For a long time, my biggest gripe against Eerdmans Publishing has to do with the physical aspects of some of their books. Take, for example, three important Reformed works: Berkhof’s Systematic Theology, Hodge’s Systematic Theology (3 volumes), and John Murray’s Principles of Conduct. In terms of contents, these three works have in common the fact that they are all written by significant Reformed theologians, and they all contain valuable insights. Unfortunately, another thing that they have in common is the fact that, due to the physical dimensions and the binding of these books, they are all practically snap traps that won’t stay open without continuous effort from the reader, and thus are almost impossible to read for a long time, at least not without great inconvenience and suffering.

This might sound trivial, but it is criminal for a lover and reader of books. Have you ever used a piece of electronic appliance, and there were so many ease-of-use problems with the product, that you were just sure that the engineers who designed it never used it? Or, maybe the company never employed anyone to test it for any length of time. Thus you found that the buttons were in the wrong place, the indicators were confusing, and some of the expected features were completely absent. We could give many examples like this from automoblies, to software applications, to handbags and wallets, and so on.

Well, this is what I was thinking about the people there at Eerdmans. I suspect that they don’t really read (or even flip through) some of the books that they publish, or at least they don’t want you to read Berkhof, Hodge, and Murray.

I am glad to be getting this off my chest.

But now, Eerdmans has done something that no Christian should consider trivial — they have published a book of Mormon apologetics. The book asserts and defends the premise that the Mormon Jesus is the same one as the Christian Jesus. 

It would be less of a stretch to say that Joseph Smith is the same as sundried cow dung.

Pastor Kerry Kinchen of Bridgeway Bible Church (San Antonio, Texas) has written a letter of protest and rebuke to Eerdmans. I have obtained his permission to present a revised version of the letter here:

As Senior Pastor of Bridgeway, I have some Eerdmans published books in my office library, but I won’t be buying anything published from Eerdmans anymore.

It is not a cliché when one contends earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the set-apart ones. It is a mandate. On the other hand, it is a cult who contends earnestly for the faith once for all delivered by a con-man leader — and such is a shame. Robert Millet’s A Different Jesus? (now published by Eerdmans) is exactly the shame I am talking about.

I am a pastor who exposes the obvious fact that Mormons do not worship the same God, nor the same Jesus that saved people worship. Mormonism is a brain-washing cult whose apologists avoid the real issues in debate and writing. Only direct and unwavering cross-examination with the uncomfortable facts gets them to address the issues they typically avoid. Then once they give their seeker-sensitive answers, you must relentlessly cross-examine again, and again. Otherwise, you’ll think they believe in the same Jesus that you do.

Your recent endorsement of Millet’s apologetic is beyond a decent word. Frankly, I am livid with shock. Mouw’s endorsement means nothing and does not let you off the hook for your actions. The man is incompetent as an apologist of the faith, and no office he holds is a badge that demonstrates otherwise. Do you think we are fools? When I first started following Mouw's postmodern notion of dialogue with the leaders of that particular cult, I realized quickly that Mouw’s bizarre affinity for "commonality" would be used by Mormons as a way to sweep their core beliefs under a rug (momentarily). It has happened. You are party to the crime.

Really, has it not occurred to you that you will pay the price for your actions? Are you that far gone from understanding that this is wood, hay, and stubble that you (Eerdmans) have published, endorsed, distributed, and made money from?

I am contacting every pastor I know, and I am going to talk with them in a very strong and convincing way, and I am going to encourage them to boycott your sick company.

Additionally, I am going to post flyers all over our church, telling our members not to buy your books anymore.

Finally, we as a congregation are going to have a time of weeping and mourning for Eerdmans in these days when you could have shined the glory of Christ to a sick postmodern generation. Instead, you have chosen to eclipse any glory you may have had by prostituting yourself with a laughable, yet deadly cult. This is great cause for mourning. Shame on you. Shame on all of you for the damage you are doing to Christ’s church.

In the real Christ, and in tears,
Pastor Kerry Kinchen
www.bridgewaybiblechurch.org

Recommended:

James White, Is the Mormon My Brother?

Ron Rhodes, Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Mormons

Ethan Harris, The Gospel According to Joseph Smith

Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the Cults

Francis J. Beckwith, Stephen E. Parrish, See the Gods Fall: Four Rivals to Christianity

Vincent Cheung, Ultimate Questions

Vincent Cheung, Presuppositional Confrontations

Vincent Cheung, Apologetics in Conversation

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