Pastor John MacArthur opened up his Sunday sermon with a troll factor more savage than Elizabeth Warren.
In response to California’s COVID-related restriction on church gatherings, paired with their hypocritical silence on mass “peaceful protests,” MacArthur dropped a bomb straight from the pulpit:
“Good morning, everyone. I’m so happy to welcome you to the Grace Community Church peaceful protest.”
John MacArthur opens his Sunday sermon by welcoming everyone to the "Grace Community Church peaceful protest" https://t.co/RolwdBh2ic pic.twitter.com/czeJQ9xyg7
— Disrn (@DisrnNews) August 10, 2020
The unparalleled trollary garnered erupting laughter from his congregation.
The 81-year-old biblical scholar has faced legal threats for opening his mega-church after California enacted a COVID-19 measure prohibiting the congregation of churches in many counties across the state.
On July 24th, MacArthur penned a strong declaration, Christ, not Caesar, Is Head of the Church, noting that he will open his church, defiant towards California’s government but obedient to his pastoral calling.
In his declaration, MacArthur recognized his calling to respect government leadership, but not at the expense of following God.
“We cannot accept and will not bow to the intrusive restrictions government officials now want to impose on our congregation. We offer this response without rancor, and not out of hearts that are combative or rebellious, but with a sobering awareness that we must answer to the Lord Jesus for the stewardship He has given to us as shepherds of His precious flock.”
Due to the legal backlash that MacArthur has faced, President Trump’s personal attorney, Jenna Ellis, and religious liberty expert, Charles LiMandri, have formally agreed to serve as special legal counsel to MacArthur and Grace Community Church.
California’s restrictions come in the wake of many states imposing unconstitutional restrictions on church attendance. The state of Nevada enacted an unconstitutional and discriminatory edict limiting church attendance to 50 people, regardless of the building size, while bars and casinos are limited to 50 percent occupancy.
That said, a church that normally fits 1,000 can only allow 50 members while a casino that normally fits 1,000. can allow 500.
When the United States Supreme Court denied an injunction to the edict, Justice Gorsuch roasted the decision with a historic judicial mic drop:
“In Nevada, it seems, it is better to be in entertainment than religion. Maybe that is nothing new. But the First Amendment prohibits such obvious discrimination against the exercise of religion. The world we inhabit today, with a pandemic upon us, poses unusual challenges. But there is no world in which the Constitution permits Nevada to favor Caesars Palace over Calvary Chapel.”