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by: DanielLaLondJr.
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Unknown to his supporters, the respected pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, annuls key biblical texts with strange, unorthodox interpretations. By doing so, this modern evangelical icon promises paradise to the unrepentant and flatly opposes Moody founder Dwight Lyman Moody on the ABC's of salvation.

Many faithful Christians who enjoy much of Dr. Lutzer's teaching are unaware that their dear pastor and teacher (as well as his publisher Moody Press) have wandered far from the teaching of their founders on the basic salvation teachings of the Christian faith. When supporting Erwin Lutzer and modern Moody these dear saints believe that they are being faithful to the historic Christianity as well as to the Moody name, but is such actually the case? Consider Galatians 5:19-21:

The deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:19-21).

Such a text seems blatantly obvious without commentary, but I must ask: What do you think this warning to those practicing immorality and drunkenness means? That is, what does Paul intend by the phrase "shall not inherit?" "For if ye live after the flesh," says Paul in a similar text, "ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." In keeping with thousands of years of Christian history, the apostle is clearly warning sinners about not entering the kingdom of God.

Regarding this unambiguous passage Dr. Lutzer says, "Paul speaks of those who will forfeit certain kingdom privileges because of their sinful lifestyles....Those who practice such sins will not be barred from entering the kingdom, but will be barred from inheriting it" ( Lutzer, Your Eternal Reward, p. 70). Indeed, dear reader, Erwin W. Lutzer, who promotes himself as "helping us make it across the finish line," promises the pearly gates to the unrepentant who practice and are even characterized by impurity, sorcery or idolatry!

"If one or more of these sins characterizes their Christian lives, and they refuse to judge the evil, they will forfeit the honor of kingdom rule" (Lutzer, Your Eternal Reward, p. 70).

"Characterizes?" "Forfeit the honor of Kingdom rule?" That's the understatement of the millennium! Webster's dictionary states that to characterize is to be the "distinctive character trait." Friend, may idolatry or immorality be the distinctive character trait of a Christian on his way to an eternal paradise? May the adulterer or drunkard sneaking from his sin night after night be a Christian destined for heaven? Mr. Moody, the man whose name is stamped on Dr. Lutzer's notions did not agree. D. L. Moody stated:

I pity any alleged Christians who rent their property for drinking saloons; I pity them with all of my heart. If you ever want to inherit the kingdom of God, give it up. This notion that all is well, and that all are going into the kingdom of God, whether they repent or not, isn't taught anywhere in the Scriptures (D. L. Moody, Sermon: Heaven, Its Inhabitants).

D. L. Moody believed and taught, along with Paul and historic Christianity, that if we do not inherit the kingdom that we certainly do not enter it. Not only has Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer's strange interpretation of Paul's warning to the Galatians comforted the unrepentant, it has abandoned the views of the D. L. Moody on the basics. Erwin Lutzer plainly contradicts D. L. Moody on this foundational point of the Christian faith. Erwin W. Lutzer never responded to obvious contractions between the doctrine of himself and D. L. Moody though it was addressed in our correspondence.

About the Author

Daniel LaLond's book, The Lying Promise, addresses in detail many inconsistencies in the teaching of Erwin W. Lutzer. Visit Defending The Gospel for details on The Lying Promise.