Donnie Swaggart’s Explosive Accusation: Calling John MacArthur ‘Evil’ – When Pentecostal Fire Meets Calvinist Ice in a War That Could Shatter the Church

It was a Sunday morning at Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge when Donnie Swaggart took the stage with a fire that electrified the congregation.

Instead of his usual message of hope and revival, he launched a scathing rebuke of John MacArthur, accusing him of spiritual corruption and dangerous influence.

“There are men standing in pulpits today who deny the Holy Spirit, who blaspheme what they do not understand, and they dare to call themselves ministers of the gospel,” Donnie thundered.

“John MacArthur is not just wrong. He is dangerous. And I say this under the anointing, he is evil.”

Gasps echoed through the church.

This was no slip of the tongue.

Donnie’s words were deliberate and loaded with years of pent-up frustration.

The root of this fiery confrontation lies in a decades-long theological war over the role of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts in the church.

John MacArthur, a staunch Calvinist and pastor of Grace Community Church in California, has been a vocal critic of Pentecostal and charismatic movements, branding them heretical and even demonically inspired.

His 2013 book Strange Fire launched a full frontal assault on the charismatic movement, condemning it as emotionally manipulative and spiritually dangerous.

For Pentecostal leaders like the Swaggarts—whose ministry is built on revival, healing, tongues, and prophecy—MacArthur’s attacks struck at the heart of their faith and identity.

Donnie Swaggart’s sermon made clear that this is more than academic disagreement.

He accused MacArthur of weaponizing his teachings to silence Pentecostal expressions of faith across seminaries, churches, and Christian media, pushing a “powerless church” that operates only on intellect without the Spirit’s power.

“MacArthur wants a church that operates only in intellect, not in anointing. That is not the church Jesus died for. That is the church Satan smiles at,” Donnie declared.

But the drama deepened with allegations of betrayal within the Pentecostal ranks.

Donnie hinted that a prominent Pentecostal leader who once stood with the Swaggarts has now aligned with MacArthur’s camp, attending secret meetings aimed at “cleaning up charismatic excess.”

Though unnamed, insiders recognized the significance—a brotherhood fractured by theological and personal divides.

“You don’t walk with us in the fire of the Spirit for decades and then join those who call us heretics.

That’s betrayal,” Donnie said, his voice heavy with disappointment.

This accusation hints at a brewing coalition of reformed leaders and moderate Pentecostals seeking a more “respectable,” toned-down Christianity—one that could marginalize the very heart of Pentecostalism: the gifts of the Spirit.

Donnie’s warning echoes a prophetic voice from a now-deceased mentor who predicted a “great falling away” from within the Spirit-filled church itself, not from external enemies.

Curiously, John MacArthur has remained silent in response.

Despite Donnie’s public challenge, MacArthur has neither acknowledged nor addressed the accusations.

Some see this silence as strategic, refusing to engage what he may consider theological fringe.

Others interpret it as arrogance or dismissal.

MacArthur’s long history of condemning charismatic leaders without naming names adds another layer of complexity.

His silence on Donnie’s direct charge leaves many wondering if this feud will escalate or fade away.

Why does this matter to believers and observers?

Because this isn’t just a spat between two pastors—it’s a battle for the soul of the modern church.

Donnie Swaggart represents a raw, spirit-led gospel full of supernatural gifts, altar calls, and fiery repentance.

John MacArthur champions a cerebral, scripture-only gospel rooted in discipline and expository teaching.

Both claim to hold the truth, yet both reject the legitimacy of the other.

The division runs deep, cutting across theology, culture, and generations.

It challenges believers to consider what it means to worship authentically and how to navigate conflicts within the body of Christ without tearing it apart.

Donnie’s fiery declaration forces the church to confront uncomfortable questions: Is there room for both intellect and anointing?

Can the church embrace diversity of expression without fracturing?

Or will these battles leave the body divided and weakened?

As Donnie Swaggart boldly calls out John MacArthur as “evil” and warns of betrayal within, the Christian world watches closely.

This explosive confrontation may be the spark that ignites a wider reckoning over faith, power, and identity in the 21st-century church.

Whether you stand with Donnie’s passionate plea or with MacArthur’s disciplined theology, one thing is clear: the church is at a crossroads, and the choices made now will echo for generations.