MacArthur Nearing Death
As I write this watching the Jimmy Swaggart memorial, news comes that John MacArthur is near death.
I confess that I’m having a major come apart watching the Swaggart memorial…I won’t have such over MacArthur.
The influence of both on 20th and 21st century America is immeasurable…we’ll talk more in the week to come.
It’s interesting which leaders we find connection with, and which ones repel us. None of them are perfect, but we find reasons to give to some, at least to some degree, a measure of loyalty and appreciation. I mourned the loss of JI Packer. I liked his depth and appreciated his humanity. I was part of GCC some 40 years ago, but quickly figured out it wasn’t for me. Throughout my years in ministry, several Master’s Seminary graduates served as thorns in my side. I’ve always felt JM gave Phil Johnson way too much leash to act as his bulldog. I do pray God will give me a compassionate heart as many will grieve MacArthur’s passing.
And MacArthur, just like Swaggart were biblically unqualified to be pastors. They share that in common.
I liked MacArthur in the 70s/80s. I would often listen to his radio program, right after Chuck Swindoll (who seems to have avoided trouble-i.e. disqualifying sin-quite well). Then all the adulation and MacArthur says….began, and I was quite turned off.
We had a group of people show up my church a few years ago, refugees from a church that split. They were big MacArthurrites. Our pastor said from the pulpit-gasp-that although he had a tremendous amount of respect for MacArthur, we were not “his” church, and he would preach from the Bible, not from MacArthur notes. A few of them left, but most of them are still there and flourishing spiritually.
I lost sympathy for Swaggert after the second time he was caught and he publicly said it was no one’s business. I was appalled, especially as his programs were brpadcast all over South America (where I was serving as a missionary). Sexual sin was a huge problem in both Catholic and Protestant/evangelical churches among the leadership, and now it was being officially sanctioned by an internationally known leader. I believe God forgives, but there are consequences when we don’t obey him.
Linn,
I lost respect for Swaggart when instead of humbling himself and accepting the sanctions and (if truly repentant the restoration process) from the AoG, he basically told them to eff off and got himself defrocked. He then started his own independent church. The 2nd time with with hooker in his car only confirmed that I had been right all along. That man does not belong in the pulpit.
Mom really enjoyed MacArthur. As far as I can tell, he walked the walk and followed the narrow path.
Lynne,
Good to see you.
Yes, I remember her liking him.
He was her kind of teacher…very straight forward.
He walked the straight and narrow in terms of his marriage, etc…but there was a ton of abuse covered up by him in the church.
She’s met him in person, now…