My Thoughts on Pastor John MacArthur's Decision to Regather Last July 26 This COVID-19 Crisis
I was thinking about it that I should never put any pastor above the pedestal. Pastor John F. MacArthur himself has decided to reopen in the midst of the crisis. Worse, the local service itself has put others who are aged (including MacArthur) in danger. An act of faith? I think not and it's the responsibility of everyone in the Body of Christ to rebuke the error of their fellow Christians. I think MacArthur needs to be rebuked as a brother-in-Christ. I feel this is very wrong for a number of reasons.
I remembered reading Spurgeon.org's article "Spurgeon and the Cholera Outbreak of 1854". I'm really thinking that MacArthur may have ignored this warning written by his colleague:
Pastors need to exercise wisdom when it comes to gathering as a church, especially when the health and lives of people are at stake. Certainly, adjustments will need to be made and priority will have to be given to only the most important aspects of our gatherings. But when such gatherings are possible, pastors should realize that they can be tremendous opportunities for preaching the gospel to those who are desperately looking for hope.
MacArthur may have forgotten the difference between Charles H. Spurgeon's time. Spurgeon's community was spared from the pandemic of his time. MacArthur's community is not spared from it. Yet, MacArthur may already be having his reckless faith (ironic he wrote a book of the same title) when he decided to hold services defying the local order. The local order was done because the COVID-19 is highly infectious. He could still continue to hold virtual services or operate his church at a skeletal workforce. I'm afraid that he didn't show any discernment at this point about holding services.
My prayers are that MacArthur as a brother-in-Christ will apologize for this error. I believe Christians who support him should rebuke him of this error. I believe the state has the right to call for a temporal suspension of mass gatherings for safety reasons. I pray God will convict MacArthur out of love to exercise extra prudence. This is not to criticize or bring down MacArthur but to give him brotherly correction done out of love.
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