The Donatist Error Revived: A Reflection on Moral Failure, Truth, and Redemption in the Modern Church

In recent weeks, the tragic news concerning Steve Lawson has once again stirred a familiar and unsettling pattern within segments of the modern Reformed church. A man, once esteemed for his faithful exposition of God's Word, has fallen—though details remain limited, the gossip and accusations continue to flow freely. We do not gather here to dissect his failings, for that is a matter left in the hands of God and his local church, but rather to address a growing and grievous error that seems to be re-emerging in the wake of such incidents. This error is not new but echoes an ancient one—the error of the Donatists.

The Donatist Controvery Revisited

The Donatist controversy arose in the fourth century during a time of intense persecution. Donatists held that those who had renounced Christ under persecution could no longer serve as ministers of the Word and sacraments, even if they later repented. Their reasoning was clear, though tragically flawed: How could a man who denied the faith in times of trial be used by God to administer grace to others? Their answer was unequivocal—he could not. To the Donatists, the purity of the minister became essential to the validity of the ministry.

Augustine and the broader church vehemently opposed this view. Why? Because the efficacy of the sacraments and the truth of God's Word never depended on the moral perfection of the one proclaiming them but always and only on the faithfulness of the God who instituted them. Augustine rightly pointed out that "the efficacy of the sacrament is independent of the character of the minister." This was not a license for sin among ministers but a necessary protection of the church's understanding of grace. The Word of God is always true, and its power is never diminished by the weakness of the vessel through which it is proclaimed.

It seems, however, that we are witnessing a revival of this ancient error in our day. When a prominent Christian leader experiences moral failure, there is an immediate outcry to erase their contributions to the church, as though their personal sin retroactively contaminates the truth they once proclaimed. The words of Justin Peters, who stated that "none of Dr. Lawson’s teaching materials, books, sermons—anything—should ever be used again," exemplify this dangerous mindset. This response, though perhaps well-intentioned, is neither biblical nor in line with the gospel of grace.

The Enduring Power of Truth

We must ask ourselves, has the truth of Steve Lawson’s teaching suddenly been invalidated by his sin? Do the faithful expositions of Scripture he once offered now contain error simply because of his personal failure? Such thinking dangerously elevates the moral purity of the messenger above the enduring power of the message itself. Consider the words of Paul in Philippians 1:15-18, where he addresses those who preached Christ out of selfish ambition, seeking to afflict him in his imprisonment. Paul's response is striking: "Whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice."

Paul did not condone the motives or character of those preachers, but he rejoiced in the truth they proclaimed. Likewise, we must recognize that the power of God’s Word is never subject to the moral standing of the one who proclaims it. As Isaiah 55:11 reminds us, God’s Word does not return void but accomplishes the purpose for which He sends it. To reject the writings and teachings of Steve Lawson simply because of his personal failure is to ignore this foundational truth.

Now, to be clear, this is not an argument for ignoring or excusing sin, especially in the case of leaders in the church. Sin must be dealt with, and the consequences for those in leadership are severe (James 3:1). We are not advocating for his restoration to a leadership position unless repentance is demonstrated and affirmed by his local church. However, the question before us is whether or not we should discard his past contributions to the church as though they now contain nothing of value. The answer is clearly no.

Redemption and Restoration

Scripture calls us to a posture of redemption, not destruction. Galatians 6:1 offers a solemn charge: "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness." The goal of church discipline has never been to destroy, but to restore. This applies to every fallen brother or sister in Christ, no matter the extent of their sin. To declare that a fallen leader is forever disqualified from ministry—even from the use of their past teachings—is a form of self-righteousness that places us in the seat of final judgment, a seat reserved for God alone (James 4:12).

This raises another critical point: Disqualification from ministry due to moral failure is not necessarily permanent. The Apostle Peter himself denied Christ three times and was graciously restored by Christ (John 21:15-19). His denial was a grievous failure, but it did not mark the end of his ministry. Instead, Christ restored him and sent him to "feed His sheep." Can we claim that such restoration is impossible in the case of Steve Lawson or any other fallen leader? Those who proclaim permanent disqualification reveal a dangerous spirit of self-righteousness, forgetting that all of us are prone to stumble (James 3:2).

Forgiveness and Hypocrisy in the Church

If Steve Lawson is repentant, should we not also be ready to forgive and restore, at least to the extent of honoring his faithful teaching of God’s Word? We must be careful not to act like the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:21-35, who, after being forgiven a great debt, refused to show mercy to another. If we are to cast aside Lawson’s books, teachings, and sermons, we would need to discard much of church history. Should the sermons of Augustine, who once embraced Manichaeism, be deemed unworthy because of his past error? Shall we discard the writings of John Calvin, who, despite his remarkable contributions to Reformed theology, oversaw the execution of Servetus? God forbid.

As Rick Smith, the owner of Grace & Truth Books, wisely noted, "If I require every author to be without sin, then my library will have one book: the Bible." The reality is that we are all fallen, and if God were to discard us every time we stumbled, none of us would have any hope of serving Him. Yet, in His grace, He chooses to use flawed instruments to accomplish His purposes. This is the beauty of the gospel—it is not the worthiness of the servant that matters, but the worthiness of the One who calls us and works through us.

A Call to Grace and Prayer

In closing, let us not forget the command of Christ to love one another, even as He has loved us (John 13:34). We must pray for Steve Lawson, for his family, and for those affected by his failure. Pray for repentance, for restoration, and for the name of Christ to be glorified—not in the sins committed, but in the grace and mercy shown by those who recognize they, too, have been forgiven much.

May we also examine our own hearts, lest we fall into the trap of self-righteousness. We must resist the urge to "cancel" those who have fallen, recognizing that the gospel calls us to restoration and reconciliation. Let us also support and uphold our own pastors, who bear the weighty responsibility of shepherding God’s flock. And as we hold them accountable, let us also encourage them in grace, for they, too, are but men.

"Perhaps, if we refuse to build pedestals so high, we will see fewer men fall from them." - Rick Smith