Noted Christian leader and prominent evangelical pastor, John MacArthur of Grace Community Church, passes away at the age of 86.
John MacArthur, a renowned evangelical pastor and theologian, passed away on Monday at the age of 86. Known for his fundamentalist biblical standards and eschewing sermons that touched on modern themes, MacArthur left a significant impact on evangelical Christianity.
Throughout his career, MacArthur was renowned for his verse-by-verse expository preaching style, having preached through the entire New Testament over four decades. His sermons, widely available through his media ministry, *Grace to You*, reached millions globally.
MacArthur held a dispensational premillennial view of the return of Jesus Christ, which sometimes positioned him at variance with Calvinist interpretations. His commitment to biblical authority led him to critique movements that he believed undermined it, such as the charismatic movement. He was instrumental in founding *The Master’s Seminary* and serving as president of *The Master’s University*, institutions dedicated to equipping biblically grounded pastors.
In 2020, MacArthur made headlines for challenging California's COVID-19 restrictions by continuing in-person services at Grace Community Church, arguing that the church has a duty to assemble despite civil restrictions. The church received $800,000 from the state and county for legal fees following the controversy.
MacArthur's influence extended across denominations and continents through his extensive writing and preaching. His *MacArthur Study Bible* has sold over a million copies and been translated into numerous languages. However, his ministry faced criticism, including debates over his church’s handling of domestic abuse cases and his strict doctrinal positions.
MacArthur appealed to ultraconservative churchgoers by adhering to fundamentalist biblical standards that focused on teaching an "inerrant" Bible. He was openly critical of the charismatic movement, arguing in books like *Charismatic Chaos* (1993) and *Strange Fire* (2013) that experience-driven faith should not supplant biblical fidelity. He opposed the seeker-sensitive movement and the prosperity gospel, viewing them as detrimental to the integrity of biblical teaching.
MacArthur was also known for his controversial statements. He called Catholicism a "false religion," attacked fellow clergy, turning into the "enfant terrible of conservative Protestantism," as reported by The Times in 1991. He criticized popular religious figures including Joel Osteen and Beth Moore. MacArthur called Black Lives Matter "an organization that is the enemy of God" because of its support of LGBTQ+ equality.
Despite the controversies, MacArthur's legacy continues to shape evangelical thought, though some suggest his influence has waned in recent years as younger evangelicals gain prominence. MacArthur is survived by his wife, Patricia; four children; fifteen grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
[1] Grace to You. (n.d.). About John MacArthur. https://www.grace toyou.org/media/about-john-macarthur/ [2] Los Angeles Times. (2020, August 23). John MacArthur defies L.A. County health order, plans to reopen his church. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-08-23/john-macarthur-defies-la-county-health-order-plans-to-reopen-his-church [3] The Gospel Coalition. (2020, August 24). John MacArthur on the Church, Culture, and the Gospel. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/john-macarthur-on-the-church-culture-and-the-gospel/ [4] Christianity Today. (2020, August 24). John MacArthur’s Grace Community Church Sues LA County Over COVID-19 Restrictions. https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/august/grace-community-church-sues-la-county-over-covid-19-restrictions.html [5] The Master’s Seminary. (n.d.). The Doctrine of the Church. https://www.masters.edu/academics/doctrine-of-the-church/
- John MacArthur's disaffection with contemporary themes in sermons was well-known, but his verse-by-verse expository preaching through the entire New Testament over four decades reached millions globally through his media ministry, Grace to You.
- In opposition to Calvinist views on the return of Jesus Christ, MacArthur, while serving as president of The Master’s University and founder of The Master’s Seminary, advanced a dispensational premillennial perspective, dedicated to equipping biblically grounded pastors.
- Owing to his defiance of California's COVID-19 restrictions by continuing in-person services at Grace Community Church in 2020, MacArthur's church received $800,000 from the state and county for legal fees following the ensuing controversy.
- Evangelical Christianity has experienced MacArthur's lasting impact through extensive writing, preaching, and biblical scholarship, such as the million copies sold of his MacArthur Study Bible and his critiques of the charismatic movement in books like Charismatic Chaos (1993) and Strange Fire (2013).
- MacArthur's controversial statements, like labeling Catholicism a "false religion," criticism of fellow clergy, and comments on social issues like the Black Lives Matter movement, kept him in controversy but did not diminish his influence on evangelical thought.
- Los Angeles government officials, media outlets, and organizations, like The Los Angeles Times, The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, and The Master’s Seminary, have documented and debated MacArthur's life, work, and opinions throughout his career.
