Exposing John MacArthur’s Sociopathic Lies & Blasphemous Claims He Is Suffering for Christ

John MacArthur recently completed a three part series from 2 Corinthians 4:8-18.  The final message on February 28 was titled The Benefits of Suffering for Christ.  The exposition of the text was outstanding.  The application of the text was sociopathic.  I’ll explain.

Over the last few months, the Lord has been shining an intense light on John MacArthur’s hypocrisy and grandiose lying.  This has not pleased him.  In response, he claims he is being persecuted by those who hate the gospel for his preaching of the gospel.  He is suffering for Christ.  This is blasphemous.  What he is experiencing has no relationship to the sufferings of Christ.  He is using the Lord’s name in vain.  

1 Peter 4:13-15
13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.  

It is sacrilegious to claim one is suffering for righteousness sake when he is suffering for unrighteousness sake.  MacArthur is not suffering or being “insulted” because he reflects the glory of Christ.  He is suffering the consequences of his sin like a criminal, evil doer or meddler. 

In February, he was exposed for being paid three salaries, owning three houses, making millions every year in royalties for books he did not write, and more.  

Thoughts on Julie Roy’s Excellent Article “The Prosperous Lifestyle of America’s Anti-Prosperity Gospel Preacher” – John MacArthur 
Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 4:20PM
 
Phil Johnson Covers Up John MacArthur’s Extraordinary Compensation & Lifestyle in Devious Statement to The Christian Post & Interview with Justin Peters 
Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 8:16AM 

Previously, he was exposed for nepotism, cronyism, covering up sexual assault and rape, and creating an abusive leadership culture at The Master’s University and Seminary.  It is all documented in these articles from June 2019. 

My Most Important Article Ever! John MacArthur’s Renowned Story He Stood on the Blood of Martin Luther King Jr. with Iconic Civil Rights Leaders Within Hours of Assassination in 1968 a Complete Hoax! Phil Johnson, MacArthur’s Executive Director, Verbally Assails Reporter Who Broke Story in Attempted Cover-Up! And Much More! 
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at 9:23PM
 
The Account of John MacArthur & Rick Holland’s Horrific Handling of “Jane’s” Rape in Conjunction with Officials from The Master’s University 
Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at 8:02PM 

This month, he has also been exposed to even a greater extent for his hellacious lying over the past 15 years about being with Charles Ever and John Perkins in Jackson, MS the night Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and then needing to be rescued from black rioters and driven to the murder site in Memphis, TN within hours.  There he claims he saw the blood pool on the Lorraine Motel balcony before it was cleaned up and entered the boarding house bathroom across the lot used by the assassin.  Every aspect of his narrative is made up.  

Exposing the Hellacious Lies Advanced by Phil Johnson’s in Interview with Justin Peters about John MacArthur’s Trip to Assassination Site of Martin Luther King Jr. 
Sunday, March 7, 2021 at 3:04PM
 
David Nicholas Blows Up John MacArthur’s Account about When, Where, & With Whom He Heard Martin Luther King Jr. Was Assassinated. Also Exposes MacArthur’s Lie He Went to Assassination Site with Charles Evers & John Perkins. 
Friday, March 12, 2021 at 3:59PM
 
The Fifteen Audacious Lies Told by John MacArthur to Create His Legendary Tale About the Events of April 4, 1968 When Martin Luther King Jr. Was Assassinated  
Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 2:11PM 

MacArthur and Johnson are serial liars.  That is not a harsh judgment or extreme statement.  I say so with no malice.  It has been proven time and time again as a matter of fact.  But now MacArthur has gone further.  Here are some of the egregious statements from his February 28 sermon.  I’ve responded with observations.  The underlining in quotes is mine. 

“Listen, it’s not just your message that is a rebuke to the world, it’s your life.  It’s your life.  It’s Christ in you that comes through in your love for the truth, for the church, for righteousness. … The world doesn’t like it.  Nobody’s tried to take my life, that I know of.  One time, one person did, on an Easter Sunday morning in the office.  But they’re doing everything they can on the Internet to take away my reputation, to silence me because they have convinced people that I am, like so many others, just another spiritual fraud.  You sort of leave your life out there; it’s the way it is.”

It is Christ in MacArthur and his life message of godliness that is a rebuke to the world.  Therefore, the world (i.e. people on the Internet) want to ruin him in three ways: 1) take away his reputation, 2) silence him, and 3) convince people he is a fraud.  When you watch the audio you see and hear how much this loss of reputation pains him. 

MacArthur is primarily referring to the work of Julie Roys.  Secondarily to the work I have done.  Then to a dozen others on the Internet who have spoken out and often provided evidence of wrong doing.  He claims we are “doing everything” possible to harm him because of his righteous life and love for the truth which a rebuke to us worldly pagans.  He continues.

“We have to be exposed.  I mean, we’ve got to be out there proclaiming the truth, right?  You can’t say, ‘Well, I’m afraid that it might cost me my reputation if I’m bold about the gospel.  And those who hate the gospel are going to try to destroy me, and there are a lot of ways they could do it without killing me, especially in this Internet era.’  But you don’t really have a choice.  The glory of God is shining in the face of Jesus Christ, and Christ lives in you, and shines through you as He puts Himself on display in the evident virtues of your life.” 

MacArthur provokes hero worship as he creates this bogus scenario.  He is a timocrat motivated by the love of honor.  No one is trying to destroy him or kill his reputation because he is “bold about the gospel” or because “the evident virtues” of his life are on display.  Rather, he is being opposed and exposed by God for his greed, deceit, hypocrisy, and vainglory.  The man is obsessed with himself.  He is a “spiritual fraud.”  He does not practice what he preaches and he pretends righteousness.  

He also loves to vilify those who call him to account whether it is the Western Association of Schools & Colleges for putting The Master’s University & Seminary on probation, the US Department of Education for fining the schools for violating the Clery Act, local newspapers for writing about the coverup up of sexual assault and rape and the corruption surrounding his son Mark and son-in-law Cory Welsh, Paige Rogers for writing the original article about his farcical story about Martin Luther King Jr., or the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health for trying to enforce COVID-19 protocols. 

To believe MacArthur is to believe he is the most persecuted preacher in America.  In reality, he is the persecutor, not the persecuted.  

Now he says, “Those who hate the gospel are going to try to destroy me.”  That means Julie Roys and me.  The problem is we love the gospel; we just hate serial lying and the devil behind them!  MacArthur’s words provide clear evidence he is a sociopathic liar. He is knowingly making up a false narrative about being persecuted by people who hate the gospel. 

I’d like to say he is delusional.  That would be kind.  But he knows Roys and I love the gospel – the good news about the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.  So do many others who have spoken out (e.g., Dennis Swanson, Jeff Dornick, Paige Rogers, Austin Doucette, Saiko Woods, Tony Thomas,  Marci Preheim, “Modern Day Zorro,” “ChurchAndCovid”).  

MacArthur intentionally prevaricates and deceives his congregation.  He makes himself a hero in their minds and hearts.  Enemies of the gospel hate him and are out to destroy him.  So the legend goes.  But that is not the worst part.  He continues. 

“Paul says in Colossians 1:24, “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake”—not only for the Lord’s sake, but your sake—“and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.”  What an amazing statement.  Paul is saying this: “Christ isn’t here.  They can’t do anymore damage to Him; they can’t inflict anymore wounds on Him, so they inflict them on me in His place.”  What a privilege, right?  He took the wounds for us; can we take the wounds for Him?  That’s how it’s going to be if you’re faithful.”   

This claim is blasphemous.  MacArthur compares himself to Jesus Christ in his sufferings.  “He took the wounds for us; can we take the wounds for Him?  That’s how it’s going to be if you’re faithful.”  MacArthur is “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” for Grace Community Church and the Body of Christ.  

Such claims are an abomination to God and a great offense to Jesus Christ.  He is profaning the holy!  It is evil to claim you are suffering for Christ when you know you are suffering the consequences of wrongdoing. 

John MacArthur is a sociopathic liar.  He realizes he is suffering for long term patterns of sin, not for Jesus Christ!  Yet, he deceives his church and God’s people.  And he does not care if his lies cause collateral damage to Julie Roys or anyone else. 

“Sociopaths are compulsive pathological liars.  Sociopaths lie without conscience.  That means that they can look you right in the eye and lie to you and not show the usual markers that would give them away.  It also means that they don’t care about collateral damage.” 

His wicked ploy continues. 

“The next certainty that steeled Paul for endurance is that he was certain of the need for integrity.  He was certain of the need for integrity.  Do I have to say how desperately we need integrity?  What is integrity?  It’s acting consistently with what you say you believe, right?  You’re not duplicitous.  You’re not a hypocrite.” 

I have been covering the extraordinary duplicity and hypocrisy of MacArthur and Phil Johnson since 2017.  These men are pretenders. 

The following quote comes from a message MacArthur gave when President Clinton was lying to the American people about his sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky.  In describing Clinton, he describes himself.  He also describes Phil Johnson.  These men know what they are doing.  

The Destructive Sin of Lying
And liars always protect themselves at the expense of others.  Proverbs 26:28 says, “A lying tongue hates those it crushes.”  Liars want to crush those who would accuse them.  They despise them.  They despise those who bare the truth.  They despise those who speak honestly.  They despise those with integrity.

I’ve also covered their horrific “domineering” of people.  MacArthur’s lying, lording, and law breaking are well known but people fear reprisals if they speak out.  Many have signed non-disclosure or non-disparaging agreements to receive severance payments and favorable recommendations. 

Jesus puts it best.  MacArthur’s ministry is “full of dead people’s bones.” 

Matthew 23:27-28
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 

But if you believe MacArthur’s narrative in his sermon, he is the most persecuted preacher in all the land.  He puts himself forward as a hero of the faith, as the suffering servant of Christ.  It is not true.  He has suffered nothing.  He lives a life of ease and luxury.  

In contrast, here is what Paul said about himself and the other apostles. 1 Corinthians 4:11 To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads. 

Moreover, he is adored by millions around the world impressed by his teaching.  He also has a cult-like following in Grace Community Church and is revered by groups like Ligonier Ministries who just had him teach at their national conference.  I objected on Twitter.  Steve Lawson, a Ligonier Teaching Fellow, recently called MacArthur “the greatest pastor on planet earth.”  

Brent Detwiler
@BrentDetwiler
Why is Ligonier Ministries allowing John MacArthur to speak at their national conference tonight?  Have they no respect for the holiness of God?
Quote Tweet 
Ligonier Ministries
@Ligonier· Mar 18
The most comforting doctrine of God is the doctrine of His sovereignty.  He is on the throne. —@JohnMacArthur #ligcon

7:17 PM · Mar 18, 2021

Brent Detwiler
@BrentDetwiler
Why is John MacArthur speaking on the holiness of God when he defames it in his life and ministry? This is a great sacrilege.
Quote Tweet 
Ligonier Ministries
@Ligonier· Mar 18
Like the prophet Isaiah, we need cleansing in order to dwell with God in His supreme holiness.  Live from #LigCon, @JohnMacArthur speaks on the eternal significance of God’s holiness and how He has made His people holy in Christ.
https://pscp.tv/w/cyKAjTFsWktwWXlucERsam58MVlwSmt6V295VlZHakzWjPT-68TMlSn9YV62ulKplA9pRBbKk63Mq2RT4Oal…
7:23 PM · Mar 18, 2021

1 Timothy 3:2 says an overseer must be able to teach.  In other words, he is endowed by God with the gift of teaching.  

Titus 1:9 goes further.  It says, He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 

MacArthur is a gifted teacher.  Most of his doctrine is sound.  He holds firm the “trustworthy word” or gospel and he is able to correct those whose who teach a false one.    

But he is many other things – ungodly things he refuses to acknowledge.  For example, he is arrogant, quick-tempered and greedy for gain.  

Titus 1:7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,  

Then there are the virtues he needs to model but does not.  For example, you cannot be a lover of good, upright, and holy when you practice lying, deceit, and intimidation. 

Titus 1:8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 

Nor do you employ evil men like Phil Johnson.  

Who Will Stand Up to Phil Johnson for His Vicious Verbal Attacks Upon Journalist Julie Roys? Certainly Not John MacArthur! 
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 6:47PM 

Nor do you shepherd God’s people for shameful profit or lord it over them. 

1 Peter 5:2-3
2 Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly. 3 And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. 

This means MacArthur is not above reproach (1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:6) or blameless (Tit. 1:7).  Being a gifted teacher alone does not qualify you for ministry.  Far from it!  He should be removed from ministry. 

And yet, we live in a day when people are impressed with oratory and exposition.  They idolize great preachers and excuse their ungodly behavior.  Character is practically irrelevant.  

Far worse are fellow elders and national leaders who take no action to discipline their colleagues.  Instead they enable them and cover up for them.  Such sinful partiality and favoritism is condemned in Scripture.  It is destroying Christ’s church. 

Such men comprise the Leadership Team and Board of Elders at Grace Community Church.  They are not submitted to the authority of Scripture nor to Jesus Christ the head of the church.    

1 Timothy 5:19-21
19 Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 20 Those guilty of sin must be rebuked before all, as a warning to the rest. 21 Before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, I solemnly charge you to carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind.