Moody Press, which boasts of being, "The Name You Can Trust," is an alleged Christian publishing house. As such, they pride themselves in publishing books that are true to scripture, Christ and His gospel. Multitudes worldwide, however, who rest their eternal hopes on the teaching published by "The Name You Can Trust" might be shocked to find that Moody Press should not be trusted.
For instance, in How Can You Be Sure That You Will Spend Eternity With God, by Erwin W. Lutzer (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996), Moody Press published:
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).
Such instruction is certainly quite scriptural. I mean, who would argue against the notion that if one is to be saved they must trust Christ alone. Nonetheless, under the banner of extolling Christ, Moody Press and Dr. Lutzer, in actuality, might dethrone Him.
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 it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Now, concerning this serious passage of warning Dr. Lutzer believes and Moody Press scatters around the globe:
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).
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 rejectors leads to life eternal? What a contradiction!
Friend, when the blind lead the blind they both fall in a ditch. Dr. Lutzer and Moody Press do not understand foundational Christian concepts and as such they lend salvation assurance where none exists. Don't be deceived By "The Name You Can Trust." Moody Press is not to be trusted.