A Health Update on John MacArthur
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. (3 John 1:2)
Pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church (GCC) in Sun Valley, California, who is normally in the news for an on-going battle with Los Angeles County Health Officials to keep his church open amidst California Governor Gavin Newsom’s shutdown orders, has a few people saying his name for a different reason.
Speculation about MacArthur’s health comes in light of him missing preaching two weeks in a row, as well as people not understanding what sort of schedule he keeps.
Historically, John MacArthur takes 8 weeks off preaching duties in July and August, but those months were bumped up to the fall given the heat from COVID-19 and the government threatening to shut down the church. With GCC going to court and receiving a reprieve for several months, MacArthur took off most of October and November. He returned to the pulpit for three weeks, and now has been absent for two.
MacArthur was initially supposed to preach on Sunday, January 3rd and have Steve Lawson preach the evening service, but those plans were changed, and MacArthur was taken off the schedule and Lawson replaced him in the morning slot.
In a brief message from Pastor Tom Patton before the service, he explains:
…And we have the privilege this morning of having Dr. Steve Lawson with us in our pastor’s stead…This gives our pastor John a little more time to rest and prepare for Shepherds’ Conference. I know that seems kind of early (March 3-5, 2021), but Shepherds’ Conference is right around the corner, just so you know. It’s moving fast upon us as the days unfold, so please be in prayer for leaders all around the word…
Tim Hurd of The Bible Thumping Wingnut Network, who like us at Protestia is a huge fan of MacArthur and GCC – having been blessed for years by the man and ministry – has been graciously following along and updating his audience on how things are coming along in these dark times with this Church serving as a beacon in the darkness.
With Hurd being friends with several GCC members and having “insider access,” he explains he was informed that the reason MacArthur needs rest, apart from being 81 years old, is that he is sick with a bit of the stomach flu.
He does NOT have COVID-19.
Dr. Steve Lawson made a few comments during his own message, mentioning his esteem for pastor MacArthur. He describes GCC as having the greatest pastor on planet earth – how he has been raised up by God at this moment in history to be the leading voice of evangelicalism and the last man standing. He says:
There is one strong man, an atlas, who is upholding the faith once and for all delivered to the saints, and that’s the man who stands in this Pulpit. May God bless him. May God strengthen him. May God hold him up. May God give him another hundred years.
To that we say, “yea and amen.”
See the full video below, and subscribe to Tim’s channel and hit the notification bell for the edification of your soul.
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Strange of Dr. Lawson to use an unnecessary and unprovable superlative like that.
I’d give your comment a like if I could.
Matthew Trewella is brilliant pastor and has given some wonderful sermons on covid and the churches. He is on sermonaudio.
Wow. Liars, liars and liars. It is all going to blow up in their GCC face and so many people will get sick. They make it all about John macarthur, but they should make about GOD in humility, service s and love. Where is the compassion for those who are dying from Covid-19. Believe me when I say that everyone, including GCC, will get devastated by this disease. God, who is the creator of all things, including your body, gave is all a brain and mine. USE IT!!!!
Has it ever occurred to you that the vast majority of those folks who die from Covid were probably going to die anyway from pneumonia or something else because of their age and highly compromised immune systems. Why aren’t you upset about people dying for other reasons and conditions? Because it’s not hammered into your head by the media constantly. At least those who die from Covid had a chance at life and probably for at least 70 or 80 years. How about all those aborted babies that don’t get that chance? There’s a lot more of them than Covid victims.
How come you’re not so scared about driving on the highway so much so that you never leave your house? Oh that’s right, maybe you don’t because you think lockdowns work despite how the virus keeps spreading, assuming that’s true.
Where is your belief in the Lord’s sovereignty? He alone is in control. To cower in fear because of a disease clearly shows your lack of faith in the Lord and hi ability to control His universe. Maybe you should attend Grace Community Church so you can learn abut the attributes of God. You need to repent and fall on your knees and ask for forgiveness.
By the way, at the end of the article, thank you for not writing “awoman” after amen like that nut job congressman said on Sunday after praying to Brahma. What country is this, anyway? This is what you get when you preach diversity, instead of excellence, for its own sake and inclusion.
Some unkind stuff here … I thought he looked unwell watching on YouTube from Australia recently but his message was strong and timely. May the Lord preserve him for many days yet. Praying