John MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church for 55 years, died on July 14, 2025, at the age of 86 following complications from pneumonia. He was known globally for his verse-by-verse biblical exposition, the MacArthur Study Bible, and his leadership of The Master’s Seminary. But in the wake of his death, many within the evangelical world are reassessing not only his theological contributions but also his provocative stances on religious liberty, Christian nationalism, and Calvinist doctrine.
MacArthur’s reach was vast. His “Grace to You” broadcast aired internationally. He trained thousands of pastors and published over 150 books. But in his final decade, his role expanded beyond the pulpit, as he became a polarizing voice on questions about the American church’s public witness.
Rejecting Religious Liberty as a Civic Ideal
In 2021, MacArthur made national headlines by denouncing religious liberty, a value long held by many U.S. evangelicals. In a Sunday sermon, he said:
“I don’t even support religious freedom. Religious freedom is what sends people to hell… To say I support religious freedom is to say I support idolatry, lies, hell, and the kingdom of darkness.”
MacArthur argued that religious freedom, if it means equal protection for false religions, contradicts biblical truth. He framed it as a philosophical problem more than a political one. In his view, religious freedom often acts as a cover for relativism. “We support the truth,” he said. “We don’t fight for people to have the right to lie.”
For MacArthur, defending the gospel means denying legitimacy to competing religious claims. “The kingdom of God doesn’t advance on the back of freedom for everyone,” he added. “It advances by the power of the Spirit through the proclamation of truth” (WNG).
Anti-Nationalist and Apolitical
He also rejected Christian nationalism—an ideology that seeks to fuse American identity with Christian values. Speaking in 2024, MacArthur said:
“There is no such thing as Christian nationalism. The Kingdom of God is not of this world.”
Though politically conservative and critical of liberal social policies, MacArthur viewed the church as separate from earthly governments. He believed no nation could advance God’s Kingdom. That work belonged solely to the church’s preaching and teaching ministries. Christians, he said, should vote, pray, and engage with society—but never confuse political outcomes with spiritual mission.
He urged believers not to tie the gospel to political outcomes, warning that efforts to create a “Christian America” often misrepresent the church’s true calling. He described the pursuit of political triumphalism as “a misunderstanding of our theology, our mission, and our message.”
Reformed Calvinism and Sovereignty of God
Alongside these views, MacArthur was a staunch Calvinist, often labeled “Reformed,” though he notably distanced himself from confessional Reformed churches. He affirmed the “doctrines of grace” including total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints. He taught that salvation was fully the work of God, from beginning to end.
In his sermon archive and in books like The Gospel According to Jesus (1988), MacArthur emphasized lordship salvation—a view that true faith always produces obedience. He criticized what he called “easy-believism,” writing:
“Salvation is for those who are willing to forsake everything… If someone believes the gospel but refuses to submit to Christ’s authority, he is not saved.”
(The Gospel According to Jesus, 1988)
MacArthur’s Calvinism also informed his ecclesiology and his view of God’s sovereignty. He consistently preached that God was in control of all historical events and human decisions. This sovereignty extended to salvation, government actions, and even the growth of false religions.
These convictions underpinned his indifference to government protection. “The church doesn’t need the state,” he often said. “The gospel will triumph without it—and often in spite of it.”
Criticism and Defense
His remarks drew criticism from many evangelical leaders. Russell Moore, former president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, responded in Christianity Today that religious liberty is not about validating all beliefs but protecting the right to follow conscience:
“We don’t support religious liberty because we believe all religions are equally true. We support it because coercion can’t produce real faith.”
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission itself issued a public response:
“Religious freedom is not about moral equivalence; it is about human dignity and the freedom to choose faith without government compulsion.”
(ERLC)
MacArthur’s defenders argue that his views are often misunderstood. They insist he did not oppose the legal right to practice religion but rather the theological endorsement of pluralism.
Closing the Pulpit
MacArthur’s death marks the end of an era for many in conservative evangelicalism. His final years were marked not only by theological controversy but also by legal action: in 2021, Grace Community Church won an $800,000 settlement from Los Angeles County for COVID-19 restriction enforcement after defying health orders (LA Times).
The leadership transition at Grace Community Church is expected later this year, with elders reportedly planning to name a successor by the fall.
His death closes a chapter, but his theological influence—and the debates he sharpened—will remain active across pulpits, seminaries, and evangelical institutions.