John MacArthur, please remove the plank from your eye

Humble_Disciple · Jul 16, 2021

Matthew 7:5
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Just to show that I'm not a Calvinist fanboy, I have never liked John MacArthur. Other than his opinions on female teachers, I agree with most of what MacArthur has to say. But in terms of his lifestyle, does he practice what he preaches?

https://julieroys.com/prosperous-lifestyle-americas-anti-prosperity-gospel-preacher/

http://abrentdetwiler.squarespace.com/brentdetwilercom/phil-johnson-covers-up-john-macarthurs-extraordinary-compens.html

The above chart is not counting his other income streams, like from book royalties. Joel Osteen, on the other hand, who I disagree with on pretty much everything, receives no salary from his church:

Osteen says that as senior pastor, he draws no salary from the church, which has an annual budget of $70 million,[32] and that he instead relies on income from book sales.[33]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Osteen

I'm not coveting John MacArthur's money. I feel sorry for the members of his church for having to pay his extravagant salaries. I don't care how Joel Osteen makes his money, because it's not from the church coffers.

I estimate John MacArthur makes 1.5 to 2 million dollars a year. He is paid three salaries from Grace Community Church, Grace to You (media ministry), and The Master’s University & Seminary. That doesn’t include his ministerial housing allowance(s) which goes unreported on tax forms or IRS reporting forms.

Nor does it include income from book royalties, honoraria, and bonuses. Two hundred books have been written under MacArthur’s name. That amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars in royalties every year. How much does he receive? He speaks at the biggest conferences in the nation. They pay thousands of dollars in honorarium for featured speakers. And what bonuses and gifts does he receive? For example, what did he get last year on the 50th anniversary his pastorate?...

Julie Roys at The Roys Report has done a great service for the Body of Christ. She has further exposed the nepotism, cronyism, and corruption that has characterized MacArthur’s ministry for decades. I’ve written about it at great length. Read here for starters.

Of course, she will be condemned for slander but it is never slander when hypocrisy of this magnitude is exposed. No, it is obedience to Jesus Christ and submission to the authority of Scripture.
https://www.gatekeepersonline.com/p...-of-america-s-anti-prosperity-gospel-preacher

Johnson’s statement came in response to questions from CP about a report published by independent journalist Julie Roys last Wednesday highlighting that while MacArthur is well known for preaching against the prosperity gospel, financial statements and tax forms show that MacArthur and his family run a religious media and educational empire with more than $130 million in assets that generates more than $70 million a year in tax-free revenue.

Roys also reported that MacArthur, his family, and related companies have been paid more than $12.8 million from ministry and donor funds and the megachurch pastor owns three luxury homes worth millions.

It was further revealed that MacArthur’s Grace Community Church resigned from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability after Roys raised questions about the ministry’s compliance with membership standards, such as the timely release of financial statements on request, and concerns that two of MacArthur’s sons have served on GTY’s board along with their father.

MacArthur’s son, Matthew, remains on the board of GTY and has been listed on every 990 since 2002 as the treasurer. His other son, Mark, has also been listed as a GTY board member on every 990 since 2002.

Last year, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Mark MacArthur, 52, along with a wealth management company he founded, with defrauding their advisory clients in a $16 million real estate investment scheme.

GTY has also reportedly paid MacArthur’s son-in-law, Kory Welch, and companies Welch owns millions over the years, according to Roys. In 2008, Welch, who’s married to MacArthur’s daughter, Melinda, was earning a salary of $83,677 as director of television broadcasting at GTY. He also received a $20,000 no-interest home loan with total debt forgiveness from GTY.

The following year, Welch began working for GTY as a video production contractor through a company he formed two years earlier, called The Welch Group. GTY reportedly paid The Welch Group $741,000 for “post-production services” that year.
Official denies John MacArthur makes more than $500K a year from Grace to You

Within a few days of publishing the IRS records on John’s money, I got a call from a member of The Master’s University and Seminary board of trustees politely asking if we wouldn’t please cool our jets? The man was a real gentleman, but I explained we were convinced everyone in a governance position there at MacArthur’s empire needed to prepare for worse. The signs of fiscal improprieties were too glaring and they involved too large numbers to be simple oversights which could be solved by any modulation of present practices. The rot was at the core and it would only grow, so no, we would keep publishing and hoped he understood.

We made a friend that day and the friendship has continued to the present.

Remember, this was back in 2012.

What has happened since 2012?

In 2018 The Master’s University and Seminary were placed on probation by their accreditation agency, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

This probation was in response to John and his trustees’ refusal to correct financial and governance failures WSCUC had brought to their attention—specifically including the sweetheart deal John’s son-in-law, Kory Welch, had with TMUS. (We had noted this back in 2012 when TMUS was paying Welch’s company $750,000 per year.)

The WSCUC Team expressed their concern:

The team notes with concern a pattern of operational irregularities, including the 2017 auditor’s specific finding on appearance of conflicts of interest with the President’s son-in-law supervising a contract from which he benefits, as well as institutional aid being awarded to related parties exceeding typical award amounts. The lack of response to this finding six months after it was identified as an auditor “significant finding” adds to the concerns of leadership willingness to promptly align with accreditation and financial audit standards.

In late 2018, The Chronicle of Higher Education did a lengthy piece on the scandal titled “Who Is the Master at Master’s University and Seminary“? The article called particular attention to MacArthur’s explanation given to the TMUS community concerning WSCUC’s motives in placing them under suspension:

During an hourlong address, the Rev. John F. MacArthur warned seminarians that the accreditor’s action was the result of an attack “orchestrated, if not by any humans, by Satan himself.” The Chronicle has obtained a recording of the speech, which was delivered in late August.

Talk to those who have worked most closely with MacArthur and they say John considers all criticism to be persecution. So no, John didn’t learn, and things continued to deteriorate.

Eleven months ago, on February 13, 2020, MacArthur’s son, Mark MacArthur, was charged by The Securities and Exchange Commission with securities fraud in the amount of $16,000,000. At the time, Mark sat on the Board of MacArthur’s Grace to You radio business.

No surprise, for several years now, John’s governance boards have been embroiled in internal controversies. So far, MarArthur has been able to intimidate people into silence. Will it continue?

Dad used to say, “Truth and time walk hand in hand.”

Now then, here we are today in February 2021 and another article is making the rounds just now. It’s nine years later and none of the essentials have changed. Instead, things have grown worse. More money and property for John and his family.
John MacArthur: his wealthy and important trustees should all be fired - Warhorn Media

How can I have any respect for Todd Friel now, a man who promotes John MacArthur as if he were John Calvin himself?

How dare John MacArthur criticize John Piper for not accepting his cessationism, when Piper lives so modestly compared to him?

That said, we single out John Piper for commendation.

John votes himself no salary from his nonprofit, Desiring God Ministries.

In fact, unlike the others, John Piper doesn’t own his nonprofit; his church does. Each year Bethlehem Baptist Church appoints the leadership of Desiring God Ministries. We challenge any of these other men to follow John’s lead and place their nonprofit under the authority of their elders board. What an excellent example John is on this.

Then because Desiring God Ministries is under the authority of Bethlehem Baptist Church and John is an employee of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Desiring God Ministries has to put into the public record of their Form 990 how much money John is paid by Bethlehem Baptist each year. We see that John’s 2010 church salary was $120,000.

Brothers, two things to note about this: first, it’s unheard of that any of these men would allow their church salaries to be known, publicly; and second, this amount John receives is very, very low for a senior pastor of his position. But of course, John still has his royalties to live high on the hog from, right?

Wrong.

Next to Desiring God Ministries in Guidestars list of nonprofits is a foundation titled Desiring God Foundation. It has three officers: John Piper, Terry Kurschner, and Noel Piper and they don’t pay themselves a penny from the foundation. They simply give money away.

How much and to whom? In 2010, Desiring God Foundation made the following grants

$205,000 to Desiring God Ministries

$70,000 to Bethlehem Baptist Church

$75,000 to Bethlehem College and Seminary

$30,000 to Training Leaders International

Where did this money come from? Well, add it up and you’ll find these gifts total $380,000 and the Pipers’ foundation received income from John’s advances and royalties during 2010 of $391,000.

Learn this lesson well, brothers and sisters in Christ: as John said recently in a Sunday evening sermon, he knows his own heart and he disciplines himself financially. Think about it: John and Noel use their royalties to fund a foundation that provides their church most of the salary they are paid each year. Then John turns around and gives his elders board the authority to govern Desiring God Ministries.
John MacArthur: his wealthy and important trustees should all be fired - Warhorn Media

Perhaps MacArthur denies the reality of spiritual gifts because they are lacking in his own life.

If we believe in the Reformation principles of Solus Christus and Soli Deo gloria, we should be just as willing to point out institutional hypocrisy as Martin Luther was. It doesn't matter whether or not that church leader is on "our team."

Ecclesia semper reformanda!

Please keep in mind that my intent in this thread is not to say that I am a better person than John MacArthur. He just needs to repent of his hypocrisy and God will forgive him. I would feel sorry for him if he died without repenting.

John MacArthur, in the above video, accuses Joel Osteen of running a ponzi scheme, despite the fact that Osteen doesn't take a salary from his church, while MacArthur draws extravagant salaries from his ministries. MacArthur even goes as far as to say that Osteen hates God. Pot, meet kettle.

Bible Highlighter · Jul 16, 2021

Humble_Disciple said:
Just to show that I'm not a Calvinist fanboy, I have never liked John MacArthur. Other than his opinions on female teachers, I agree with most of what MacArthur has to say. But in terms of his lifestyle, does he practice what he preaches?

https://julieroys.com/prosperous-lifestyle-americas-anti-prosperity-gospel-preacher/

http://abrentdetwiler.squarespace.com/brentdetwilercom/phil-johnson-covers-up-john-macarthurs-extraordinary-compens.html

The above chart is not counting his other income streams, like from book royalties. Joel Osteen, on the other hand, who I disagree with on pretty much everything, receives no salary from his church:

MacArthur also pretends to teach holy living as a requirement for salvation, but he really does not believe that way according to the Bible. The Lordship Salvation doctrine he popularized is a Trojan horse.

How so?

Well, Kenneth Nally committed suicide as per his influence of John MacArthur's ministry and MacArthur said that he was still saved.

Here is a quote from an article:

"At the trial, MacArthur, 45, is seeking to clarify his church’s teaching on suicide. “It’s not only a sin, it’s illegal,” he says. “But we teach that even if a believer takes his own life, the Lord will still receive him into His presence.”

Article Source:
Fundamentalist Clergymen Face Charges of 'Malpractice' When a Parishioner Turns to Suicide

John MacArthur says that a person can take the mark of the beast and they can still be saved afterwards. Listen to this audio clip by him here:

https://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/audio/macarthur-take-mark.mp3

John MacArthur says,

".. sin does not result in spiritual death for the believer ...
(The MacArthur Study Bible, p. 1927, comment on James 1:15)"

John MacArthur confirms how one can sin and still be saved here in this video:

Lifelong_sinner · Jul 16, 2021

Coveting what john makes is a sin too. Just saying.

Lifelong_sinner · Jul 16, 2021

Yes, you can commit suicide and still be saved. Once saved, ALWAYS saved.

Humble_Disciple · Jul 16, 2021

Lifelong_sinner said:
Coveting what john makes is a sin too. Just saying.

I'm not coveting John MacArthur's money. I don't care how Joel Osteen makes his money, because it's not from the church coffers.

Humble_Disciple · Jul 16, 2021

Bible Highlighter said:
MacArthur also pretends to teach holy living as a requirement for salvation, but he really does not believe that way according to the Bible. The Lordship Salvation doctrine he popularized is a Trojan horse.

How so?

Well, Kenneth Nally committed suicide as per his influence of John MacArthur's ministry and MacArthur said that he was still saved.

Here is a quote from an article:

"At the trial, MacArthur, 45, is seeking to clarify his church’s teaching on suicide. “It’s not only a sin, it’s illegal,” he says. “But we teach that even if a believer takes his own life, the Lord will still receive him into His presence.”

Article Source:
Fundamentalist Clergymen Face Charges of 'Malpractice' When a Parishioner Turns to Suicide

John MacArthur says that a person can take the mark of the beast and they can still be saved afterwards. Listen to this audio clip by him here:

https://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/audio/macarthur-take-mark.mp3

John MacArthur says,

".. sin does not result in spiritual death for the believer ...
(The MacArthur Study Bible, p. 1927, comment on James 1:15)"

John MacArthur confirms how one can sin and still be saved here in this video:

Lordship salvation doesn't mean that Christians will never sin. It means that if you live your entire life without any evidence of regeneration, your conversion may have never been genuine in the first place.

Bible Highlighter · Jul 16, 2021

Lifelong_sinner said:
Yes, you can commit suicide and still be saved. Once saved, ALWAYS saved.

Suicide is self murder;
And John says that whoever hates is brother is like a murderer and no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

1 John 3:15 says, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”

So no. A believer who commits suicide is not saved.

Bible Highlighter · Jul 16, 2021

Humble_Disciple said:
Lordship salvation doesn't mean that Christians will never sin. It means that if you live your entire life without any evidence of regeneration, your conversion may have never been genuine in the first place.

Then why on Earth would Paul say in 2 Corinthians 7:1, “...let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” ?

Humble_Disciple · Jul 16, 2021

Bible Highlighter said:
Suicide is self murder;
And John says that whoever hates is brother is like a murderer and no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

1 John 3:15 says, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”

So no. A believer who commits suicide is not saved.

Did the Protestant Reformers teach anything about suicide?

Humble_Disciple · Jul 16, 2021

Bible Highlighter said:
Then why on Earth would Paul say in 2 Corinthians 7:1, “...let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” ?

1 John 1:8
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

This is from the 1689 London Baptist Confession:

The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon himself; and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just and holy ends. So that whatsoever befalls any of his elect is by his appointment, for his glory, and their good. ( 2 Chronicles 32:25, 26, 31; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9; Romans 8:28)
1689 Baptist Confession Chapter 5

Bible Highlighter · Jul 16, 2021

Lifelong_sinner said:
Coveting what john makes is a sin too. Just saying.

Yeah, I am not coveting his money, either. It's hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven.

Bible Highlighter · Jul 16, 2021

Humble_Disciple said:
Did the Protestant Reformers teach anything about suicide?

Just by reading the verse we can conclude that suicide is a one way ticket to hell. No need for any help in trying to re-interpret the Bible by other men. Just read the Bible for yourself and believe it.

Humble_Disciple · Jul 16, 2021

Bible Highlighter said:
Yeah, I am not coveting his money, either. It's hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven.

You are forgetting the rest of the chapter:

Matthew 19:25-26
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

By God's grace, the rich can be saved.

Humble_Disciple · Jul 16, 2021

Bible Highlighter said:
Just read the Bible for yourself and believe it.

That's what the Jehovah's Witnesses say, and they don't exactly believe in historical Christian doctrine.

FireDragon76 · Jul 16, 2021

Humble_Disciple said:
Did the Protestant Reformers teach anything about suicide?

As a former Lutheran and somebody that delved alot into Luther:

Luther instructed that suicide victims should receive Christian burials. He believed the Church should show mercy towards suicide victims, since they were not acting from a sound mind. At the same time, it should be done in such a way as to not show approval for suicide.

Justification by faith alone was his central, controlling doctrine. Which means he did not believe that sin could separate the believer from God.

Bible Highlighter · Jul 16, 2021

Humble_Disciple said:
1 John 1:8
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

Okay. First off, that really does not undo what 2 Corinthians 7:1 says.

Second, what is helpful in understanding 1 John 1:8 is looking at its immediate context. 1 John 1:10 says if we say we have not sinned. 1 John 1:10 switches gears from 1 John 1:8 in regards to time; John talks about the declaration on committing sin in verse 8 (which is present tense) to a declaration on committing sin being a past declaration (with verse 10). Verse 10 is saying there are people who said they have not sinned (past tense). This is clearly a gnostic belief. Why? Well, most believers today hold to the idea that they have sinned as a part of their old life before coming to Christ (Regardless of whether they are “OSAS,” a “Sin and still be saved” type believer, or a “Conditional Salvationist”). So this clearly is a “gnostic belief” that John was warning the brethren about (See 1 John 2:26). 1 John 1:8 is a present declaration of sin. It is saying if we say we have no sin when we do sin (present tense). This has to be the interpretative understanding of this verse because 1 John 2:4 says if we say we know Him and do not keep His commandments we are a liar and the truth is not in us. The OSAS's interpretation on 1 John 1:8 does not work because it conflicts with a normal reading on 1 John 2:3-4. You cannot always be in sin (breaking God's commands) as a part of 1 John 1:8 and yet also fulfill 1 John 2:3 that says we can have an assurance of knowing Him if we keep His commandments. Especially when 1 John 2:4 says we are a liar and the truth is not in us if we break his commandments. In other words, if the OSAS interpretation on 1 John 1:8 was true, then I would be damned if I do by obeying God's commands (1 John 1:8) and yet I would be damned if I don't by not obeying God's commands (1 John 2:4).

In fact, the New English Translation says this for 1 John 1:8,

"If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8 NET).

In other words, this verse is saying that if a person sins and says they do not bear the guilt of sin (in the sense that they will not have to face any wrath or Judgment from God over their sin) then they would be deceiving themselves and the truth would not be in them. This is exactly what the Eternal Security proposes. They are saying that they do not bear the guilt of any sin (destruction of their soul and body in hell fire) if they do sin because they believe their future sins are paid for by Jesus. They are saying, they do not bear the guilt or the punishment of sin at the final Judgment because of their belief on Jesus. In short, 1 John 1:8 is a denial of the existence of sin on some level. “If we say we have no sin (in the sense that it does not exist) we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8). Christian Scientists think sin is an illusion and does not exist at all. So this verse would apply to them. Eternal Security Proponents and those who deny that “Sin Can Separate a Believer from God” deny the existence of sin partially. They believe sin exists physically but they do not believe sin exists for them on a spiritual level because Jesus has forgiven them of all their sin by their belief on Jesus. In fact, to see just how silly your argument actually is for 1 John 1:8, you would have to believe that you are sinning right now at this very moment in order for such a verse to be true because 1 John 1:8 is speaking in the present tense.

John prescribes that we do not think that sin is an illusion, and we are automatically saved, but John is telling us to "sin not" and go to our advocate Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1), and confess our sins so as to be forgiven of sin and to be cleansed of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). How can you confess and be forgiven of sin if all your future sin is paid for? It makes no sense.

You can say that John is talking about a break of fellowship by one's sins and not a loss of salvation, but that would not be consistent with Scripture. 1 John 5:12 says he that has the Son has life, and he that does not have the Son does not have life.

You said:
This is from the 1689 London Baptist Confession:

That's not the Bible. So it does not exist as a part of my faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Faith does not come by hearing the 1689 London Baptist Confession.

Bible Highlighter · Jul 16, 2021

Bible Highlighter said:
Just read the Bible for yourself and believe it.

Humble_Disciple said:
That's what the Jehovah's Witnesses say, and they don't exactly believe in historical Christian doctrine.

Okay. First, I am not a JW.
Second, JW's believe in following additional writings besides the Bible.
Three, JW's try to push their false beliefs on to people by knocking at their doors with their odd interpretations that are clearly wrong. So no. I don't think they just tell me to read the Bible for myself and to believe it. Even if some were to say that, it is not really true to how they operate as a whole. But of course this is a distraction away from my point in your just reading 1 John 3:15 plainly.

What do you think John meant in 1 John 3:15?
Is not suicide a form of self murder?
How do you undo the words of what John says in 1 John 3:15?

Bible Highlighter · Jul 16, 2021

FireDragon76 said:
As a former Lutheran and somebody that delved alot into Luther:

Luther instructed that suicide victims should receive Christian burials. He believed the Church should show mercy towards suicide victims, since they were not acting from a sound mind. At the same time, it should be done in such a way as to not show approval for suicide.

Justification by faith alone was his central, controlling doctrine. Which means he did not believe that sin could separate the believer from God.

I don't care what religous men say. I want the Bible (God's Word) to tell me what it says about suicide and 1 John 3:15 is the closet thing to dealing with that issue. Suicide is self murder. And 1 John 3:15 says that no murderer has eternal life abiding in them.

As for a person's sanity: Usually sin is the result of a person going so badly insane that they do not even realize what they are doing. If this is the case, then it is their rebellion by their sin that led to their own condemnation long ago. It does not give them a free pass to justify sin under God's grace.

Humble_Disciple · Jul 16, 2021

Bible Highlighter said:
Okay. First, I am not a JW.
Second, JW's believe in following additional writings besides the Bible.
Three, JW's try to push their false beliefs on to people by knocking at their doors with their odd interpretations that are clearly wrong. So no. I don't think they just tell me to read the Bible for myself and to believe it. Even if some were to say that, it is not really true to how they operate as a whole. But of course this is a distraction away from my point in your just reading 1 John 3:15 plainly.

What do you think John meant in 1 John 3:15?
Is not suicide a form of self murder?
How do you undo the words of what John says in 1 John 3:15?

If you think that you can interpret the Bible in a vacuum, without any reference to historical Christian doctrine, then you are a Pope unto yourself, making it up as you go along.

FireDragon76 · Jul 16, 2021

Bible Highlighter said:
I don't care what religous men say. I want the Bible (God's Word) to tell me what it says about suicide and 1 John 3:15 is the closet thing to dealing with that issue. Suicide is self murder. And 1 John 3:15 says that no murderer has eternal life abiding in them.

I wasn't responding to you, I was responding to the question posed by @Humble_Disciple : "What did the Reformers believe?"

John MacArthur, please remove the plank from your eye

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Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

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Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

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Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

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Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

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