From November 10, 2008:
“Keep that blog going!” John MacArthur said after signing my Bible and adding the citation Joshua 1:8:
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
I met him last night at Grace Community Church’s evening service, where he preached about putting on the whole armor of God, beginning at Ephesians 6:10. I was surprised then glad he didn’t change his morning or evening sermons to factor in the election. He continued preaching on the series’ he began weeks ago.
It was a big deal for me meeting John MacArthur. Non-Christians won’t get it, and neither will Christians of certain denominations. But this Reformed Christian still carries around and studies from her 10-year-old MacArthur Study Bible, New King James version. In fact, I told MacArthur the story behind it. Years ago, my Bible-believing youngest sister guilt-tripped me into buying it (at which point Pastor MacArthur shook her hand). I wasn’t a Christian then, and it remained on my coffee table for a year still wrapped in its plastic packaging.
Since then, I’ve read it cover to cover at least twice, fallen in love with it, developed a deeper understanding of it, thanks to MacArthur’s study notes, and shared my excitement and awe about the overarching themes of rebellion, faith, and redemption within its pages.
Pastor MacArthur doesn’t preach politics from the pulpit, but I thought I’d take a moment to tell him I was a conservative blogger who wrote about politics from a Christian perspective, and I knew his view on Christians and politics. Being involved in politics isn’t the problem; believing politics will save is the problem. We tend to get caught up in the political process, policy debates, and the day-to-day he said/he said drama of it all. Christians know that being a conservative and/or voting for Republicans doesn’t make someone righteous in the way God requires.
MacArthur said (and I’m paraphrasing here) one has merely to look at what happened with the election to see that. Conservatives tried to create a superficial righteousness, a kind of morality devoid of what really matters: the saving grace of Christ. From that perspective, it doesn’t matter who’s in the White House.
I wanted to have a longer conversation with John MacArthur, but I kept my comments brief, as there was a line of people behind us. I thanked him and began to walk away, and he offered encouragement.
“Keep that blog going!”
As long as God’s willing, I’m willing. 
