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by: DanielLaLondJr.
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Moody Press, which boasts of being, "The Name You Can Trust," is an alleged Christian publishing house. As such, they pride themselves in publishing books that are true to scripture, Christ and His gospel. Multitudes worldwide, however, who rest their eternal hopes on the teaching published by "The Name You Can Trust" might be shocked to find that Moody Press should not be trusted.

For example, in his book How Can You Be Sure That You Will Spend Eternity With God, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996) Erwin W. Lutzer wrote and Moody Press published:

The question is not whether we can remember the day or the hour in the past, but whether our faith is in Christ in the present. Are we now persuaded that Christ met all of our obligations for us when he died on the cross (p. 129).

Why are they saved? Because they accept the premise that if they are to be saved at all, they will be saved by God's grace through Christ. Their faith wavers, but it is directed toward the right person (p. 132).

Upon initially reading these statements they seem to be quite scriptural. And they are. Surely no Christian would disagree with the idea that if a person is going to be saved his faith must be directed to Christ alone. Nevertheless, under the flag of magnifying Christ, Erwin Lutzer and his publisher, Moody Press, may actually oust Christ.

According to Erwin Lutzer's doctrine, salvation through "Christ alone" is often theological double-speak meaning that a professing believer who turns from the faith or even seeks salvation through some means other than Christ alone will still be welcomed into God's eternal paradise. What I mean is this: when Lutzer (and Moody Publishers) uses the term Christ alone he means that no work (of any type or degree) ever impacts salvation--even rejecting "Christ alone." It sounds ludicrous (and it is!), but hang in there as I illustrate. Consider Hebrews 6:4-6:

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Now, regarding this passage Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer writes and Moody Press publishes:

We have to admit the author is talking about true Christians in this passage...Yes, believers can "fall away"... they were beginning to doubt whether Christ was fully sufficient... The point is that so long as they were returning to the Old Testament sacrifices, they could not be brought back to repentance. Understandably, they could not be brought back to fellowship with God while they were offering lambs on the alter... Yes, believers can fall away, but not to eternal damnation (p. 150).

One-time "believers" who sacrifice lambs on unchristian altars will ultimately be saved? On one side Lutzer says that one is saved by faith in "Christ only." On the other side, however, he guarantees paradise to those who reject the faith completely and solidify their rejection by sacrificing animals on pagan altars to wash away their sins. To believe wrongly leads to destruction, resolutely asserts the doctor, yet the blatant rebellion and wrong faith of Christ rejectors leads to heaven? Painfully obvious contradiction!

Erwin W. Lutzer's teaching is a meaningless, contradictory mish-mash of theology and humanistic tradition. Contradictions are the surest sign that a teacher needs to return to studying and stop teaching others. Erwin Lutzer, Moody Press and their editors are in serious error on foundational doctrines. Do not be fooled by "The Name You Can Trust." Moody Press should not be trusted.

About the Author

Daniel LaLond's book, The Lying Promise, examines in detail the faulty notions published by Moody Press. Particularly, it unmasks Moody's unscriptural salvation and eternal security doctrines.

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