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Moody Press: True To Scripture?

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:

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).

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).

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:

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).

Unbelieving believers who sacrifice animals on pagan altars will be saved? Is it harmonious to teach on the one hand that "a wrong faith leads to destruction" yet on the other to promise heaven to those who abandon the faith altogether and prove it by sacrificing animals on pagan altars for the forgiveness of sins? We are saved by Christ alone, insists Dr. Lutzer, yet the blatant abomination and no faith of Christ rejectors still leads to paradise? Ridiculous 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.

Article Source: http://free-article-depot.com

Daniel LaLond's book, The Lying Promise, examines in detail the errant views published by Moody Press. Specifically, it unmasks Moody's unscriptural salvation and eternal security doctrines.

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