John F. MacArthur, the Los Angeles-based pastor, is battling pneumonia as of July 2025, and with the recent health revelation, many are curious to learn about his past and his controversies. Among the most notable incidents in MacArthur’s preaching career were his response to COVID and alleged comments regarding a domestic abuser.
Below, learn about MacArthur’s past scandals.
Who Is John MacArthur?
MacArthur is the pastor of Grace Community Church and the founder of the Christian television and radio education program Grace to You. He has been called as one of the most influential pastors by Christians.
John MacArthur’s Abuse Allegations: What Happened at Grace Community Church?
In 2022, MacArthur was accused of previously excommunicating a female church member for leaving her abusive husband. The alleged incident happened in 2002, and the woman reportedly told elders and pastors at MacArthur’s church about her then-husband’s abuse, hoping that they would help her. However, MacArthur reportedly told his congregation at the time to treat the woman as an “unbeliever.”
“This is what the Lord wants,” MacArthur allegedly told his congregation in 2002 referring to the woman, according to The Roys Report. “He wants discipline … to be put out of the church, to be publicly shamed, to be put away from fellowship.”
John MacArthur’s COVID Lawsuit
MacArthur was involved in a lawsuit against Los Angeles County, which sued the pastor for challenging the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2021. “There is no pandemic,” MacArthur said during the global crisis, according to The Los Angeles Times. He additionally told his congregation that he and his wife, Patricia MacArthur, had contracted COVID-19.
MacArthur refused to close down the church and service during the pandemic, which went against social distancing practices at the time. Once L.A. County filed its lawsuit against him, the theologian countersued for violating the freedom of religion. The pastor and L.A. County settled the suits out of court, with the county and the state of California each paying him $400,000.
L.A. County officials released a public statement regarding the lawsuits. It read, “After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that some public health safety measures could not apply to houses of worship, resolving this litigation is the responsible and appropriate thing to do. From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Los Angeles County has been committed to protecting the health and safety of its residents. We are grateful to the county’s faith organizations for their continued partnership to keep their congregants and the entire community safe and protected from COVID-19.”
John MacArthur’s Health Now
As of July 2025, MacArthur is in the hospital battling a severe case of pneumonia. Tom Patton, the associate pastor at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, announced MacArthur’s hospitalization to his congregation that month.
“This week, Pastor John contracted pneumonia,” Patton said, before adding, “He was admitted into the hospital and may be in the presence of the Lord soon.”
Prior to his pneumonia battle, MacArthur went through numerous health issues over the years. In 2023, he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. He underwent surgery to get cardiac stents implanted. He also had a catheter inserted to treat the condition that year.
Throughout 2024, MacArthur underwent multiple additional surgeries, including an aorta replacement and a lung operation to combat flu build-up. In early 2025, MacArthur had been hospitalized for about two weeks for kidney, lung and heart-related problems.
