False Teachings of John McArthur

I've heard of this guy John Macarthur and how much error he teaches. I came across this video of him teaching lies about the Apostolic Church. Seeing as how the comments to the video are turned off, most likely due to so many people correcting him, I decided to put together a Blog post.

https://youtu.be/R-RinxXFkS4?si=0vtRHsd4reJkJUsa

Firstly, and as for often unless someone is of the Orthodox Church they say 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 Catholic they generally don't understand Church history. The Roman or Latin Rite is not the only Apostolic, or catholic Church.

John Macarthur refers to the “Roman Catholic Church,” but Catholicism is not limited to the Latin (Roman) Rite.

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The Catholic Church is a communion of 24 autonomous Churches, all united under the Pope but with different liturgies, customs, and histories. These include:

Roman (Latin) Catholic – the largest and most well-known

Eastern Catholic Churches – such as Maronite, Byzantine, Melkite, Chaldean, and others

These Eastern Catholics celebrate ancient liturgies that closely resemble Eastern Orthodox worship — and they also believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the apostolic priesthood, and the sacramental system. They are fully Catholic, just not Roman.

MacArthur’s critique paints with a broad brush and doesn't reflect the full diversity and ancient roots of the universal Catholic Church.

This lack of distinction is problematic because:

It ignores the diversity and depth of Catholicism across cultures and centuries.

It often implies that the Catholic faith is a later invention rather than the historical continuation of the Church established by Christ and the apostles.

It disregards the Eastern Catholic liturgies, which are ancient and often resemble the Orthodox in form and theology — especially in their reverence for the Eucharist.

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The Mass as a Re-sacrifice of Christ

Macarthur's Claim: The Catholic Mass re-sacrifices Christ, implying that His once-for-all sacrifice on the cross was insufficient.

Correction: The Catholic Church teaches that the Mass is not a new or repeated sacrifice but the same sacrifice of Christ made present sacramentally. As stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC):

"The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice... In this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner." (CCC 1367)

"And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do(ποιεῖτε) in remembrance(ἀνάμνησις) of me." (Luke 22:19)

ἀνάμνησις (anamnesis) thats translated 'rememberence' means not just to remember, but 'to make present again' So, the one sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) has always been represented at the Holy Mass and Divine Litergy. Worship to God has always been Sacrifice. At the Last Supper Our Lord taught the Apostles to offer up the once and for all Sacrifice to God. And this is what has been in practice from the beginning of Christianity. This is the fulfillment of the Passover (matt 5:17) The Hebrew equivalent of anamnesis is זִכָּרוֹן (zikaron) or the verb זָכַר (zakar) — both connected to liturgical remembrance that makes God's saving acts present and active for His people.

“This day shall be for you a memorial [zikaron], and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord...” (Exodus 12:14)

This understanding aligns with the belief that Christ's sacrifice transcends time, allowing believers to partake in it through the Eucharist.

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Transubstantiation as Unbiblical

Macarthur Claim: The doctrine of transubstantiation is unbiblical and a product of philosophical speculation.

Correction: Transubstantiation is the term used to describe the change of the substance of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ during the Eucharist, while the appearances remain unchanged. This belief is rooted in Scripture

"This is my body... This is my blood." (Mark 14:22-24)

"And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do(ποιεῖτε) in remembrance(ἀνάμνησις) of me." (Luke 22:19)

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ποιεῖτε means 'to offer' It's the same word used in the book of Leviticus in the Geek suptuagent to offer up a sacrifice. If He simply ment to just do it he would have used a word like ποιέω.

Early Church Fathers also affirmed this belief. For instance, St. Cyril of Jerusalem (AD 313-386) stated:

"Do not, therefore, regard the bread and wine as simply that; for they are, according to the Master's declaration, the body and blood of Christ." (Catechetical Lectures, 22:6)

For a full Biblical breakdown of the Roman Litergy I recommend this two part video:

https://youtu.be/XpciIRVaz3w?si=p0dxXXMAsV4lZXCy

https://youtu.be/3bpqLWWa3tY?si=ugBJRinl1sTzBmOK

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3. Worship of the Eucharist as Idolatry

Macarthur Claim: Adoration of the Eucharist is idolatrous since it involves worshiping bread and wine.

Correction: Catholics believe that after consecration, the Eucharist is truly the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Therefore, adoration is directed to Christ Himself, not to bread and wine. This practice is supported by the Church's understanding of the Real Presence and is an expression of deep reverence for Jesus.

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The Role of the Priest in the Roman Litergy (Mass)

Macarthur Claim: Priests have the power to summon Christ down from heaven, which is a form of manipulation.

Correction: In Apostolic theology, the priest acts *in persona Christi* (in the person of Christ, 2 cor 2:10) during the Mass. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ, not by the priest's own power. The priest is a servant who facilitates the sacrament, not one who commands God.

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The Roman Litergy as a Pagan Ritual

Macarthur Claim: The Mass is a pagan ritual filled with meaningless ceremonies.

Correction: The structure and elements of the Mass are deeply rooted in Scripture and early Christian tradition. The Mass includes readings from Scripture, prayers, and the Eucharist, which was instituted by Christ at the Last Supper. Far from being pagan, the Mass is a continuation of the worship practiced by the early Church.

Salvation and Good Works

Macarthur claims that Catholics “preach a false gospel of works,” denying justification by faith. 

Correction: the Catholic Church and the Bible teach that salvation is a free gift from God (Ephesians 2:8–9), and that true faith naturally bears fruit in love (Galatians 5:6; James 2:24). The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) explicitly states that “no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification” (CCC 2010; source). Any merit in our good works comes from God’s grace (cf. CCC 2008). Scripture affirms that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17), meaning it’s not a living, saving faith.

Purgatory

Macarthur calls Purgatory “unbiblical fiction.” However, "Nothing unclean shall enter [Heaven], nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood..." (Revelation 21:27) Catholic doctrine (Council of Trent; CCC 1030–1032) teaches that those who die in God’s grace but still need purification undergo a final cleansing before entering Heaven. This is not a “safety net,” but a merciful act of God’s justice and love (1 Corinthians 3:15). The Bible also supports prayer for the dead (2 Maccabees 12:46), and the early Church Fathers echoed this practice. The Church continues to pray for the souls in Purgatory (CCC 1032; source) as an act of love, trusting in God's mercy.

Also, "And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." (Matt 12:32)

"Each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:13–15)

"May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus...
May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day." (2 Timothy 1:16–18)

"But you have come to Mount Zion... to the spirits of the righteous made perfect..." (Hebrews 12:22–23)

Saints and Indulgences

Macarthur insists that prayers to saints and indulgences cannot redeem us. The Church agrees: only Christ redeems (1 Timothy 2:5). However, Catholics honor the saints as members of the Body of Christ who intercede for us in Heaven. The Catechism teaches that the saints “do not cease to intercede” for us (CCC 956; source). Asking for their prayers is no different than asking a fellow Christian on earth to pray for us. We worship God alone.

As for indulgences, they do not “buy” forgiveness. Rather, they remit the temporal punishment due to sin by drawing from the treasury of merit won by Christ and His saints (CCC 1471; source). All grace comes through Christ, not human merit.

Scripture and Tradition

Macarthur claims Catholic Traditions placed on par with Scripture. In reality, the Church teaches that Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition form one deposit of faith, both flowing from the same divine source (Dei Verbum 9; CCC 80–82). Tradition is not man-made additions, but the oral teaching of the apostles faithfully handed down. The Magisterium (teaching authority of the Church) is charged with guarding this deposit, guided by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26).

The Pope’s Role

MacArthur dismisses the Pope’s role and titles like “Holy Father,” accusing Catholics of placing a man above Christ. But Catholicism clearly teaches that Christ is the Head of the Church. The Pope serves as His vica, a visible shepherd appointed in the line of Peter (Matthew 16:18–19; John 21:15–17). His spiritual fatherhood (cf. 1 Peter 5:2) is a symbol of unity, not divinity (CCC 882).

Papal infallibility, ex cathedra (from the Chair of Peter) defined at Vatican I, is rarely invoked and only applies when solemnly teaching on faith or morals. It has only been used twice and was to define Dogmas of things Apostolic Christians had already believed. It doesn’t mean the Pope is perfect, nor can he override Scripture or Tradition.

Confession and Forgiveness of Sins

Macarthur asserts that “no priest has the power to forgive sins.” Yet Scripture teaches otherwise: Jesus gave His apostles authority to bind and loose (Matthew 16:19; 18:18), and after the Resurrection, He said, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven” (John 20:22–23). Through Holy Orders, bishops and priests receive authority to forgive sins in Christ’s name (CCC 1461–1466).

In Confession, the priest acts in persona Christi as a sign and instrument of God’s mercy. While it is ultimately God who forgives (1 John 1:9), Christ established the sacrament as the ordinary means by which forgiveness is applied. St. Paul wrote of this to the Corinthians, "Any one whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ" (2 Corinthians 2:10)

John Macarthur has long been a passionate and influential voice in the Protestant world, but when it comes to Catholicism, his accusations are not only deeply flawed—they misrepresent what the Church actually teaches. From salvation and the saints to Scripture and the sacraments, MacArthur builds a false image of Catholic doctrine and then refutes the image rather than the truth.

In doing so, he leads many sincere Christians away from the fullness of the Gospel preserved in the Church Christ founded. Scripture warns us that there will be false teachers, even among those who seem sincere (2 Peter 2:1). That is why it’s so important to know and defend the truth, especially when souls are at stake.

But we must also respond with love. As Catholics, we are called to pray even for those who oppose us. John Macarthur is not our enemy—he is a man in need of the very mercy and truth he rejects. May we pray that the Holy Spirit will open his heart to the fullness of the faith. I pray this for everyone spreading misinterpretation about God's one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

“The Lord… is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
— 2 Peter 3:9

Let us speak the truth boldly, defend it faithfully, and always, always cover it in prayer.

In Addendum

I just heard that yesterday, July 14, 2025 John MacArthur had passed away. Prayer for him and his family/congregation. But most of all being that he was a Calvinist I pray that God had mercy on him.