Moody Press: True To Scripture?
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by: DanielLaLondJr.
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"The Name You Can Trust" is the marketing slogan of Moody Press or Moody Publishers. In this way Moody Press suggests to believers that they are a Christian publishing house that is true to scripture and to the gospel of Christ. Multiplied thousands around the globe, however, who trust their eternal souls to the teaching published by "The Name You Can Trust" might be stunned to find out that Moody Press should not be trusted.
By way of example, Moody Press published How Can You Be Sure That You Will Spend Eternity With God (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996) by Erwin W. Lutzer. And in this book, spread around the globe by Moody Press, Dr. Lutzer wrote:
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).
Whether our faith be little or much, it must be directed to Christ alone, for God accepts only those who accept His Son (p. 113).
At first glance such teaching actually seems quite scriptural. Who in their right mind would argue against the idea that saving faith must be directed to Christ alone? Nonetheless, under color of exalting Christ, Dr. Lutzer and Moody Press may actually dethrone Christ.
You see, in accordance with Dr. Lutzer's teaching Christ alone is often rhetorical code meaning that an alleged Christian who rejects the faith or even seeks salvation through some way other than through Christ alone will still tread on streets of gold. That is, "Christ alone" means that no works (in kind or degree) ever affects salvation--even rejecting the gospel and "Christ alone." What? You might think, we're only saved by "Christ alone," but those who reject "Christ alone" are yet saved? Ridiculous I know, but this is Lutzer's position. Allow me to illustrate, kindly consider Hebrews 6:4-6:
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
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 rejecters leads to heaven? Painfully obvious contradiction!
Dr. Lutzer's rhetoric is just that - meaningless rhetoric. Contradictions are the clearest evidence of error and misinterpretation. Moody Press and Dr. Lutzer have grievously erred on basic principles. Do not be duped by "The Name You Can Trust." Moody Publishers can not be trusted.
About the Author
Daniel LaLond's book, The Lying Promise, analyzes thoroughly the faulty views propagated by Moody Press. Particularly, it debunks Moody's unscriptural salvation and eternal security doctrines.
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