Along with thousands of other pastors across America I wish to pay tribute to John MacArthur who passed away Monday night after being hospitalized with pneumonia. He was eighty-six and had served Grace Community Church in Los Angeles for more than fifty years. At first, when I heard yesterday that his death was imminent, I felt grief and sadness. Yet as I reflected on his life and ministry, I found myself rejoicing, knowing he had gone to his reward. I thought, “Good for him.”

His death will provoke various responses from media outlets. The New York Times called him a “firebrand,” and “culture warrior.” He was often labeled “controversial” because of his uncompromising stand on the Word of God. He spoke truth regardless of the moment when others would have sought to soften the blow.

I have watched many interviews John had with major news outlets and talk shows and always, with courage and grace, John proclaimed Jesus Christ as the only way to heaven and eternal life. Whether it was with Larry King or Ben Shapiro he clearly articulated the gospel. Against public opinion he stood firm against the moral decline of our day, debating atheists, condemning the LGTBQ revolution, defending Biblical marriage, and even defying public health orders in California during the COVID lockdown.

Though I never met Dr. MacArthur he was like a mentor to me. In my forty plus years of ministry his commentaries have remained standard fare in my sermon preparation. He was first and foremost an excellent expositor of Scripture. In fact, while doing my doctoral work at Southern Seminary one of my professors warned us not to use MacArthur’s commentaries. In other words, John had already done the work the professor wanted us to do.

Indeed, John faithfully and consistently preached through the Bible using the historical-grammatical method of exposition to arrive at what the text actually meant and what the writer intended to say and always exalting his Lord and Savior in the process. His pastoral ministry has been an example and encouragement to me for many years. I may not have always agreed with him on everything but have always respected his unswerving commitment to God’s Word.

John is with the Lord and his faith has become sight, his battle for truth has ended, and his burdens forever laid down at the feet of Christ. I hope you will pray for his wife and family and for his church as they go through the grieving process, and for the future leadership of Grace Community Church. A poem I learned many years ago comes to mind and is most appropriate for John.

A fight well fought

A course well run

A faith well kept

A crown well won.