John MacArthur — the Man Who Said “No”

What I most remember him for — his COVID defiance

We have already read many remembrances of Pastor John MacArthur, who died yesterday with pneumonia at age 86. Some of us may have also come across those who cannot resist smearing the man, even in death. (COUGHjulieroysCOUGH)

But I have so far seen little written about what I most appreciate about him. So I will do it myself.

John MacArthur was a man who had the guts to say “No” and knew how to say it.

And he said “No” in any number of areas where it was considered villainous and bigoted to do so including alphabet and gender issues. He would say it calmly with clear explanations and usually with not a little Scripture. But he said it, and he meant it. Then he would not budge, no matter how much hate the anti-hate crowd threw at him.

That he so stood firm during a time when so many clergy across the spectrum of the Western church allowed themselves to be blown about with the winds of the age, including way too many clergy that once seemed to be orthodox — this is why I admired him.

Of course, this godly and manly trait also infuriated many. Good!

The most famous episode of him saying “No” was when he cast California’s COVID restrictions off his church in July 2020. He and the elders of Grace Community Church explained themselves clearly, patiently and without vitriol. But they said “No” to continued COVID tyranny nonetheless.

Further, MacArthur had some fun at the expense of Democrat hypocrisy in that Summer of 2020, when Democrats shut law abiding citizens down, but let BLM and Antifa criminals run riot. Not widely known as a humorous man, MacArthur wryly welcomed his congregation back to unrestricted worship thus:

Good morning everyone, I’m so happy to welcome you to the Grace Community Church peaceful protest.

In retaliation, California and Los Angeles County sued that church. The church counter-sued. The tyrants not only lost, but paid a combined $800,000 to Grace Community Church in settlement.

During that long summer when so many churches proved themselves more cuck than Christian, John MacArthur said “No” — and it was glorious!

Although also doggedly committed to the authority of Scripture, I’m Anglican and rather Anglo-Catholic at that. So I could certainly quibble with MacArthur on this and that. And in roughly 55 years of ministry, he surely made his mistakes.

But in an age of apostasy, when so many who claimed to be Christians, and Christian ministers even, cowered and compromised and betrayed the Faith, John MacArthur had the faith, and the backbone, and the guts to stand firm and say, “No.” No, I will not cower before men and their lies. Yes, I will be faithful to Christ and his Truth.

And now he begins to enjoy the eternal joys that God showers on those who are so faithful when pressured to be otherwise. John Fullerton MacArthur Jr., rest in peace and rise in glory!