Many thanks to N for writing this. She actually wrote it quite a long while ago but sent it to me recently after we learned that MacArthur had passed away. I decided to publish it (with her permission) –
Concerns Regarding John MacArthur and Church Leadership
“A good preacher, but a bad liver, is like a physician who has the plague: though the advice and prescription he gives may be good, yet his plague infects the patient.” ~ Thomas Watson
As a confessional reformed conservative Christian, I am deeply troubled by the actions of John MacArthur and the leadership at Grace Community Church (GCC) in response to serious allegations of abuse. Twenty years ago, an elder at GCC was convicted of heinous crimes and remains in prison. Yet, the church has not reversed the wrongful excommunication of Eileen Gray nor publicly condemned the guilty party. This failure to address past wrongs raises questions about the leadership’s commitment to justice and empathy, qualities essential to reflecting Christ’s love.
For years, those attuned to the tactics of abuse have sensed issues within GCC. The allegations surrounding MacArthur’s handling of this situation are not surprising to those who have observed these patterns. The Bible emphasizes that leaders must bear good fruit (Matthew 7:16-20). When a church defends wrongdoers or fails to protect the vulnerable, it cannot be considered sound. According to 1 Timothy 1:9-10, unsound behavior reflects unsound doctrine. Wrongful excommunication, for instance, can constitute emotional, psychological, and spiritual abuse, which is incompatible with godly leadership.
Scripture places greater emphasis on a pastor’s integrity and character than on his accomplishments or theological precision (1 Timothy 3:1-7). Regardless of how many books a leader has written, sermons preached, or institutions built, these do not outweigh a lack of integrity. If a leader fails to protect the vulnerable or acknowledge his errors publicly, his ministry lacks biblical grounding. God can use flawed individuals to accomplish His purposes, but this does not mean He approves of their actions, and neither should we. As believers, we must prioritize character over celebrity, recognizing that Satan can mimic theological prowess but cannot replicate true integrity or repentance.
A pastor must be above reproach, meaning his conduct should be beyond fault (Titus 1:6-7). Defending or enabling abuse disqualifies a leader from ministry, regardless of his achievements. The biblical standard is clear: one victim is one too many. When leaders fail to meet these qualifications, the church must hold them accountable, even if it means removing them from ministry. Compromising on this standard risks further harm to the church and its members. The most loving response is to enforce consequences, ensuring the protection of the vulnerable and the integrity of the church.
When churches protect wrongdoers, it signals deeper corruption. As 1 Corinthians 5:6 warns, “a little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Unaddressed sin festers, damaging the entire body. Jesus exposes such corruption to reveal the true nature of a ministry. Satan, described as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), can use skilled pretenders to deceive. Thus, it is not unimaginable that a prominent leader could be corrupt. Believers are called to exercise discernment and reject deception, as warned in Scripture (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
The response to these allegations should not be dismissive or neutral, such as claiming “we don’t know”— or worse, praising the “success” of MacArthur’s ministry. Instead, the church must demand transparency and accountability. A genuine pastor whose calling is based on his character qualifications will be able to withstand intense scrutiny. If he cannot, then the Biblical response is abandonment (John 10:5, Matt 15:14). Public shaming of unrepentant leaders is also biblical (1 Timothy 5:20), and the church is not bound by secular legal standards like “innocent until proven guilty” when addressing spiritual abuse. Failing to stand against abusers and their enablers aligns the church with falsehood rather than Christ.
The church must prioritize the souls of those harmed, like Eileen Gray, over the preservation of a leader’s reputation or ministry. Imagine being the spouse of a convicted abuser, only to see your pastor defend the guilty party while you are ostracized. Such actions betray the wounded and undermine the gospel. True godliness demands justice and compassion for victims, not loyalty to influential figures. The church does not depend on any one leader; it depends on Christ alone.
The silence from GCC regarding these allegations is concerning. If the charges are as serious as reported, the church should demand an investigation to uncover the truth. Failure to do so suggests a lack of commitment to biblical standards. Leaders must be held to account, and conferences or affiliations with them should be reconsidered until clarity is provided. A good warning to those who staunchly want to exalt doctrinal teaching above character and at the expense of genuine pastoral shepherding of the wounded is that Jesus hated the Pharisees for that very reason.
Addressing abuse in the church is not about protecting a ministry but about upholding justice, righteousness, and mercy—values central to the gospel. Christians must reject the idolatry of celebrity pastors and hold leaders to the high standard of Scripture. The Bible warns that false teachers and wolves will arise among us (Acts 20:29-30), often disguised as faithful shepherds. Discernment requires us to test all things and hold fast to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
This issue demands more than passive acknowledgment. It calls for active pursuit of truth and justice. The church must prioritize the vulnerable, demand accountability, and trust God to raise up leaders who meet His standards. Only then can we reflect the heart of Christ and protect the integrity of His church.
To the leaders of GCC I want to remind you, Jesus is the Great Shepherd and His first instinct when they are in danger was lay down His life to protect them knowing how much He had to suffer for them and bear many false accusations in the process. Any pastor whose first instinct is self preservation at the expense of the sheep is the hireling, thief and robber Jesus NEVER called to ministry (John 10: 12,13).
Joe Pote
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
– Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:15-23)
Jeff Crippen
Satan as a deceiver is soooo subtle that sometimes if not often the false prophet doesn’t even know they are a false prophet. You see this when Jesus said that on the day when he returns, many will come to him and say Lord, Lord….we did all of these things in your name! They actually were self-deceived.
Joe Pote
Exactly! We have a lot of people, such as John MacArthur, who seem to view themselves as fierce defenders of “correct” doctrines… yet whose lives and ministries simply do not bear the fruit of love.
Lisa Burdick
Amen and amen!
Sarah
This is excellent. Thank you for sharing. The way abuse is handled seems to more and more be a dividing line between those that love justice and mercy and truly serve the Lord and those that are wolves in sheep clothing.
Charity
Excellent! Thank you.