Moody Press: True To D. L. Moody?

"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:

Even a weak faith saves if it is directed to Christ alone. But a wrong faith leads to destruction even it is held with unwavering confidence (p. 134).

If you, my friend, are convinced in your heart that Christ paid your debt, and you are resting your eternal soul on Christ and nothing else, you too are saved (p. 115).

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, concerning this serious passage of warning Dr. Lutzer believes and Moody Press scatters around the globe:

We have to [recognize that] the author is talking about true Christians in this passage...Yes, believers can "fall away"... they were starting to doubt whether Christ was fully sufficient... The point is that as long as they were returning to the sacrifices of the Old Testament, they couldn't 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).

Those who sacrifice lambs on pagan altars will be saved? Is it congruent to teach that "a wrong faith leads to destruction" yet still promise paradise to those who reject the faith altogether and prove as much by sacrificing animals on pagan altars for the forgiveness of sins? A wrong faith leads to destruction, resolutely asserts the doctor, yet the blatant rebellion and no faith of Christ rejecters leads to life eternal? What a 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 propagated by Moody Press. Specifically, it debunks Moody's unscriptural salvation and eternal security doctrines.