Alternative Culture: John MacArthur and his legacy

 

John Fullerton MacArthur Jr recently died of pneumonia on July 14, 2025, at age 86 in Santa Clarita, California. A titan among Protestant circles, his legacy endures through his extensive writings, sermons, and influence on evangelical Christianity.

Origin

MacArthur was a prominent American pastor, theologian, and author, best known for his long tenure as pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California (1969–2025) and his radio and television ministry, Grace to You, which reached a global audience. Born in Los Angeles to a family with a strong Christian heritage—his father, Jack MacArthur, was a Baptist preacher, and his grandfather, Harry MacArthur, was an Anglican minister—MacArthur felt called to ministry early in life despite initially aspiring to a career in professional sport.

MacArthur authored or edited over 150 books, including the bestselling MacArthur Study Bible, which sold over a million copies and received a Gold Medallion Book Award. He founded The Master’s University (1985) and The Master’s Seminary (1986), serving as chancellor emeritus, and was a key figure in updating the Legacy Standard Bible (2021). 

Theology

Classic Protestants and Reformed Christians like myself admired John MacArthur for several key reasons, rooted in his theological convictions, ministry approach, and cultural impact. 

A) MacArthur was a staunch defender of the Bible as the infallible, authoritative Word of God. His expository preaching—verse-by-verse, with emphasis on historical and grammatical context—resonated with Protestants who prioritize Scripture over tradition or subjective experience.

B) He kept to the historical view of Jesus. As a Calvinist, MacArthur championed doctrines like predestination, total depravity, and the sovereignty of God, aligning closely with classical Protestantism’s Reformation heritage (e.g., the teachings of Luther and Calvin). His clear articulation of these doctrines appealed to those who value theological precision.

C) His expository preaching style. His methodical, text-driven preaching style became a gold standard for many Protestant pastors. Through Grace to You and his books, like The MacArthur Study Bible, he equipped churches with resources to study Scripture deeply, earning respect from those who see preaching as central to worship.

Thus, his consistent theological stance led him to cover critiques of theological liberalism, charismatic excesses, and seeker-sensitive megachurch trends endeared him to classical Protestants who felt modern Christianity was drifting from its roots. His opposition to progressive cultural shifts, such as on issues of gender and sexuality, aligned with conservative Protestant values.

For instance, his book Strange Fire (2013) was critical of the charismatic movement in Christianity, which he felt was overly focused on passions and emotions over discernment in Scripture.

Controversies

MacArthur’s controversies often stemmed from his unwavering commitment to his interpretation of biblical truth, which he prioritized over cultural or ecclesiastical harmony.

For instance, many felt his tone towards the charismatic movement was overly harsh and lacked charity. In another case, he continued to hold indoor services against the COVID rules of California in early 2020s.

MacArthur's critics viewed his approach as rigid, sometimes lacking empathy or openness to dialogue, particularly on sensitive issues like charismatic movement (of the early 2010s) or public health (of the 2020s). 

Legacy

Despite this, his unwavering commitment to Scripture, Reformed doctrine, and pastoral training made him a towering figure for Protestants who valued theological fidelity and biblical authority.