John MacArthur's Lavish Lifestyle? An Interview With Phil Johnson - YouTube
This video demonstrates how completely out of touch Phil Johnson is, and (apparently) just how naïve Justin Peters is.
The video was made in order to refute the various concerns about John MacArthur's lavish lifestyle, nepotism etc. as recently reported by Julie Roys. {1} Astonishingly Johnson digs a deeper hole for Grace To You (GTY) and he has made the situation even more embarrassing than it already is.
Johnson claims that no-one who knows MacArthur personally has ever accused him of living a millionaire lifestyle. Most of us mere mortals do not know MacArthur personally and are unlikely to ever be, or ever want to be, associated with him. What we are discussing is the factual report which gave evidence of MacArthur's salary, his three homes that are not at all modest (one with a tennis court and the other apparently with a lake), nepotism and other issues. Johnson's attempt to play down these concerns has failed spectacularly.
The allegation that nepotism is rife within GTY:
Johnson: "The truth is, not one of John MacArthur's kids is on staff at Grace Church, not one."
After saying this, Johnson employed diversionary tactics and changed the subject. Several minutes later he announced that MacArthur's eldest son is on the board of GTY, supposedly purely and simply for the purpose of preserving MacArthur's legacy. Johnson: "We want to make sure that someone still has a hand in the ministry and has the families best interests at heart.. We have made it a point to keep at least one member of John's family on the board at all times. At one point, two of his sons were on the board, Mark and Matt, right now its Matt. We intend to keep it that way." MacArthur's son is also the treasurer and signs cheques for GTY, apparently due to logistics and convenience since other board members do not live nearby. Johnson (Executive Director) has also served on the board of GTY for many years. According to Johnson, the board of GTY consists of mostly disinterested parties with no vested interest in the ministry. During the video it emerged that Johnson's son is also employed by GTY. Johnson also referred vaguely to other employees as "anyone who is related to John". Johnson confirmed that the financial reports for GTY are not publicly available. The obvious question is: Why are GTY resistant to making their financial information available in the public domain if they have nothing to hide?
MacArthur's son-in-law Kory Welch and his companies appear to have received approximately $7,610,399 from Grace to You and The Master’s University between 2003 and 2016. {2} No figures are available post 2016. According to Johnson, Kory Welch has a video production company in the local neighborhood, although Johnson says that he does not exactly know where it is. Again, if I were responding to these concerns I would know exactly where Welch's company is located since it is relevant to the discussion. Welch was one of the people who bid for the video production contract with GTY ten or fifteen years ago, after doing the job in-house as a salaried employee for a year or two. Johnson is very vague regarding the time-frame. For the second time Johnson uses the "convenience and logistics" excuse to justify giving the contract to Welch. Johnson claims that it is economical to use Welch's company, but since there is no evidence available to back up this claim, once again we have to rely on Johnson's word alone. Johnson also revealed that MacArthur's daughter does a lot of the artwork, and presumably she is also an employee, unless she is paid via Welch's company (?) Johnson: "It is all in the family and it is all in-house.."
I think that even the most pro-MacArthur person would have to admit that blatant nepotism is rife within GTY.
Regarding the allegation that Austin Duncan, College Pastor at Grace Community Church is the son of MacArthurs friend Ligon Duncan:
Johnson: "As far as I know, Austin Duncan is not the son of Ligon Duncan." ~ As far as I know? If I were refuting these allegations, I would know! Johnson goes on to say: "They are not related" - but his looks were unconvincing. I am still left in some doubt whether the two men are in fact connected. Johnson is full of these vague statements that really do not answer the concerns.
Regarding the rare first edition King James Bible that was given to MacArthur by the GTY Board in 2014:
According to Johnson, MacArthur gave the bible to the Grace Seminary’s collection of rare manuscripts and early bible editions. This might seem like a very generous gesture, but MacArthur did not "give" the bible to an unconnected entity. MacArthur is the founder and current chancellor of The Master’s University and Seminary where the rare book collection is held. In other words TMS is very much part of MacArthur's legacy.
Great article. I put a link to this on the Roys website, under a comment which appeared to be positive regarding the Johnson/Peters interview.
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail(s) on the head(s)
My best to you, Mike
The video was embarrassingly poor Mike.. Phil Johnson "doesn't know" an awful lot about his own organization! I see the Calvinist sites are congratulating one another and promoting the vid - their standards are obviously very low.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mike.
God bless.
You may want to add this link Treena
ReplyDeletehttps://julieroys.com/response-phil-johnson/
God bless, Mike
Thank you Mike... I have added the link.
ReplyDeleteGod bless
I have prayed with a couple of ladies from Switzerland who were brought up as Calvinist, but didn’t know each other.
ReplyDeleteBoth of them had had brutal and abusive childhoods, and were utterly broken. Being women, they had been treated abominably.
Calvinism is wicked,man-made and utterly unbiblical. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Many blessings
To admire the brutal and heretical John Calvin and his alternative gospel is also very low.
ReplyDeleteThey are showing their true colours as false Christians who do not know the God of scripture.
My best, Mike
Calvinism is "another gospel" ~ it misrepresents the character of God:
ReplyDelete"not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."
2 Peter 3:9.
As Mike says.. Calvin was brutal and heretical! Certainly this is what we are observing with MacArthur's henchman Phil Johnson! God bless
We have been reading Dave Hunt's book, "What Love Is This". It is amazing the brutal and vicious nature that man will call Godly to justify their own personal agendas. Sadly most that call themselves Calvinists probably don't know anything about him or for matter the doctrines he produced. Seems few take the time to fact check anything and especially against the Scriptures.
ReplyDeleteDave Hunt was an excellent teacher Pat (apart from pre-trib). I saw his YouTube vid "What Love Is This" some time ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8rVNF-e7rI
ReplyDeleteMost of those who are stuck in this deception have been brainwashed for years by people like MacArthur - even in the face of his lavish lifestyle and obvious errors.
God bless.
Greetings, I see that in 2020 it was reported that J MacArthur's son, Mark was arrested for Securities Fraud, for the amount of $16 million dollars!
ReplyDeleteWith the MacArthur's family being so involved with the Masonic cult, it is no wonder they are so rich! It would seem the fruit of GTY is from a bad tree, and has been since its inception.........
This man, his family and GTY is nothing but an Anti-Christ Masonic plant to deceive millions!