In an open letter typed on Grace Community Church (Sun Valley) stationery, Rev. John MacArthur — who recently prevailed in a pandemic-related lawsuit against California state officials — pleaded with California Governor Gavin Newsom to stop “routinely… rewarding evildoers and punishing the righteous,” and ultimately, to “respond to the gospel, forsake the path of wickedness you have pursued all your life, turn to Christ, ask for forgiveness, and use your office to advance the cause of righteousness (as is your duty) instead of undermining it (as has been your pattern).”
In the September 29 letter, MacArthur stated, “The Word of God pronounces judgment on those who call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20), and yet many of your policies reflect this unholy, upside-down view of honor and morality…. Nevertheless, my goal in writing is not to contend with your politics, but rather to plead with you to hear and heed what the Word of God says to men in your position.”
He then proceeded to describe in Biblical terms how rulers or leaders are accountable to God, and how MacArthur believes that Newsom’s “gross blasphemy” and twisting of Scripture — as recently seen in Newsom’s creation of billboards which promote abortion as a means to “love your neighbor” — are very serious:
“In mid-September, you revealed to the entire nation how thoroughly rebellious against God you are when you sponsored billboards across America promoting the slaughter of children, whom He creates in the womb (Psalm 139:13–16; Isaiah 45:9–12).
“You further compounded the wickedness of that murderous campaign with a reprehensible act of gross blasphemy, quoting the very words of Jesus from Mark 12:31 as if you could somehow twist His meaning and arrogate His name in favor of butchering unborn infants. You used the name and the words of Christ to promote the credo of Molech (Leviticus 20:1–5). It would be hard to imagine a greater sacrilege.
“Furthermore, you chose words from the lips of Jesus without admitting that in the same moment He gave the greatest commandment: ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength’ (Mark 12:30). You cannot love God as He commands while aiding in the murder of His image-bearers.“
MacArthur noted that perverting the Word of God for “sinful ends” is addressed in Psalm 50:16–19, which reads in part, “But to the wicked God says, ‘What right have you to recount My statutes And to take My covenant in your mouth? For you hate discipline, And you cast My words behind you….” In other words, MacArthur pointed out that the use of Scripture to promote abortion is an abuse of God’s Word.
“… [Y]ou have flouted His authority in your governing, and… have twisted His own Holy Word to rationalize it,” he added.
He then pleaded for Newsom to receive the salvation that comes through the work of Jesus Christ:
“My plea to you, Sir, is that… you would not go to that day of judgment apart from receiving forgiveness and righteousness through faith in Christ alone. In Psalm 50, after rebuking the wicked for uttering God’s words in a profane way, Scripture makes this promise: ‘Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver. He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies Me; and he who orders his way, I shall show the salvation of God’ (vv. 22–23).
“So there is salvation for those who repent. Christ purchased full redemption for all who will turn from wickedness, forsake their evil thoughts and actions, and trust fully in Him as Lord and Savior.”
Read Pastor MacArthur’s letter in full here.
The above comes from a Sept. 29 posting on Live Action.org.
Congrats to the pastor for spelling out the danger to Newsom’s eternal soul. Unfortunately he thinks he is the savior of women everywhere and as such holds the moral high ground over MacArthur. Further, to pay any heed to the letter would cause Newsom to fall from the Democratic party’s graces and abort his presidential aspirations. If all his church is praying for Newsom, however, and our Catholic leadership follow MacArthur’s lead, who knows how this will end. A side note: could any of our bishops have written such a letter?
Rev. MacArthur is a wise and good man,
John MacArthur holds the Catholic Church beneath contempt. Just search some of his videos on the topic. Woefully blasphemous especially against Our Lady. Whatever fortitude in public chastisement of Newsome there is (being confrontational is his schtick), he knows very well that the dividend that it will pay will come from evangelical protestants and not the conversion of Gavin Newsome.
I don’t care who delivers the message, as long as it hits the target. Gather up all the evangelicals to do it because our own Catholic bishops are clutching at their pearls.
“…and not the conversion of Gavin Newsome.” Feda, you are correct concerning MacArthur’s contempt for Catholicism. You are guilty of rash judgment in saying the conversion of Newsom is not the aim of his letter. You somehow conflate animus toward Catholicism with evangelical grandstanding to conclude MacArthur is insincere. I didn’t know you had a window into his soul.
Wise and good, eh?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSTw-huaZ9U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq5-OaBMmcA
He’ll have much to answer for…might be right along side Gavin Newsome
Not likely.
Dr. John MacArthur puts the Catholic hierarchy to shame.
Hear! Hear!!
Neither link to the letter works.
Thanks – links fixed now.
Well, the Catholic Church leadership brought evangelicals to right reason about the abortion fight, so now maybe it’s the evangelicals time to return the favor…
Who can’t see blasphemy in using holy scripture to justify killing innocent babies? Maybe some of our bishops!
Gavin has said over and over that he has no intention of running for president and has no desire to be our president. Do we believe him or is he lying to us as always? The media should believe him and move on. Leave him alone and take what he says as Gospel.
Why didn’t our bishops speak out about this? Spineless wonders.
Gavin Newsom will follow the path of King Herod who’s body exploded with worms at his death.
Not surprised by Newsom blasphemous actions, stupidity. If John the Baptist was alive, not only would he call Newsom a blasphemous person, but also the evil to mankind. Remember California is and has become the belly of the beast state. And those who stand next to Newsom should start praying for forgiveness.
Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
(And he is alive…ask for his intercession)
1 Timothy 2:5