Los Angeles-area Pastor John MacArthur penned an open letter to California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom Thursday after the governor blitzed red states with abortion billboards earlier this month.
Newsom’s billboards promoted California as an abortion-friendly state and quoted the words of Jesus Christ when he told his followers to love their neighbors. MacArthur called out Newsom’s abortion ad campaign, writing that it “revealed to the entire nation how thoroughly rebellious against God” the governor is.
“You further compounded the wickedness of that murderous campaign with a reprehensible act of gross blasphemy, quoting the very words of Jesus from Mark 12:31 as if you could somehow twist His meaning and arrogate His name in favor of butchering unborn infants,” MacArthur wrote. “You used the name and the words of Christ to promote the credo of Molech (Leviticus 20:1–5). It would be hard to imagine a greater sacrilege.”
The democratic governor rented 18 billboards in Indiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Texas, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Oklahoma, all states that have passed or pushed for legislation to protect unborn babies.
A billboard in Texas features a woman in handcuffs with the caption, “Texas doesn’t own your body. You do.” Another billboard asks, “Need an abortion? California is ready to help.” At the bottom of the advertisement, Jesus is quoted from Mark 12:31.
“Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment than these,” the verse says.
@tatereeves the people of Mississippi deserve to know they have access to the care you are refusing to provide. This will be launching in your state today. pic.twitter.com/8qg7psYT2j
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 15, 2022
Along with advertising for abortion in other states, Newsom recently signed a wave of pro-abortion bills aimed at making California a sanctuary for those seeking abortions.
MacArthur’s letter comes after he called out Newsom in a recent sermon for choosing to quote the words of Jesus to promote the practice of abortion, and said “A line was crossed this week that really really gripped my heart.”
“I say this because my heart is grieved that Christ should be so dishonored. Billboards across the country with the words of Jesus trying to support abortion? Terrifying,” he added.
This is not the first time the renowned pastor and author stood up to Newsom. During the summer of 2020, MacArthur’s Grace Community Church openly defied Newsom’s strict orders regarding gathering and social distancing during the COVID pandemic.
The church was later vindicated when the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to pay Grace Community Church $400,000. The settlement stemmed from a Supreme Court decision declaring that churches in California could be exempt from enforcement of some of the state’s coronavirus policies.
But for MacArthur, neither the COVID guideline defiance nor the letter to Newsom over abortion are about politics. Rather, the pastor said he is more concerned for Newsom’s soul.
“Governor Gavin Newsom, who has decided that he is going to lead the nation in providing the slaughter of the children that God creates in the womb has postured himself as if he were Herod. And I am deeply concerned for the jeopardy of his eternal soul.”