On Thursday, Jan. 2, Phil Johnson, executive director of Grace to You and an elder at Grace Community Church (GCC), shared on social media that Pastor John MacArthur is currently receiving treatment for complications stemming from a heart valve replacement he received last year.
MacArthur’s health kept him out of the pulpit for more than half of 2024. On Nov. 24, MacArthur preached during GCC’s Sunday night worship service and told the congregation, “I can tell you, I’ve had three heart surgeries and a surgery on my lungs in those last few months, and I’m still here. So thankful to the Lord for that.”
Johnson was prompted to provide an update following the spread of false rumors that MacArthur was dying in the hospital and had reached the point of needing “palliative care.”
“John MacArthur is currently getting treatment for some symptoms that have plagued his recovery from heart-valve replacement,” Johnson wrote. “Those who need to know more details do know. There’s no conspiracy by the elders at GCC to keep people from hearing information they need to know.”
“John IS currently hospitalized, and the persistence of these symptoms is a concern,” Johnson continued. “But the suggestion that he has been handed over to palliative care is a sinister lie, concocted by this pernicious character who has been lying about JM and GCC for 5+ years. Ignore him.”
Johnson shared that MacArthur doesn’t like to discuss his health issues publicly. “It’s one of his quirks, and it is a years-old policy of his,” Johnson said. “The scarcity of public announcements about his health is not something unique to this current illness.”
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Having to deal with is own health complications, Johnson, who was diagnosed with blood cancer last year, said it is “frankly tiresome having to answer thousands of questions about one’s health—AND deal with scores of quack remedies given by well-meaning persons. I know this from experience. It’s why HIPAA rules exist.”
“People who think John is obliged to make regular public reports about his health on social media aren’t living in the real world,” he added.
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