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Moody Publishers or Moody Press, markets themselves as being “The Name You Can Trust.” In this, Moody proposes to Christians that they are true to scripture and to Christ. Masses the world over, however, who lean their eternal hopes on the doctrine published by “The Name You Can Trust” might be astonished to find that Moody Press should never be trusted.

By way of example, Moody Press spread around the globe How Can You Be Sure That You Will Spend Eternity With God (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996) by Erwin W. Lutzer. And in this book 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).

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.

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:

For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame.

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

We have to [concede that] 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… Here is the point: is so long as they were returning to the Old Testament sacrifices, they could not be brought back to repentance. Clearly, they couldn’t be brought back to fellowship with God while they were sacrificing 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!

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.