I grew up around John MacArthur. My brother and brother-in-law attended schools associated with him. We read his books, listened to his sermons, and used his Study Bible. Eventually, I even served on staff as a pastoral intern at Grace Community Church. With the death of Pastor MacArthur, I find myself reflecting on his life and influence—especially his influence on my own life.
Reading John MacArthur
As a teenager, I remember being unable to sleep one hot night. I moved to a cooler room, but still couldn’t rest. Then I had a curious thought: doesn’t the Bible have something about dragons? Looking around, I noticed a Bible nearby. I opened it to the Book of Daniel. I found no dragons. Yet I discovered something far more important: a passion for reading Scripture.
That Bible was a John MacArthur Study Bible. The notes helped me read and understand the text. I kept reading, and I kept learning. And I never stopped.
I went on to read John Owen, Jonathan Edwards, and, of course, John MacArthur. The Johns had a lot to say! I listened to MacArthur’s Grace to You program and became a Calvinist in the process—though at first I had no idea who John Calvin was. I still remember, in my first year of university, being asked if I was a Calvinist. I didn’t think so, because I didn’t go to a church pastored by anyone named Calvin!
That soon changed. By my second or third year, I was working my way through Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. From there, authors like J. I. Packer and Martin Luther began to shape my moral imagination.
But I always had a soft spot for MacArthur. I read his books and commentaries, listened to his sermons, and used his Study Bible. When I graduated from college, I enrolled at The Master’s Seminary. Soon after, I was hired at Grace Community Church as a pastoral intern and became a deacon. I served in that role for four years—wonderful years, full of joy and learning.
John Was Not Exactly My Pastor
MacArthur pastored the pastors. He usually let other pastors shepherd the congregation, which included me.
I worked in a shared office space at the opposite end of the office area from MacArthur. Even so, I never spoke with him as a staff person, except on one occasion.
I was at the bottom of the stairs and saw MacArthur. He said, “How are you, son?”
I replied, “Not bad!”
He then put his arm on my shoulder and said, while pushing me out of the way, “It will get better soon, son.”
And so I was moved out of the way. And I knew it would get better soon. It did. So I guess he was right.
I tell this story to point out that MacArthur was not my pastor. Others at Grace Church were. MacArthur was my church’s preacher.
So while I cannot claim a close, personal friendship with MacArthur, I did speak with him on multiple occasions outside of the office, such as after a church service. He was always friendly and kind to me. He obviously had a gift of leadership and an aura that drew people to him. If you have ever met him, you know exactly what I mean.
His charisma (but definitely not charismatic-ness) matched his ceaseless passion for the truth, which he found in the Bible. As one of his books testified, MacArthur found himself in a Truth War. The stakes were high: heaven or hell. And MacArthur, or JMAC as many called him, proclaimed that truth from the pulpit weekly at Grace Community Church.
These qualities alone would have made John MacArthur a pillar in the Los Angeles area. But three factors furthered his reach significantly.
R. C. Sproul
First, R. C. Sproul invited John MacArthur to speak at a Ligonier Conference, introducing “Boris” (Sproul’s nickname for MacArthur) to the wider Reformed world. Through Sproul’s endorsement, MacArthur became more involved and influential in Reformed circles, eventually becoming a sort of Reformed-ish leader of various groups.
That said, MacArthur had two liabilities. First, he was a “leaky dispensationalist,” which meant he was not an obvious fit for Reformed folk to follow.
Second, and perhaps more seriously, he denied the eternal Sonship of Christ, preferring an incarnational sonship model based on Hebrews 1:5. In his Hebrews commentary and elsewhere, he made statements like, “He did not become a Son until He was begotten into time.” Having held this position for many years, MacArthur wrote a public recantation in 2001. Interestingly, while his denial of Christ’s eternal Sonship did not exclude him from the IFCA, he would in 2017 be asked to leave for his view of Limited Atonement.
Despite these problems, MacArthur’s overwhelming biblical courage did not prevent Reformed men from listening to him.
Controversy
The second factor that advanced MacArthur’s influence centred on the many controversies he entered. By making courageous stands—even against big names—MacArthur showed himself fearless, willing to oppose virtually anyone if he believed Scripture supported his stance.
For example, MacArthur attacked Free Grace theology for its lack of emphasis on the Lordship of Jesus Christ. His The Gospel According to Jesus (1988) emphasized that Christ must be Lord of our lives, not just our Savior. In context, this meant he picked a fight with many dispensational leaders connected to Dallas Theological Seminary, a significant evangelical institution. MacArthur followed up with polemics against charismatic theology and practice, social justice, and more besides. At each controversy, he seemed to grow his audience and reputation. He was a fighter for the fighters.
However, after the death of R. C. Sproul in 2017, MacArthur began to recede from public theological discussions. I am not sure why exactly. But part of it had to do with the targets of his attack. I remember being on the security team at the Strange Fire conference (2014)—where, by the way, I got an autograph from Mark Driscoll, who famously crashed the conference with James MacDonald. While there, I heard an evening Q&A in which MacArthur and others spoke critically about John Piper and Wayne Grudem.
By doing so, MacArthur began to criticize close allies to his cause. He would be seen to do so again through a panel discussion that Phil Johnson hosted at the 2019 Shepherd’s Conference, where Johnson sparred with Albert Mohler. Interestingly, MacArthur’s last T4G speaking engagement was in 2018. Whatever else this meant, it appeared that MacArthur’s stands at Strange Fire and around Social Justice created a difficult atmosphere for unity. Grace Community Church also had a public fallout with The Gospel Coalition in 2018 when a TGC event at Grace fell through.
All that to say, MacArthur’s polemics did further his reach in the early decades. Arguably, his later polemics limited his influence. One exception, however, was his stand during COVID. While Grace Church did close temporarily during that period, it eventually remained open despite orders to shut down or limit attendance. Many followed MacArthur in his resistance, and as far as I can discern, his stand helped him reach new audiences.
Grace to You, Publishing, and Education
The third factor that expanded MacArthur’s influence was his media and education initiatives. One of the most important ways his reach grew was through his tape and radio ministry, Grace to You. Through this ministry, MacArthur’s preaching went around the world. Yes, The Master’s Seminary and training institutions such as The Master’s Academy International extended his influence, but it was the radio—and later the podcast—that made him globally known.
MacArthur was, above all, a preacher. And in his radio ministry, he preached. His books flowed out of that preaching, giving his sermons a permanent written form. Virtually all of his books began as sermons and only later were shaped into volumes. For this reason, his publishing ministry cannot be separated from his preaching ministry. Grace to You promoted not only his sermons online but also his books, multiplying his influence.
Legacy
MacArthur will be remembered as one of the most significant Christian leaders in the evangelical and Reformed(ish) world. While he may not have the same theological impact as writers like B. B. Warfield or J. Gresham Machen, his ability to influence so many through Grace to You, his impact on thousands through The Master’s University and Seminary, and his international influence will ensure that his legacy endures.
Most likely, his commitment to preaching the truth of the Bible will be what he is remembered for. His polemics and theological arguments for positions such as Lordship salvation, leaky dispensationalism, and cessationism have already begun to fade. While many cessationists still exist, their arguments no longer center on MacArthur’s Charismatic Chaos (1992).
I suspect John would be pleased to know that people do not chiefly remember him for his polemics but for his steadfast commitment to the truth of God’s Word, known through his preaching.
It is worth noting that many will not appreciate MacArthur’s legacy. I have already seen articles highlighting his failings, whether in pastoral care of church members or in public statements, such as telling Beth Moore to “go home.” I expect more will surface over time.
That said, MacArthur would be the first to admit he was an imperfect sinner. I do not have enough information to speak publicly on the various scandals that some accuse him of. What I do know is that he avoided scandals tied to his private life. He loved his wife and children until the end. He stayed in one place. And he was a man of integrity where it mattered most: preaching and teaching the Word of God.
MacArthur and Me
I remember telling a pastor at Grace Community Church that I wanted to organize the theological writings of John MacArthur and make him my “theological guy,” much like John Piper did with Jonathan Edwards. He laughed at me and told me “no.”
Probably that was for the best. While MacArthur will be a preaching hero to me, I do not see eye to eye with him on every matter of theology or pastoral practice anymore. And I think that is just fine.
I don’t need to agree with someone to appreciate them.
God crowns his gifts. MacArthur will forever remain a gift to me that God has crowned, because he introduced me to scriptural exegesis, to Calvinism, and indirectly allowed me to work at Grace Community Church.
Thanks, John MacArthur. Grace to you, and I will see you in heaven someday.
