, and the potential persecution my children might face in this fallen world and the importance of standing firm on the authority of God's Word.

Pastor Matthew Meinecke

Pastor Meinecke's experience of being arrested simply for reading the Bible aloud in public is a sobering illustration of how our culture is increasingly hostile to biblical truth. 

It breaks my heart to see how the world rejects the very words that bring life and salvation. we shouldn't be surprised by this opposition - Jesus Himself warned us that the world would hate us because it first hated Him. We live in a culture that's increasingly hostile to biblical truth, and we need to be prepared for that reality.

The World's Rejection of Biblical Authority

Make no mistake - the world is fundamentally at odds with Scripture. We see this played out daily in our society:

The sanctity of life is under attack, with abortion celebrated as a right rather than mourned as a tragedy.

God's design for marriage and sexuality is mocked and rejected.

Absolute truth is denied in favor of moral relativism.

The world wants nothing to do with biblical morality or the authority of God's word. But here's the thing - this shouldn't surprise us! Jesus told us plainly, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you" (John 15:18).

The Unchanging Nature of God's Truth

In the face of this opposition, we must remember that God's truth doesn't change. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." The world may shift like sand, but God's word stands firm. It's not just true - it is truth itself. Jesus prayed in John 17:17, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."

This truth isn't just some dry, academic concept. No, it's living and active! Hebrews 4:12 tells us, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." God's truth cuts through the noise of our culture and speaks directly to our hearts.

Our Response as Believers

So how do we respond when the world opposes biblical truth? First, we need to be grounded in the gospel. Our acceptance before God isn't based on the world's approval, but on the finished work of Christ. We run to God, not from Him, even when we stumble.

Second, we engage the world with truth and grace. We don't shy away from biblical convictions, but we also don't expect non-believers to live like believers. Our call is to lovingly speak truth while embodying the transforming power of the gospel.

Finally, we remember that our battle isn't against flesh and blood. We're in a spiritual war, and our weapons are spiritual - prayer, the word of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Preciousness of God's Truth

As we stand firm in God's truth, let's not forget how precious it is. Psalm 19:10 says God's words are "More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb." When the world rejects God's truth, they're rejecting something of immeasurable value. Our task is to show them its worth through our lives and our words.

The Hope of the Gospel

But in the face of this hostility, I'm encouraged by Pastor Meinecke's unwavering commitment to proclaiming the Gospel. Despite facing physical attacks and wrongful arrest, he persevered in his mission to share God's Word. It reminds me of the apostles in Acts, who rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus. So we can't lose heart when you face opposition. The same world that opposes God's word desperately needs the hope of the gospel. So let's be bold in our witness, steadfast in our faith, and overflowing with the love of Christ.

Remember Paul's words in Romans 12:2: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." We're called to be different, to stand out in a world that rejects God's truth. It's not always easy, but it's always worth it. For we know that in the end, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord

As I think about how to respond to this story, I'm challenged to be more grounded in the Gospel myself. 

My acceptance before God isn't based on the world's opinion of me, but solely on the finished work of Christ on the cross. When I stumble and feel like a failure, I need to run to God, not away from Him. He is my righteousness and my refuge.

I'm also convicted of my need to engage the world with both truth and grace, just as Pastor Meinecke did. It's not about winning arguments, but about lovingly speaking God's truth while embodying the transforming power of the Gospel

I pray for boldness to share my faith with others, even when it's uncomfortable or met with resistance.

Above all, this story reminds me of how precious and powerful the Word of God truly is. In a world that desperately needs the hope of the Gospel, I want to treasure Scripture and let it saturate my mind and heart. As the psalmist wrote, it is more to be desired than gold and sweeter than honey.

So I'm praying for Pastor Meinecke and thanking God for his faithfulness. May his story inspire me and many others to stand firm on the authority of God's Word, to proclaim the Gospel with boldness, and to find our hope and identity in Christ alone. For I know that one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

All glory to God,

Manuel

A Distorted View Of Liberty

So... processing the news out of North Dakota. A district judge there just struck down the state's abortion ban, claiming that the right to end the life of an unborn child is somehow protected by the state constitution. The judge based this on an incredibly twisted interpretation of constitutional rights like "life and liberty." Since when does liberty include the ability to deny RIGHT TO LIFE  of another human being?

District Judge Bruce Romanick

It's heartbreaking to see this same story play out again and again. 

Courts in 10 other states have done the same thing somehow discovering these previously unknown "rights" to abortion. These judges are undermining the will of the people and the sanctity of human life, all under the guise of peoples autonomy, talk about activism from the bench.

But the situation is even worse next door in my home state of Minnesota. 

Our state Supreme Court has recognized a constitutional right to abortion since way back in 1995. And now, thanks to a law passed by pro-abortion politicians and signed by VP candidate TIM WALZ last year, there are zero restrictions on when abortions can be performed in Minnesota. This is abortion on demand up until the moment of birth. It's unfathomable and abhorrent.

Vice Presidential Nominee Tim Walz

Now before people jump on, "it's only 1% of abortions that happen after 21 weeks" the fact is that there were according to NPR over 1 million abortions performed last year...so open your calculator app and you'll see that's 10k viable HUMAN BEINGS murdered in the womb. 

The Fundamental Right to Life

As Christians, we know that life begins at conception and is a precious gift from God. Every single life, no matter how small, bears His image and has inherent dignity and worth. Abortion is a grievous offense against our Creator.

The other side wants to enshrine in law a right to destroy life based on a distorted notion of personal liberty. But what about the liberty of the unborn child? They are endowed by God with the most fundamental right of all - the right to life itself. We cannot allow that to be taken away based on the whims of another person.

Seeking God's Will

Processing news like this, it's easy to feel angry or discouraged. But we have to remember that our hope is not in earthly judges or human laws, but in Christ alone. These are a stark reminder of the fallen world we live in and the spiritual battle raging around us.

As overwhelming as it seems, we have to keep fighting to defend life. God calls us to be a voice for the voiceless and to seek justice for the oppressed. That starts with getting on our knees in prayer, repenting for how we as the Church have failed to uphold the dignity of life, and asking God to move in the hearts of our nation.

We also have to look for opportunities to share the hope and healing found in Christ. So many women turn to abortion because they feel they have no other choice. The Gospel is the ultimate answer - the truth that every life is valuable because every person is loved by God and created for a purpose.

As I pray through all of this, I keep coming back to Psalm 139:13-14: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." This is the lens we must view the abortion issue through. I'm holding onto that truth extra tight this week. Will you join me in praying for eyes to see as God sees?

Standing for life and clinging to HIS grace,

Manuel

A Plea for Biblical Pastors: Reflections on Alistair Begg's Retirement

It's a bittersweet day, y'all. One of my favorite pastors, Alistair Begg, just announced his retirement after nearly 50 years in ministry. While I'm happy for him to get some well-deserved rest, it's tough to see such a faithful shepherd step down. But as Begg himself said, he wants to "pass the baton safely" to the next generation.

Alistair Begg | Parkside Church

This got me thinking about the biblical qualifications for pastors and elders. What does God's Word actually say about the requirements for church leadership? And how does that compare to what we often see in the modern church?

The Biblical Standard

When we look at passages like 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, a clear picture emerges of what an overseer should look like:

• Above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach
• Not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money
• Manages his own family well, sees that his children obey him
• Not a recent convert
• Has a good reputation with outsiders

In essence, an elder must be a mature man of integrity whose life and doctrine are exemplary. His character and conduct should be above question. He must be able to faithfully teach sound doctrine and refute false teaching.

Where We've Gone Astray

But if we're honest, how many pastors today truly meet this high bar? Too often, we elevate men to leadership based on charisma, eloquence, or the ability to draw a crowd, rather than on their spiritual maturity and adherence to Scripture.

We overlook glaring character flaws and moral failings, as long as the pastor is a dynamic speaker or the church is growing numerically. Accountability is lacking, and "celebrity" pastors are put on a pedestal where they are almost untouchable.

Some churches have even abandoned the biblical qualifications altogether, ordaining women or unrepentant homosexuals as pastors in direct contradiction to God's Word. It's heartbreaking to see how far we've strayed.

A Plea for Faithfulness

Brothers and sisters, it's time for us to get back to the Bible when it comes to church leadership. We need elders who are "above reproach," not just in their public persona but in their private lives. Men who will preach the Word faithfully, even when it's unpopular. Shepherds who truly love the flock and aren't in it for money, power, or prestige.

I'm not saying pastors have to be perfect - none of us are! But there should be a consistent pattern of godly character that is evident to all. And when a leader does fall into sin, he should be lovingly confronted and disciplined according to Scripture, not covered up or excused.

So as we bid farewell to faithful pastors like Alistair Begg and welcome new ones, let's commit to praying for our leaders and holding them to the biblical standard. May God raise up a generation of humble, holy shepherds who will lead His church with integrity. That's my heart's cry.

As I reflect on this, I'm reminded of how much I need Jesus. Left to myself, I fall woefully short of God's standard. But praise God, Christ lived the perfect life I couldn't live and died the death I deserved. Through faith in Him, my sins are forgiven and I'm clothed in His righteousness. That's the good news our pastors must proclaim!

Lord, give us pastors who preach Christ crucified, risen and returning. Men who model what it means to be washed in the blood and walking in newness of life. In a world of compromise, raise up leaders who hold fast to Your Word. May Your church shine like a city on a hill for Your glory alone. Amen.

Clinging to His grace,

Manuel 

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