WHAT’S WITH THE DUDES AT THE DOOR?
Stuff to Know When the Cults Come Knocking
by Kevin Johnson & James White
Bethany House Publishers, 159 pages, $7.99

From the title alone, one can accurately guess that this book is about the cults and written for teen-agers. Its lingo keeps it interesting, yet is very sound, direct and to the point for any budding apologist.

James White is a familiar name to cult apologists. Kevin Johnson is Bethany House’s senior editor and formerly served as the youth minister at Elmbrook Church in Waukesha, Wis. The confluence of these men’s wisdom and background provide a commendable work to establish and equip the Church’s future leadership.

Within the pages of this much needed publication, answers to these four basic questions are found: 1) What makes a cult? 2) Why you need to stick to what you believe? 3) What does real Christianity teach? and 4) How do cults miss that standard?

Numerous subtitles and tallies of key points are listed throughout the book, which will hold a young person’s interest and assists in easy recall. Each chapter ends with a “Think About This Stuff” section, asking questions whose answers summarize that section of the book.

Chapter 3 is titled, “Can’t We All Just Get Along?” This segment stresses the importance of not being unequally yoked and not being blinded by love. It speaks of being baited by someone in a cult with the possibility of being trapped into converting to their belief system. This chapter is more important than most realize. Anyone who has done even a moderate amount of counseling with families that have been cult-infected, has come across the “love-struck” teen-ager who is being drawn into a potential girlfriend’s or boyfriend’s religion. And in most cases, the absence of some prior precautions (like this chapter) results in a “too-little, too-late” situation.

Not only should every youth minister be aware of this new book, but every parent of a teen-ager as well. Teens must know how to defend themselves. They must be able to accurately understand their Christian beliefs in order to identify a counterfeit. What’s With the Dudes at the Door? will assist your teen to a solid knowledge of biblical Christianity with the ability to contend for the faith with love and compassion.

—AMG

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