Tony Arsenal

The Gospel of John reveals Peter's unique privileges and instructions from Christ, which clearly place him in a position of privacy among the apostles. But that's not what's most important. John wrote the Gospel AFTER the death of Peter, so John was perpetuating Peter's authority after he had already departed. John never taught that he himself, the last living apostle, inherited that role over the Church. So, either (a) Peter's role was temporary and unnecessary after his death, (b) Peter continues to lead the Church from heaven after his death, or (c) Peter's primacy among Church leaders was passed to his successor who leads in Peter's place. Protestants will argue (a), but this makes no sense of John's teaching of Peter's privileges and primacy after his death. Why would the Church need this earthly ministry in the first century but not thereafter, especially if the New Testament says that times will get worse? There is no evidence anywhere in Scripture or tradition of (b). Church history recognizes only (c), which makes sense of John's writing after Peter's death.

Exclusive: Steve Lawson RESTORED TO MINISTRY Nearly ONE YEAR Ago. One year, two months, and six days after Trinity Bible Church announced that Steven J. Lawson was disqualified from ministry for having a "sinful relationship" with a woman nearly 45 years his junior, he was restored to ministry by his new church elders, according to documents obtained exclusively by Protestia. On September 19, 2024, Trinity Bible Church announced the removal of Steve Lawson after discovering he was having an “inappropriate relationship” with a woman he had grown close to over a period of many years and eventually crossed physical boundaries with. Following these revelations, Steve left the state and moved to Nashville, where he began attending Stephens Valley Church. Lawson, 75, shared in an update letter half a year after his original implosion: "I have been undergoing extensive counseling for the last five months to face the hard questions I need to address. I have dealt with sin issues that have been painfully exposed in my heart. I have submitted myself in weekly accountability to two pastors and to the elders of a local congregation, who have shepherded my soul. I am also 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. 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." Seven months later, his elders restored him to ministry. A letter from the elders given to commend Lawson to any potential churches or Christian organizations and associations that might have him speak, reads: "We, the Elders of Stephens Valley Church, a Biblical and Reformed congregation, have observed the life of Dr. Steven Lawson for the last 15 months. Several of us have met with him individually on a weekly basis. He has also attended our weekly Elder's prayer meetings. As a member in good standing of our church, he has been faithfully attending our adult Sunday School classes, worship services, and Wednesday night Bible studies. We have seen him make a positive contribution to the church and the lives of others. Based upon our direct interaction with him and his own written statements, we believe him to be genuinely repentant and walking in close fellowship with the Lord. Together we grieve his past sin, as he has and the consequences he has brought upon himself and others. Now however we rejoice in his present repentance and God's work of grace in his life. In particular we applaud his pursuit of and patience toward his loving wife, Anne. In light of Steve's "broken and contrite heart" and all we have observed these past months we deem him spiritually fit for ministry opportunities that the Lord may open to him. The Elder Counsel Stephens Valley Church Nashville, TN Nov. 25, 2025." Lawson details the journey of repentance in his book Mercy in the Wilderness and will soon release another book based on the life of King David. According to sources, the Elder Counsel has declined to make this restoration letter and judgment from a year ago public, even though doing so would help Lawson and allow him greater freedom to be publicly promoted and reintegrated into ministry with prospective churches and conferences. We reached out to Stephens Valley Church but they chose not to comment.