John MacArthur's Church Implicated in Protecting Abusive Husbands

[Steven Yeadon]

I am a bit bewildered by this news I share. Now I know the source is one I dont consider conservative enough, but the reporting seems to be well researched after reading the article. I love John MacArthur's preaching for the most part, but apparently some of his elders did wrong on multiple occasions. They protected some husbands suspected of spouse and child abuse and implicated the wives as the problem in their marriage counseling. Again those of us who hold to a plain reading of scripture are belittled on social media. The worst part is this man, this teacher, this elder I greatly respect is doubling down on his elders doing the right thing. I feel dejected, not unlike how I felt when other teachers I respect had sins exposed.

 

https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2023/february/grace-community-church-elder-biblical-counseling-abuse.html 

[Salyan]

This is one area where I feel our churches struggle to provide appropriate and helpful counsel and support, and often fail to support the victim. I’ve heard of multiple instances of wives being counseled to ‘forgive and return’ when the husband is saying all the “right things”, but not demonstrating any practical changes in his behavior. I fear we make it too easy for a manipulative man to talk his way out of church discipline, while not adequately protecting the victimized wife and children. 

[Steven Yeadon]

Very well put Salyan. That is what came to my mind, that lies by men with depraved hearts are being accepted as honest truth without a wise appraisal of the situation. After reading about this, I also fear if churches have things like a family able to take the wife and kids in while the husband is told to repent and prove his repentance is sincere. Also, what of the fact our earthly nation has deemed it a severe crime to abuse a wife and children, why would we not immediately report to the authorities what is going on so they can come to their own legal conclusions while the Body of Christ handles its part?

 

[Salyan]

Well, exactly. Regardless of what church discipline may be taking place, if actual abuse is occurring it MUST be reported to the earthly authorities. God put them in place for the punishment of evildoers, and it is not within the church/pastoral authority to interfere with that mandate.