BEFORE YOU WATCH "AG2: CHRIST CRUCIFIED"
This is an important note for those watching "AG2: Christ Crucified," particularly for those who plan to screen this as a church. In our first film, "Christ Alone," all of our requests for interviews from the prosperity camp were ignored or rejected. In this film, four individuals from the progressive and humanist side of the debate agreed to be interviewed by us for the film. We allow these individuals to express their opinions about scripture, even though we disagree with what they believe. The film’s position is that their views about Christianity (particularly the atonement) are outside of the bounds of historic Christianity. We are thankful that these men participated and cooperated in making this film possible. We believe that their involvement is valuable in making this film a helpful apologetic tool for Christians to understand the thinking of those who identify as progressive Christians. Pray for them, and if you interact with them on social media, thank them for their help in making this film possible.
This is an important note for those watching "AG2: Christ Crucified," particularly for those who plan to screen this as a church. In our first film, "Christ Alone," all of our requests for interviews from the prosperity camp were ignored or rejected. In this film, four individuals from the progressive and humanist side of the debate agreed to be interviewed by us for the film. We allow these individuals to express their opinions about scripture, even though we disagree with what they believe. The film’s position is that their views about Christianity (particularly the atonement) are outside of the bounds of historic Christianity. We are thankful that these men participated and cooperated in making this film possible. We believe that their involvement is valuable in making this film a helpful apologetic tool for Christians to understand the thinking of those who identify as progressive Christians. Pray for them, and if you interact with them on social media, thank them for their help in making this film possible.
Our first subject is Bart Campolo (son of Tony Campolo), who, in his very first lines in the film, explains how he lost his faith; the film follows his journey from progressive Christianity to secular humanism (atheism) and compares it to the journey of Russell Berger, who journeys from atheism to Christianity. Bart is always titled “secular humanist” and his perspective on God’s sovereignty, homosexuality, hell, the exclusivity of Jesus Christ in salvation, penal substitution, and the resurrection, are all countered with the opposite (biblical) perspective through Russell Berger, etc.
Tony Jones is labelled as “co-founder of the Emergent Church movement,” and author of “Did God Kill Jesus?” Throughout the film Tony explains his problems with the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement, and argues that God doesn’t need be to be just in order to forgive sin. All of Tony’s arguments are met with a biblical response, which we believe makes our film’s position clear.
Finally, John Williamson and Adam Narloch of The Deconstructionist Podcast are featured. As the film progresses, we see that they are influenced by and share many of the same beliefs as Richard Rohr and other progressive leaders.
DISQUALIFYING SIN - Dr. STEVEN J. LAWSON
Many are aware that Dr. Steven J. Lawson, who appears in the AG films, confessed to having an inappropriate relationship with a woman who was not his wife in September of 2024 ( 7 years after we interviewed him for this documentary). This has disqualified him from all public ministry in the future, and obviously negatively affects our film. Unfortunately, we are unable to remove Dr. Lawson from our AG films, which exist in multiple places (iTunes, Amazon, etc.) which cannot be altered once they've been submitted. Perhaps in the future, we will release a director's cut of each AG film to fix this issue among others.
In the meantime we would leave you with this disclaimer:
The participants in this film are sinners saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Some may commit morally disqualifying sins in the future, or drift in error, but that does not affect the truth or power of the gospel. We encourage you to focus on the gospel truths presented in the film about a Savior who never fails, and let Dr. Lawson's sin be a reminder to everyone to be on guard against the deception of sin.
In March 2025 Dr. Lawson wrote:
In the meantime we would leave you with this disclaimer:
The participants in this film are sinners saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Some may commit morally disqualifying sins in the future, or drift in error, but that does not affect the truth or power of the gospel. We encourage you to focus on the gospel truths presented in the film about a Savior who never fails, and let Dr. Lawson's sin be a reminder to everyone to be on guard against the deception of sin.
In March 2025 Dr. Lawson wrote:
It is with a shattered heart that I write this letter. I have sinned grievously against the Lord, against my wife, my family, and against countless numbers of you by having a sinful relationship with a woman not my wife. I am deeply broken that I have betrayed and deceived my wife, devastated my children, brought shame to the name of Christ, reproach upon His church, and harm to many ministries.
You may wonder why I have been silent and largely invisible since the news of my sin became known. I have needed the time to search my own soul to determine that my repentance is real.
I alone am responsible for my sin. I have confessed my sin to the Lord, to my wife, and my family, and have repented of it. I have spent the past months searching my heart to discover the roots of my sin and mortifying them by the grace of God. I hate my sin, weep over my sin, and have turned from it.
My sin carries enormous consequences, and I will be living with those for the rest of my life. Over the years, many have looked to me for spiritual guidance, and I have failed you. I beg for your forgiveness.
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.
I am grateful for the unmerited grace of God in the gospel to extend His full forgiveness to me. Again, I ask for your forgiveness as well.
While I continue to do the hard work of soul-searching repentance, I do not intend to make further public comments for the foreseeable future.
Please pray for the Lord’s mercy and grace as I seek to make right the deeply wrong sins I have committed against my wife and family, and that in His time and way He will bring about redemption and restoration in our marriage, for His glory.
Steven Lawson
https://x.com/drstevenjlawson/status/1899912459521319253?s=46&t=6OQksSAH7rpdYZuSRksrxw