Latest news with #Scriptures
Los Angeles Times
16-07-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Rev. John MacArthur, influential evangelical pastor of Grace Community Church, dies at 86
The Rev. John MacArthur, among the country's most influential evangelical pastors with a prolific media reach — and whose San Fernando Valley megachurch became the face of religious resistance to California's COVID-19 public health orders — died Monday. He was 86. MacArthur's death was announced on the website of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley. He had recently contacted pneumonia, according to the church. Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn., paid tribute to MacArthur on social media, calling him one of 'America's great Bible teachers.' 'He could get more out of a Bible verse than anyone I've ever known,' wrote Graham on X. 'His voice will be greatly missed.' Though based in Los Angeles — where his faithful filled a 3,500-seat auditorium twice every Sunday for his sermons — MacArthur reached millions of people internationally through his radio and television programs and books, and guided the lives of countless young theologians as president of the Master's University and adjoining seminary in Santa Clarita. He was known for his fundamentalist biblical standards, strictly focusing on the writings of the Scriptures and eschewing sermons that touched on more modern themes. Grace Community Church said in a statement on its website this week that his 'ministry was an unwavering commitment to declare God's truth, and Pastor John preached the Word in season and out of season. Even in recent years, though beset with health challenges, he persisted in teaching, leading, and investing in the ministries the Lord had entrusted to him.' From a family with a long line of pastors, MacArthur said he was always religious and described how a car accident in Alabama that left him in excruciating pain helped push him to the pulpit. As a freshman college student in South Carolina, he was sent for treatment to California, where doctors had to remove road asphalt from his severally damaged back. 'I had to lie in my bed on my stomach for about three months and let that all heal, at the end of which I really was ready to do whatever God wanted me to do,' he said in a 2004 interview posted by his media company. 'And I knew by then I was going to preach and teach.' MacArthur was born at St. Vincent's Hospital in Los Angeles. His father, Jack, was a pastor of a Baptist church in South L.A. and would would soon branch into evangelism, which would take the family to Chicago and Philadelphia. He attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., and then transferred to Los Angeles Pacific College. When he took the pulpit of Grace Community Church in 1969, Sunday attendance averaged about 700 people in the northern San Fernando Valley neighborhood. His influence expanded as thousands of radio listeners tuned into 'Grace to You,' his syndicated half-hour show, and he would later launch an extensive media outlet that broadcast his teachings to dozens of countries. He became president of the Master's College in 1985, which later changed its name to the Master's University, and presided over unprecedented growth at the fundamentalist institution, The Times wrote in 1990. He helped oversee a seminary next door. In 1997, The Times described how McArthur refused to use a typewriter or computer and painstakingly handwrote his Bible studies. 'I don't have time for the learning curve,' he said. He wrote more than 400 books and study guides, including the'The MacArthur Study Bible,' and appealed to ultraconservative churchgoers by adhering to fundamentalist biblical standards that focused on teaching an 'inerrant' Bible — a dogma that sees the Bible as devoid of mistakes. At the same time, he rejected the user-friendly sermons, rock music and community outreach that defined some evangelical churches in the 1980s and 1990s and took aim those who he said used gimmicks to attract people to church. The church 'is not a pub for the neighborhood,' he wrote in his 1993 book, 'Ashamed of the Gospel: When the Church Becomes Like the World.' 'It is not a community center where parties are held. It is not a country club for the masses.' The Times covered his attacks on fellow clergy, writing in 1991 that MacArthur turned into the 'enfant terrible of conservative Protestantism.' Over the span of his career, he called Catholicism a 'false religion,' criticized popular religious figures including Joel Osteen and Beth Moore, and called Black Lives Matter 'an organization that is the enemy of God' because of its support of LGBTQ+ equality. In recent years, at least two media outlets that cover religion — Christianity Today and the Roys Report — reported on allegations that women who sought biblical counseling over abusive marriages were advised by church elders to stay with their husbands and feared church discipline over the matter. The church did not respond to the allegations in the stories. After the 2020 pandemic left religious institutions reliant on livestreams and outdoor gatherings, Grace Community Church continued to hold indoor services, with MacArthur questioning the existence of the coronavirus and challenging whether the government could restrict prayer practices. County health inspectors who tried to enter the church where blocked by security guards. 'There is no pandemic,' MacArthur told his followers in August 2020, though later he would acknowledge the virus. Los Angeles County sued the church but ultimately settled in the face of Supreme Court rulings that sided with religious institutions. In a 2021 letter to supporters, MacArthur announced the church's legal fees would be paid. The church later received $800,000 from the state and county for the fees. 'We know that there is no circumstance that can cause the church to close,' he wrote in the letter. 'The church is not only a building but is the bride of Christ and exists to proclaim the truth.' MacArthur is survived by his wife, Patricia; four children; fifteen grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fans Have Serious Questions About Justin Bieber's Pal-Turned-Spiritual Guru As He Faces 'Cult' Accusations
It was only a matter of time before Churchome — the buzzy, Beverly Hills-based church led by Justin Bieber's longtime spiritual advisor, Pastor Judah Smith — landed back in the headlines. On May 2, Smith found himself ambushed by paparazzi after stepping out of his car, a moment he later recounted in an Instagram-posted sermon. 'I got out of my car and was immediately surrounded by paparazzi — that's a first for me,' Smith quipped in a clip from an Instagram-posted sermon. When a 'nice lady' whipped out her camera and asked point-blank, 'So is this a cult or not?' he deadpanned, 'Oh my word, I wasn't expecting that question,' before joking, 'If we're a cult, we are the worst cult in the history of all cults. We meet once a month, guys.' More from SheKnows Hailey Bieber Shares Snuggly Easter Photo With Son Jack & He's Getting So Big Sure, it's a punchline — but the cult allegations circling Churchome aren't exactly new. Founded in 1992 by Smith's parents in Seattle and later rebranded and relocated to L.A., Churchome has become a go-to for the pray and slay crowd. With its slick app, trendy branding, and celeb-heavy front rows (think Kourtney Kardashian, Ciara, Russell Wilson, and Selena Gomez), Churchome looks less like a house of worship and more like a spiritual Soho House — minus the cocktails. At the center of it all is Smith, whose relationship with Bieber goes back to 2010. The pastor's youthful sermons and casual style helped shape Bieber's post-teen-idol spiritual identity, with Smith even telling E! News in 2013 that the two 'share Scriptures on a regular basis.' That connection was back on display in April, when Bieber posted a vulnerable message on Instagram: 'They treat me like ass out here, but I remember that I am flawed and God forgave me.' He added, 'When I'm really honest, I can be mean and hurtful too.' But it's not just Bieber's honesty that's raising eyebrows. '1000000000% a creep. That whole church is creepy. Very sinister energy from what I can tell,' one fan commented on a video of Smith saying Bieber 'is literally like family to me.' Even Bieber's wife, Hailey Bieber, has been cryptically commenting on religion, writing 'posters and preaches really love to just put words together with the same letter and act like it's HITTING so crazy… 'There's blessing in the brokenness,' 'there's grace in gratitude,' s*** drives me bananas,' on her Ingram stories back in March. In 2023, whistleblower docs revealed Churchome was shelling out up to $100,000 a year in 'membership fees' to stay part of Hillsong's elite Family network — the same Hillsong plagued by scandal, cover-ups, and Carl Lentz's infamous fall from grace. Oh, and did we mention Churchome reportedly raked in $17 million in tithes in 2017 alone? That's a lot of Venmo-for-Jesus. Churchome cut ties with Hillsong in 2022, but the similarities linger: the velvet ropes, the glossy branding, the proximity to celebrity, and yes — the accusations of being 'cult-like.' Critics say it walks and talks like a cult, just with better lighting and verified followers. We're not saying it's a cult. But when a megachurch markets itself like a VIP experience, pays six figures to join a scandal-scarred network, and seems to prioritize fame over faith — like another ostensibly religiously affiliated organization that happens to be very big in Hollywood — fans absolutely have of SheKnows The Very Best Looks at the Met Gala of All Time 13 Things to Know About Beyoncé & Jay-Z's Oldest Daughter Blue Ivy Carter Heidi Klum, Amanda Seyfried, & More Celebrities Who Gracefully Handled Wardrobe Malfunctions
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Devoted mother and father's act of love ends in horror and their five children orphaned
A Michigan mom and dad have been killed after they were mown down at a bus stop, leaving their five children orphaned. Kwasi Agbottah, 43, and Elizabeth Agbottah, 41, died after an SUV driven by Dejah Latre Berry plowed into them, Detroit Police Department said. The couple were on their way to get groceries on Friday when Berry allegedly lost control of her vehicle and slammed into the devoted parents. They were rushed to a nearby hospital but later succumbed to their injuries. Berry, 33, continued along the stretch 'at high speed' after ploughing through the bus stop before slamming into another vehicle at a gas station pump along the road, police said. She is now facing two counts of reckless driving causing death and driving with a suspended license causing death. The Agbottahs were beloved members of their community, where they were well known for their missionary work. They leave behind their five sons, who range in age from two to 15-years-old. 'Elizabeth and Kwasi lived a humble but rich life full of service, fellowship, and creativity,' a tribute on their GoFundMe states. 'Above all, Elizabeth and Kwasi were committed, intentional parents who fostered in their children a love of community, discipleship, and caring for God's creation. 'We know their legacy — of service, education, faith, and radical generosity — lives on through their sons, their writing and music, and in the countless lives they touched.' The couple met as youth counselors for Bay Shore Ministries Summer youth program in East Palo Alto, California. Their passion for education and service took them across the country and then finally back to Detroit where they had been living and working since 2019. Kwasi's best friend Michael Krauter paid tribute to the late father and his wife. 'Kwasi's humility is an example. Elizabeth's joy infectious,' he wrote. 'There was never a short story with either of them, always long with all the details - but we never cared because their stories were better than ours. 'And when they spoke to us, or spit, or rhymed, or sang, or read, or sat in quiet-you grew us closer to God by pouring into us the words of Christ and the Scriptures. The couple were at a Detroit bus stop on their way to get groceries when Berry plowed into them on Friday, prosecutors said 'Their pride in the privilege of getting to be parents and raising sons was overflowing. They loved you and were so proud of you boys. 'They honored and loved their parents, siblings, and family - it was always on their lips.' Berry was arraigned on Monday and had her bond set at $50,000. Her next court date is May 7. If convicted, she the offenses are punishable by 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Herald Malaysia
25-04-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Rosary in memory of Pope Francis led by Cardinal Tagle
Filipino Cardinal Louis Antonio Gokim Tagle leads the fourth recitation of the Rosary in memory of Pope Francis at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major on Thursday evening, 24 April. Apr 25, 2025 Cardinal Tagle leading Thursday evening's Rosary VATICAN: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle led the fourth evening Rosary in remembering Pope Francis on Thursday evening, 24 April. The prayer took place once again at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where Pope Francis will be brought for burial following the funeral on Saturday, 26 April. In his introductory words before leading the Rosary, Cardinal Tagle recalled the words in today's Gospel of the Risen Jesus when He appears among His disciples still in shock after the events of his Passion, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?" Jesus encouraged them and helped open their hearts by explaining the Scriptures "to free them from the fear of death," Cardinal Tagle explained. "These words of the Risen Christ are addressed to each of us to give hope and certainty to our lives," he said, since the "Master and Lord came to give us life, a life that will have no end." In conclusion, Cardinal Tagle encouraged the faithful that with this spirit we "pray for our beloved Holy Father Francis, entrusting him to the tender hands of Mary Most Holy, Salus Populi Romani " and may Mary, "Gate of Heaven, Pray for us."--Vatican News
Fox News
18-04-2025
- General
- Fox News
Why is Good Friday ‘Good'?
Two thousand years ago, humanity failed. A representative of the most powerful nation in the world folded to popular pressure and executed a religious teacher without blame. That man's own people had turned on him. Some of his closest disciples abandoned or denied him. Angry crowds accused and convicted him. Soldiers mocked, beat and taunted him. This teacher was crucified, enduring one of the most excruciating executions imaginable. Yet the murdered man never returned the anger of those around him. Instead, he did as he always had. He overlooked all the pain, misery and anger directed toward him and offered forgiveness and grace. That day an innocent man died in a horrific way. The Christian Gospel of Matthew tells us that nature itself reacted in anguish, saying, "At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open." The man Christians revere as the Son of God – a part of the Trinity himself – descended into the darkest, loneliest and most evil of places to absorb the punishment for the sins of an entire world. In the Christian tradition, we now refer to this event as "Good Friday." What, exactly, about that Friday seems good?Christians believe the story of Jesus is the story of an all-powerful God humbling himself to become incarnate with His fallen creation. He did so by being born to two poor teenagers. He arrived in a stable for animals. His coming was announced not to kings, queens or religious authorities but to a few simple shepherds. He lived most of his life in obscurity, a blue-collar professional dedicated to learning a craft, loving others, and learning the Scriptures. When he turned to ministry, it lasted only three years. He never wrote a book. He spent little time with the wealthy and powerful, choosing instead the company of those stricken by disease, hunger, and thirst. In a time of genuine patriarchy and discrimination, he chose to consort with women, outcasts, prostitutes and the sick. The apostles he chose were not the strongest, but the weakest. Many were illiterate. But their weakness was the point. God has a sense of humor. He doesn't need strength or power, only faith. The Jewish people had expected a messiah with military authority. But Jesus never raised an army or wielded a weapon. When one of His followers took up arms and cut the ear from a soldier, Jesus scolded that follower and healed the wounded man. Then, this all-powerful God-made-flesh, died the death of a criminal outside a city on the periphery of empire in front of a few followers and a tormenting crowd. Everything about Jesus was the opposite of what He was supposed to be. So, isn't it perfect that we now consider the single darkest day humanity ever experienced "good"? Etymologically, the "good" in Good Friday may have originally meant "God" or perhaps "Holy," but even those terms would represent a radical reclamation of the day. Even those who deny Jesus' divinity admit that His execution was brutal and unwarranted. But just as His early followers turned one of the most frightening symbols of violence in history – the Roman cross – into a sign of faithfulness and redemption, we have also chosen to see that Friday not for its failures but for its grace. Humanity was at its worst. But the all-powerful God of the universe was at His best. He suffered for us as a sign and a sacrifice. He took on the sin we, ourselves, could not erase. He endured a pain and humiliation we can never fully know to reach across the chasm of the universe and remind us there is nothing we can ever do so bad that it cannot be redeemed. And three days after His execution he rose again, victorious over death itself. And that is why Good Friday was and is good. Because in our greatest despair, there is reason to believe. In our darkest hours, there is light. Faced with all the evil that the natural and supernatural realms could muster, the carpenter on the cross overcame. God's message to us is not that life will be perfect. Far from it. The night is dark and full of terrors. There is evil in this world and an enemy who prowls like a lion. We will suffer. But our suffering matters. Our sadness matters. Our souls matter. As we enter this holy weekend, there is much to fear. Our world, as ever, is deeply imperfect. There are those filled with evil and bent on destruction. Our bodies, despite our best efforts in longevity and wellness, are fading away. Great nations will fall. Our victories are temporary. But our suffering is temporary as well. Our failures will not persist. Evil won't win. The darkness will never extinguish the light. And there is a perfect Creator of the universe who is with us, who has faced greater evil than we have, who is committed to facing our demons with us each day. A great Christian minister once spoke to us of living together in peace and harmony. He called for a time when "justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream." Good Friday is good, because that minister was right. We may not see it in our lifetimes. We may go through generations of darkness and despair. But those generations are a vapor. Good Friday is good, because it was the day all expectations and standards were turned upside down and humanity was forever redeemed. And the ever-paradoxical faith of Christianity holds that we can now see that day of death for what it truly offered: everlasting life.
