John MacArthur

[Herald]

The news is being shared by those closest to Dr. John MacArthur that he is critically ill with pneumonia and is not expected to recover. One of the elders at Grace Community Church shared this news this past Lord's Day from the pulpit. I understand that many in the Reformed community are critical of Dr. MacArthur because of his dispensational theology. However, when it comes to boldly proclaiming the Gospel, he has been one of the most faithful men to do so on the national scene in both the parts of 20th and 21st centuries that he has been on this earth. I am grateful for his ministry and am heartened to know that he is finishing the race well.

 

[Polanus1561]

He has thus passed.

Grace to You​

Our hearts are heavy, yet rejoicing, as we share the news that our beloved pastor and teacher John MacArthur has entered into the presence of the Savior. This evening, his faith became sight. He faithfully endured until his race was run. More information will be available soon.
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
2 Timothy 4:1-8

 

[Miss Marple]

He stood! I was greatly blessed by him.

 

[Santos]

My heart is heavy tonight. I never met the man, yet he along with R.C. Sproul was a father in the faith to me. I didn't agree with his dispensationalism, but he was such a great encouragement to me and my family when we needed it most. He nurtured me in the faith when I was struggling with the doctrines of grace. And he and pastor Voddie taught me to be a family shepherd. My family will feel this loss. God bless his family. Our hearts and prayers are truly with them and his church.

 

[retroGRAD3]

He will be greatly missed. But he is with Jesus, which is far better, and also back with his friend RC.

 

[arapahoepark]

Wow. Truthfully, it's freaky that my grandma, who is the same age, and a spiritual giant (though of the charismatic persuasion), was discharged today after being told she might not survive Sunday in contrast to MacArthur. Though I certainly don't agree with everything, I believe him a faithful man and his works supercharged my trajectory to Reformed theology. I hope and pray the foundation he set is firm and propels many the same way.

 

[bookslover]

Per his New York Times obituary (written by Ruth Graham), he died in Santa Clarita, California, at 6:17 pm Pacific time. His 86th birthday was less than a month ago. He was pastor of his church for 56 years (as of last February) and married to his wife, Patricia, for 62 years.

I heard him preach in person several times over the years and was (and remain) a frequent haunter of his church's bookstore (lots of Puritan stuff and a good theology section) and the Master's Seminary library (very impressive).

He had been out of the pulpit for almost all of the last year (since July, 2024) and the church has reported that giving has fallen by as much as 20% during that time.

So, now, the post-MacArthur era begins. Whoever becomes the church's next pastor (and I hope they take their time about choosing him) will be only the 4th pastor the church has had since it was founded in 1956.

 

[Polanus1561]

Per his New York Times obituary (written by Ruth Graham), he died in Santa Clarita, California, at 6:17 pm Pacific time. His 86th birthday was less than a month ago. He was pastor of his church for 56 years (as of last February) and married to his wife, Patricia, for 62 years.

I heard him preach in person several times over the years and was (and remain) a frequent haunter of his church's bookstore (lots of Puritan stuff and a good theology section) and the Master's Seminary library (very impressive).

He had been out of the pulpit for almost all of the last year (since July, 2024) and the church has reported that giving has fallen by as much as 20% during that time.

So, now, the post-MacArthur era begins. Whoever becomes the church's next pastor (and I hope they take their time about choosing him) will be only the 4th pastor the church has had since it was founded in 1956.

they do have plenty of pastors.

 

[retroGRAD3]

First a good memory (John and RC)
[automerge]1752585140[/automerge]
Then, another post why "redeemed zoomer" should be marked and avoided. Such foolishness from this child.

 

[sgemmen9]

He will be greatly missed! I remember seeing him in college on YouTube and listening to numerous sermons.

 

[dsanch1120]

I certainly had my issues with Pastor MacArthur, theologically speaking. But I am glad for his ministry and how God used him in my life. He was the first step on my journey from my quasi-charismatic, arminian, dispensational theology to the Reformed tradition. My parents got me a MacArthur Study Bible (on my request) as I started college. I tore through the notes and was very glad for it as I started to truly read through the Bible. I listened to his sermons when I was curious about what a passage meant, and appreciated his straightforward exegesis. Eventually I shed the dispensationalism and found myself gravitating toward R.C. Sproul (a good friend of his), but I will always be grateful for how God used him in my life and that of my friends.

 

[Allen]

MacArthur was a great encouragement to me in my learning, he changed my view of scripture. I will miss him.

 

[Henoch]

I used to be in the Pentecostal movement thinking I’ve to try to be as holy as I can to earn my salvation. I came across JMacs strange fire conference and it shook my worldview. I used to be a continuationist and anti-Calvinist and now I’m moving towards reformed confessionalism. He motivated me to self study the Biblical languages. Praise God! God used Him to make me know the assurance security of salvation and justification by free grace that is available for us in Christ Jesus ! We shall meet one day at Jesus feet.

 

[mpb]

With all the recent public ministry scandals, it's a great encouragement to see a man of MacArthur's stature and prominence die well and truly finish the race. He'll still influence many for years and years to come.

 

[MyCrows]

The thing I will most remember about John MacArthur's time here on earth, is how vehemently he fought for God's Word being the truth.

May the Lord continue to raise up servants to denounce wickedness and exalt his name in this generation.

 

[Wonderkins]

His 13 part series Charismatic Chaos played a massive role in my family getting out of the pentecostal church. I will always be grateful for John MacArthur. I never even met him and it's still a hard one for me.

 

[The Doctor]

He's the first public figure that has caused me to get emotional at their passing. Franklin Graham on twitter said "He could get more out of a bible verse than anyone I've ever known". What a legacy.

 

[Santos]

He's the first public figure that has caused me to get emotional at their passing. Franklin Graham on twitter said "He could get more out of a bible verse than anyone I've ever known". What a legacy.

Same here, with regard to getting emotional.

 

[joebonni63]

I feel very bad about this because I met John a couple times and went to his church a couple of times. However his belief in dispensationalism didn't work for me. I feel RC Sproul was the victor here with the Calvinist preaching. Again I feel very bad that he passed I feel he made a difference in Los Angeles and this was through the heart that Jesus gave him.

 

[davejonescue]

Then, another post why "redeemed zoomer" should be marked and avoided. Such foolishness from this child.

Regarding Redeemed Zoomer. I dont know much about him, but I do know that while MacArthur was living, many people in the Reformed world called him every name in the book, including heretic. I dont think Redeemed Zoomer, in this case should have too much fault found with him for being consistent, simply because other people that bashed MacArthur every chance they got while he was living, stay silent at his passing. Rev. 22:11.

 

[TheInquirer]

simply because other people that bashed MacArthur every chance they got while he was living, stay silent at his passing.

You sure do talk a lot Dave, and not always with wisdom.

There is a time and place for such criticism. I have been a vocal critic of the guy because I have a lot more inside knowledge than most people who only listen to his sermons and know him from afar. I have tried to point out many of the red flags that have been made public (I haven't publicly shared everything I know through private conversations, some with MacArthur's own family members) yet many only wish to believe what they want to believe about someone and don't care to look at contrary evidence. I think it is one of the reasons we have so many scandals with big name ministers - people refuse to see the truth even when God reveals problems along the way. They would rather place their minister superheroes on pedestals and make them into little gods.

Recall I also called out Steve Lawson more than once here for his ridiculous behavior and comments before he was exposed and took a bit of flack for that - maybe because many are so impressed by a person's speaking ability that they get starstruck and refuse to see the man through the rhetoric.

Think what you want, MacArthur was a mixed bag. I praise God for the good God chose to work in Him (I give God the credit and very little to MacArthur). I also praise God for glorification and I know he is finally repentant of all the pain and havoc he caused in his own church and the churches he influenced.

 

[davejonescue]

You sure do talk a lot Dave, and not always with wisdom.

I would say I probably post on here as much as anybody, maybe less. Yet, in my statement I didn't call anybody out, nor mention anybody by name. I just mentioned that while Redeemed Zoomer may have faults (I don't know, I don't know much about him) him being consistent in death, with the way he viewed and expressed him in life, shouldn't really be considered a point of fault. If others who bashed MacArthur every time they had a chance while he was alive, want to stay silent at his passing, that doesn't make them more respectful than someone who continues with business as usual. Instead it shows that they are probably more afraid of backlash than Zoomer, and will most likely go right back to bashing him when things "settle down" a bit. Again, if you feel personally attacked, that is not my fault, nor my intent. I had no one particular in mind, anymore than what you see on general social media where many people, including many of the Reformed, talk trash about MacArthur regularly, and have no problem calling him basically every name in the book.

 

[retroGRAD3]

Regarding Redeemed Zoomer. I dont know much about him, but I do know that while MacArthur was living, many people in the Reformed world called him every name in the book, including heretic. I dont think Redeemed Zoomer, in this case should have too much fault found with him for being consistent, simply because other people that bashed MacArthur every chance they got while he was living, stay silent at his passing. Rev. 22:11.

I'm not sure what you mean to be honest. My main concern is that he is absolute sure Pope Francis was a Christian but doubts John MacArthur. This is not too say MacArthur didn't have issues, all people do, but to deny his Christianity while affirming the bishop of Rome is crazy to me.

 

[Herald]

I posted this on another social media stream earlier today:

" When a giant of the faith leaves this sod we seldom understand the width and breadth of his ministry until time passes. Not so with Dr. MacArthur. He tackled the most pressing issues facing the church and society: biblical inerrancy, the sufficiency of scripture, biblical marriage, the sanctity of life, the doctrines of grace et al. He was willing to take the arrows from Big Eva when it "cancelled" (before cancel culture was a thing) him over the Lordship Salvation controversy. He never retired from the pulpit. God removed him when He decided the good Doctor had finished his race. I had to smile when I thought of R.C. Sproul greeting John MacArthur with both of them now being theologically correct."

I had the great honor of meeting him when I was a student at the Word of Life Bible Institute in Pottersville, NY. Oddly enough, my alma mater "cancelled" him shortly after that meeting in 1988, a few months before MacArthur's "The Gospel According to Jesus" was released. He was never invited back. Radio stations started taking Grace to You off the air. He never backed down - not because he was prideful or stubborn but because he had conviction based on biblical truth.

 

[davejonescue]

I'm not sure what you mean to be honest. My main concern is that he is absolute sure Pope Francis was a Christian but doubts John MacArthur. This is not too say MacArthur didn't have issues, all people do, but to deny his Christianity while affirming the bishop of Rome is crazy to me.

And I see that point. But this is also the issue that I am having a bit of trouble with for faulting Zoomer on his ridiculous post, in regards to consistency. Is that, are people upset (those that would normally talk trash about MacArthur) that Zoomer is questioning MacArthur's salvation? Or do they only have a problem with Zoomer lifting up a Papist higher than a Protestant when doing so? i.e. Would they have any problem with the post if he doubted both Francis and MacArthur's salvation? And if not, that is why I dont think Zoomer can be faulted for talking bad about MacArthur, if to the MacArthur haters its not the hate towards MacArthur that is the issue. If anything, if he has previously considered MacArthur unsound, he is being consistent. Him not questioning the salvation of the Pope, is another issue altogether.

 

[retroGRAD3]

And I see that point. But this is also the issue that I am having a bit of trouble with for faulting Zoomer on his ridiculous post, in regards to consistency. Is that, are people upset (those that would normally talk trash about MacArthur) that Zoomer is questioning MacArthur's salvation? Or do they only have a problem with Zoomer lifting up a Papist higher than a Protestant when doing so? i.e. Would they have any problem with the post if he doubted both Francis and MacArthur's salvation?

I personally have a problem with both, that he is questioning and that he is lifting up a papist. It seems like you are talking about people in general, but my original post was only ever to give my personal opinion (if I am understanding where you are coming from correctly).

 

[davejonescue]

I personally have a problem with both, that he is questioning and that he is lifting up a papist. It seems like you are talking about people in general, but my original post was only ever to give my personal opinion (if I am understanding where you are coming from correctly).

Gotcha. And my thing is really, from people that normally bash MacArthur, and may even go as far as considering him heretical, I don't think we should expect less. So while I too think the post is ridiculous, I still cant fault him for being consistent. Let the people who unabashedly trashed him in his life, continue with that same energy to its logical conclusion at his passing. I don't see how much respect is garnished with waiting a couple days to go back to it. Did American citizens mourn the death of Bin Laden? No, they took to the streets to celebrate. And if so, how should those people act who considered MacArthur was leading millions astray? Rev. 22:11. This is not talking about people who disagreed on non-essentials, but found way more room for fellowship. (And him and RC, and Piper, and Beeke were wonderful examples of this). This is in regards to those who openly consider MacArthur heretical, and express that every chance they have. I can easily find fault in Zoomer's premise, but I cant find fault in his consistency.

 

[Andrew35]

There is a time and place for such criticism. I have been a vocal critic of the guy because I have a lot more inside knowledge than most people who only listen to his sermons and know him from afar. I have tried to point out many of the red flags that have been made public (I haven't publicly shared everything I know through private conversations, some with MacArthur's own family members) yet many only wish to believe what they want to believe about someone and don't care to look at contrary evidence.

Think what you want, MacArthur was a mixed bag. I praise God for the good God chose to work in Him (I give God the credit and very little to MacArthur). I also praise God for glorification and I know he is finally repentant of all the pain and havoc he caused in his own church and the churches he influenced.

Yes, I also know a bit more than average about this topic, and I very much agree with the points above.

Not the time, though, and I am also thankful for the good done through his ministry--and there's a great deal of it.

 

[RamistThomist]

And I see that point. But this is also the issue that I am having a bit of trouble with for faulting Zoomer on his ridiculous post, in regards to consistency. Is that, are people upset (those that would normally talk trash about MacArthur) that Zoomer is questioning MacArthur's salvation? Or do they only have a problem with Zoomer lifting up a Papist higher than a Protestant when doing so? i.e. Would they have any problem with the post if he doubted both Francis and MacArthur's salvation? And if not, that is why I dont think Zoomer can be faulted for talking bad about MacArthur, if to the MacArthur haters its not the hate towards MacArthur that is the issue. If anything, if he has previously considered MacArthur unsound, he is being consistent. Him not questioning the salvation of the Pope, is another issue altogether.

I have a problem with Zoomer posting anything.

 

[davejonescue]

I have a problem with Zoomer posting anything.

I don't know if Zoomer sees your problem as his problem though? I can only deal with the post shown, as I'm not familiar with Zoomer in general. And while I don't agree on his questioning MacArthurs salvation, if he was a previous MacArthur hater, it doesn't seem out of touch to continue with that energy at his passing. But, it looks like because of backlash he has recanted. And this goes to show, that those who previously felt free (and will again soon enough) to bash MacArthur while he was living, are probably not doing so now; not so much out of reverence, but to avoid backlash. It is not an easy thing to not follow the crowd, regardless if one is ultimately right or wrong. I don't give much credence to the apology because he hasn't changed his mind about his perceived salvific standing of MacArthur, but instead seems only to seek to appease the offended. And I respect someone more who is willing to stand on their convictions, rather than apologize for them if they still believe them to be true.