Faithful ICR supporter and pastor Dr. John MacArthur went home to be with the Lord on Monday, July 14, 2025, completing his 86-year pilgrimage.1 Dr. MacArthur pastored Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, for 56 years. He was also president of The Master’s University from 1985–2019, transitioning to the role of chancellor in 2019.2
Dr. MacArthur has been widely respected for both his doctrinal and personal integrity. He’s taken firm, courageous stands against popular but unbiblical trends, as seen in his support of the Bible’s teachings on sexual morality. Unlike many others, Dr. MacArthur never hesitated to affirm a recent, literal six-day creation and global Flood. Instead, he boldly declared their doctrinal importance. In his sermon “Confrontation in Eden,” MacArthur said, “If you do not accept Genesis 1, 2, and 3, if you do not understand them, if you do not believe them, you cannot fabricate a correct world view.”3
We rejoice in this truth, having labored alongside MacArthur in teaching the truth of God’s Word. In 2009, Grace Community Church graciously hosted the Institute for Creation Research for our Demand the Evidence Conference. Among a plethora of books and sermons defending biblical creationism is his 2001 work The Battle for the Beginning, which is a particularly powerful piece.4
ICR President Dr. Randy Guliuzza said,
In addition to his deep commitment to expository preaching, another huge gift to the church was that Pastor MacArthur faithfully upheld the vital doctrine of biblical clarity. He consistently taught that the average Christian guided by the Holy Spirit could read and understand the Bible for themselves. At ICR, we’re very thankful to have had a reliable ally standing with us as we teach that Christians don’t need to have scientists or so-called experts in Near Eastern literature tell them how to interpret the book of Genesis, but they can give the Bible’s words their normal meaning just as Pastor MacArthur always did.
Pastor John MacArthur will be dearly missed. He was a powerful voice in a time when faithful pastors were hard to find. Today, even as we pray for his family’s comfort, we also rejoice that his faith has been made sight and that he has now entered into his reward (Matthew 5:11–12, 25:23).
References
- Influential Evangelical Pastor and Theologian John MacArthur Dead at 86 after Health Battle. Fox News. Posted July 15, 2025 at foxnews.com, accessed July 15, 2025.
- Chancellor Dr. John MacArthur. The Masters University. Posted at masters.edu, accessed on July 15, 2025.
- MacArthur, J. Confrontation in Eden. Grace to You. Posted on gty.org April 30, 2000.
- MacArthur, J. F. 2001. The Battle for the Beginning: Creation, Evolution, and the Bible. Nashville, TN: W Publishing Group.
