Discernment ministries have a reputation for waiting and watching people fall. Indeed the internet is full of these people, and when liberals like Julie Roys are considered discernment bloggers, it’s understandable how the reputation came to be. But my experience in discernment ministry more often consists of defending brothers in Christ.
The public revelations about Joel Webbon elaborated on what he has discussed about his life for multiple years at this point. He discussed his “church planting larper” days on Jon Harris. Hundreds of people knew Webbon’s past sins, most notably the people who were relevant to his ministry life. Parachurch ministries that affiliated with Right Response Ministries were informed also, which is rather above board.
Errant Ecclesiology
Vineyard was born out of the Jesus People movement and Lonnie Frisbee. Frisbee was rather sexually degenerate during his ministry career, including homosexuality. This is the beginning of Joel Webbon’s theological formation. With an ingrained obsession with church planting, Webbon was groomed into leading a Bible study that was being labeled a church plant and he a pastor.
Upon confessing his lust and fornication, Webbon was not removed from ministry by those who had oversight over him. This was a mistake, a sin, at the time. What Joel Webbon did was disqualifying. Webbon writes on the matter:
However, there was one significant failure. They did not ask me to step down. They insisted that I pursue sexual purity from that moment on, but they allowed me to continue leading our Sunday evening meetings.
Therefore, it is important to note that there were two sins, not merely one, which were committed in these early years in San Diego. The first sin was my sexual immorality, and the second sin was not stepping down from all forms of leadership after the first sin occurred.
However bad the ecclesiology, Joel Webbon heeded the counsel he was given, and the rest is history. He maintains that he was not a real pastor at the time and it was not a real church.
What sucks about this situation is that he was set up to fail by a megachurch culture. And when a single guy leads a single’s group in a faith tradition such as Vineyard, failure is rather expected. None of this is to excuse Webbon.
However, Webbon’s being disqualified in 2012 doesn’t mean that he is disqualified in 2025. Having been above board, confessing himself as opposed to getting caught, he has since not fallen into any reproachful sins that make him disqualified today. His biggest “sin” today is his willingness to call out the idolatry of Zionism and feminism, for which people claim he is therefore quarrelsome.
Consistency
My mercy towards Joel Webbon is rather consistent across the board. I don’t believe that Mark Driscoll was ever permanently disqualified from ministry for his falling out with Mars Hill. This, also, was a bad ecclesiology setting people up to fail. Mark Driscoll obviously sinned and also repented of that sin. But the multicampus megachurch dynamic, which was more novel at the time, was going to lead to friction between pastors underneath the guy on the screen every week.
Should JD Hall ever return to the pulpit (he has no desire to as I understand) I would have no problem with that either.
Matt Chandler is not qualified do to his inability to teach and unsound doctrine. However, when his church disciplined him for a non-sin issue, I saw this as a glaring issue.
I’ve covered a lot over the years. But a few more constrasting examples. Robert Morris diddled a 12 year old and concealed these pathetic details for decades. He is not able to teach, but his ministry was predicated on lies. Steve Lawson had a five year adulterous relationship. He concealed this until he got caught. Although he repented of this, something we should all welcome, he is disqualified because this sin was a reproach.
I’ve seen pastors mess up and I have compassion for those in ministry. I’m not one to browbeat pastors, undermine them in my local context, or root for their failure. My primary target are the wolves in sheep’s clothing, not pastors who messed up a decade ago.
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5 Responses
I personally don’t believe that leading a small group automatically qualifies as a “church,” regardless of any title given to him. Furthermore, being willing to condemn someone for sins that have already been addressed and forgiven—both by God and those involved—demonstrates immaturity. It also raises a deeper question: what kind of faith does this reflect? Is it a faith that fixates on past sins, or one that fully rests in Christ, trusting that He has completely paid our sin debt?
Does anyone actually believe Ligoneer and G3 and Gospel Coalition will not put Steve Lawson back on stage behind the glass pulpit? All that matters to them is blaspheming God by accusing him of predestining all sin. Lawson will be back at G3 within 5 years if he lives long enough. But at 73 that’s the question. But the claims that he’a getting councelling and being “fed the word” and being mentored by godly men etc. are all to have his turd polished within 5 years. Theae people don’t really believe in an ultimate disqualification.
Uhhhh…..where did that Lawson comment come from? The article mentions him, sure, but it wasn’t about him and your reply is a full paragraph….??
What I’m saying is the same people attacking Joel will reinstate Lawson. They do double standards. If Lawson can be used to push egalitarianism and Zionist he will be restored. Joel has to be destroyed because he doesn’t bow to the whamens and small hats. One fornicated before becoming a pastor, at a young age; the other in his 70s while a very public mega pastor. But they will restore Lawson because he’s useful to their agenda. Now, another paragraph. Enjoy.
I do not understand judging others as I too am a sinner saved by Grace alone. All will face Him, none can hide. I listened to Dr Lawson for three years twice a week and at conferences. During all that time, he was unfaithful to his family, and to those he was shepherding. I don’t hate him, I hope in Christ for him. I have forgiven him but his repentance is to God. And I hope that for him. I believe you are wrong, Ligonier nor G3 will welcome him to teach. He does not want to teach. And be glad that he has sought Christian counseling. For himself and his family. It is never our place to judge, less you be judged. I think as well, we forget pastors are men and they are sinners in need of God the Spirit. And they as man can and do fall away, if they ever were of the converted. Our hope is reconciliation with God, through Jesus Christ. The hate and judgement towards others is “great” in this fallen world. Where in yourselves comes this hate and anger? Not of God. God is love, and forgiveness.