I am thankful for Christians who identify the attractions in false religions, cults, or heresies and who teach us how to avoid and confront them. But I repeat this as well: Few can make this their ministry or area of emphasis and remain untainted by evil.

A few years ago, I read of a man who was beginning a ministry meant to reach escorts and exotic dancers in Las Vegas. While I admired his zeal, I wondered at his wisdom. He certainly seemed to experience a deep grief for the harsh reality of these women’s lives and an earnest desire to see them come to Christ. Yet I couldn’t help but wonder at the purity of his motives, for I have too often seen Christians be led astray by the very people they are trying to reach.

Not too long ago, there was a trend in which people would see how close they could come to being hit by a train without actually being hit by a train. That’s about as stupid a game as I can imagine. Play stupid games, win stupid games, as the kids say. But researching sin when you are not extremely mature in character or researching heresy when you are not deeply grounded in the faith might be stupider still, for where a train can only ever destroy your body, heresy can destroy your soul.

I am genuinely thankful for Christians who research false teaching so they can help their fellow believers understand and avoid it. I am thankful for experts in Mormonism who help me better understand how to share the gospel with Mormons and experts in Catholicism who help me understand why ecumenism is compromise. I am thankful for those who are committed to helping believers avoid all kinds of insidious errors. Yet I have long since learned this is not a ministry for everyone. Not everyone has the strength of doctrine or the conviction of character to be able to carry out such a ministry and not be led into compromise. Not everyone can walk into darkness without losing their grip on the light.

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