How would your church respond if your young people were approached by an organized cult? One night at a church skating party, a group of teenagers were “befriended” by several men who asked about their spiritual lives. The teenagers were given an invitation to join them for a series of special studies. These strangers also invited themselves to the church of these teens. Like a sinister snake, this cult was moving in for the kill.

Fortunately, the parents of these teenagers knew enough of God’s Word to make them cautious and wise. After the next church service, the leaders of this cult were spoken to and in blunt terms told to leave their kids alone and to never return to their church again.

Were these adults being ugly and unloving? No. On the contrary, they were carrying out the Biblical charge: to protect the innocent sheep from the advances of wolves.

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. – Galatians 1:6-9

*Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.