Erwin W. Lutzer Contradicts D. L. Moody

Surprisingly, Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, the celebrated pastor of Moody Memorial Church in Chicago, nullifies key biblical texts of warning. In so doing this evangelical Christian leader promises streets of gold to the unrepentant blatantly contradicting D. L. Moody, the founder of his own movement, on the basics of the faith.

Thousands of faithful believers who appreciate much of Dr. Lutzer's inspirational teaching do not know that their beloved pastor and leader (as well as his publisher Moody Press) has strayed from the basic, salvation doctrines of their founders. When these Christians accept Erwin Lutzer's teaching they think they are in line with scripture as well as D. L. Moody, but is this assumption true? Consider Paul's warning to the Galatians:

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will 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).

Refuses to judge the evil? Characterizes? To characterize, according to Webster's dictionary is to be the "distinguishing feature." Can drunkenness be the distinguishing feature of a believer ultimately headed for heaven? May the drunk stumbling from the local bar night after night yet be bound for paradise? The man under whose name Dr. Lutzer's fancies are published, D. L. Moody, did not think so! Mr. Moody wrote:

I pity any professed Christians who rent their property for drinking saloons; If you ever expect to inherit the kingdom of God, give it up. This idea that all is going well, and that all are going into the kingdom of God, whether they repent or not, is not taught anywhere in the Scripture (D. L. Moody, Sermon: Heaven, Its Inhabitants).

Together with Paul and historic Christianity, D. L. Moody believed and taught that if we do not inherit the kingdom we surely do not enter it or even see it. Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer's unorthodox interpretation of Galatians 5:19-21 has given salvation assurance where none actually exists and it has strayed far from the scripturally vested opinions of the founder of his own movement. Though Erwin W. Lutzer, is a pastor and is published by "Moody Press" he does not accurately represent Mr. Moody or the scriptures. In our correspondence Pastor Lutzer did not respond to the fact that his teaching contradicts that of D. L. Moody on fundamental points.

About the Author

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