John MacArthur and Grace Community Church‘s special counsel, Jenna Ellis and Charles LiMandri, filed a lawsuit against Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and California public health officials.
On July 24th MacArthur and the Grace Community Church elders released a statement proclaiming “Christ, not Caesar, Is Head of the Church.” The statement gave a Biblical case as for why it is the church’s duty to remain open, and defy the government’s orders to close churches (large gatherings) due to the recent spread of the coronavirus throughout the state of California. On July 26th John MacArthur preached to a full sanctuary of congregants and has continued to do so since. Then on July 29th, John MacArthur and Grace Community Church was sent a letter by attorney Jason Tokoro, representing the County of Los Angeles in California, demanding them to stop holding indoor worship services and threatening a 90 day imprisonment and a $1000 fine for each time they conduct their indoor services.
MacArthur has remained vocal about how churches should react to the government church closure orders by appearing on news outlets, podcasts, and even saying how disappointed he is that other churches are shutting down making the statement, they don’t know what a church is.” Just this past Sunday pastor MacArthur opened the service by welcoming everyone to the ‘Grace Community Church peaceful protest‘ then had LAPD’s Chaplain Morehouse open them in prayer. Both the ‘peaceful protest’ comment and Chaplain Morehouse’s prayer were met with loud applause and standing ovations in approval for the stance Pastor MacArthur and Grace Community Church has taken.
