The recent passing of John MacArthur, a prominent evangelical pastor, author, and teacher, has prompted many within the Christian community to reflect on his life and legacy. MacArthur, who served as pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, for over five decades, was a towering figure in modern evangelicalism. His commitment to expository preaching, his prolific writing, and his unwavering defense of biblical authority have left an indelible mark on countless believers, pastors, and institutions worldwide. As Lutherans, we join in recognizing MacArthur as a brother in Christ, united with us in the confession of Jesus as Lord and Savior. However, a Lutheran theological perspective reveals significant concerns about aspects of his preaching and teaching, particularly his understanding of assurance of salvation. While we honor his dedication to Scripture and his zeal for the gospel, we respectfully submit that his theology, especially in the area of assurance, diverges from the Gospel’s emphasis on the objective promises of God in Christ.
MacArthur’s Theological Framework
John MacArthur’s ministry was characterized by a commitment to what he described as “expository preaching,” a method that seeks to explain Scripture verse by verse, allowing the text to speak for itself. His approach resonated with millions, as evidenced by the global reach of his radio program Grace to You, his extensive bibliography, and the influence of The Master’s University and Seminary. MacArthur’s theology was rooted in a Calvinist Baptist framework, emphasizing God’s sovereignty, the authority of Scripture, and a dispensationalist view of eschatology. Central to his teaching was the concept of “lordship salvation,” a doctrine that stirred significant debate within evangelical circles during the 1980s and beyond. This teaching insisted that true saving faith necessarily involves submission to Christ as Lord, evidenced by a life of obedience and spiritual fruit.
MacArthur’s passion for doctrinal clarity and his critique of what he saw as “easy-believism” in American evangelicalism were driven by a desire to protect the integrity of the gospel. He argued that many who professed faith in Christ were deceived about their salvation due to a lack of genuine repentance and commitment. While his emphasis on the seriousness of discipleship and the call to holiness found resonance with many, it also raised questions about where believers should look for assurance of their salvation, a point where Lutheran theology offers a distinct perspective.
Assurance Rooted in the Objective Gospel
From a Lutheran perspective, assurance of salvation is grounded not in the subjective evidence of a believer’s life but in the objective promises of God delivered through the Word and Sacraments. The Lutheran tradition holds that the gospel is a proclamation of what God has done for sinners in Christ’s death and resurrection, a reality that is received by faith alone. This faith trusts in the external, unshakable promise of forgiveness and life offered in the preached Word, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. The assurance of salvation, therefore, rests in God’s faithfulness, not in the believer’s ability to produce visible fruit or maintain a certain level of obedience.
MacArthur’s teaching on lordship salvation, while seeking to uphold the seriousness of faith, often pointed believers to their own lives as evidence of salvation. He argued that genuine faith would produce obedience, perseverance, and spiritual fruit, and that the absence of these could indicate a lack of true salvation. This approach risks turning the believer’s gaze inward, fostering doubt and uncertainty. This inward focus can, and often times does, undermine the comfort of the gospel, as it places the burden of assurance on the believer’s performance rather than on Christ’s finished work. When believers are directed to examine their lives for signs of fruit, they may find themselves trapped in a cycle of self-scrutiny, wondering whether their faith is genuine or their obedience sufficient. The Lutheran Confessions, by contrast, direct believers to look outside of themselves to the cross, where Christ’s sacrifice is declared “for you” and is delivered to us in the Word and Sacraments.
The Dangers of Conflating Law and Gospel
Another Lutheran critique of MacArthur’s theology lies in what appears to be a conflation of Law and Gospel, a distinction central to Lutheran thought. The Law, as God’s demand for perfect obedience, reveals human sinfulness and drives sinners to despair of their own righteousness. The Gospel, however, is the unconditional promise of forgiveness and life in Christ, given freely to those who trust in Him. In MacArthur’s preaching, the call to obedience and submission as necessary components of saving faith can blur this distinction, making the Gospel sound like a new kind of Law. By emphasizing that true faith must be accompanied by a transformed life, MacArthur’s teaching risks presenting salvation as contingent upon the believer’s ability to meet certain behavioral standards, rather than as a gift received through faith alone.
This approach can lead to what Lutherans would see as a form of legalism, where the assurance of salvation becomes tied to the believer’s works rather than God’s grace. The Lutheran tradition insists that good works flow from faith as a natural consequence, but they are not the basis for salvation or its assurance. By pointing believers to their own obedience, MacArthur’s theology may inadvertently place a burden on consciences that the Gospel is meant to relieve. The Lutheran understanding affirms that the Christian life is marked by a daily return to the promises of Baptism, where the sinner is declared righteous not because of their deeds but because of Christ’s merit.
A Respectful Acknowledgment
Despite these theological differences, Lutherans can and should acknowledge MacArthur’s sincere commitment to proclaiming Christ and his evident love for Scripture. His insistence on the authority of the Bible and his resistance to cultural trends that dilute the gospel message are points of common ground with Lutheran convictions. His expository preaching inspired countless pastors to take the biblical text seriously, and his courage in addressing controversial issues within evangelicalism demonstrated a willingness to stand for his beliefs. As a brother in Christ, MacArthur’s ministry undoubtedly bore fruit in leading many to a deeper engagement with the Word of God.
Yet, the Lutheran tradition offers a corrective to MacArthur’s approach, particularly in the area of assurance. Rather than looking to the fruit of one’s life, which can be fraught with ambiguity and doubt, Lutherans point to the clear, external promises of God in Christ. The preached Word declares that Christ died for sinners, the waters of Baptism unite us to His death and resurrection, and the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper deliver His body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. These are the sure and certain anchors of assurance, unshaken by the fluctuations of human obedience or the frailties of the human heart.
Wrapping it Up
John MacArthur’s passing marks the end of a significant chapter in evangelical Christianity. His legacy as a preacher, teacher, and author will continue to influence generations of believers. As Lutherans, we give thanks for his faithfulness to Christ and his passion for Scripture, even as we respectfully critique aspects of his theology that diverge from the Lutheran confession of faith. In particular, his emphasis on lordship salvation and the resulting focus on personal obedience as evidence of faith risks undermining the assurance that comes from the objective promises of the Gospel. From a Lutheran perspective, true assurance is found not in the mirror of self-examination but in the unchanging Word of God, which proclaims Christ’s finished work on our behalf. May we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, continue to proclaim this Gospel with clarity and compassion, trusting in the One who is faithful to His promises.