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.

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:

Don’t miss this: We must believe that Christ did all that is necessary and will ever be necessary for us to stand in the sight of God (p. 113).

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, according to Dr. Lutzer’s rhetoric, Christ alone is often theological code meaning that a Christian who turns and seeks salvation through some means other than Christ alone will still be saved. That is, “Christ alone” means that “works” of any kind or degree never affect salvation–even denying “Christ alone.” I know it sounds ridiculous (and it is!), but bear with me as I 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 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!

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.

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