Stranger Danger: Recognizing the Enemy and Knowing His Schemes

There lived a monster among us in 1985. His first victim was a seventeen-year-old girl, kidnapped in front of her home while collecting mail. This beautiful girl’s life ended days before she was to graduate from high school and venture into the world. Her abductor tortured her family with sadistic phone calls and played cruel games with the police, who worked feverishly to find him.

He promised he would strike again.

Parents held tight to their children—mine were just two and four years old. Neighbors stayed inside. Our once lively park became a quiet, still place.

The overwhelming terror parents felt stemmed from one fact: we didn’t know who our enemy was.

If we had any clue about his appearance, voice, or how he planned to grab another child, we could better protect our kids. It became painfully necessary to chip away at their innocence. We needed to inform them that an enemy existed.

Understanding "Stranger Danger"

Children were aware of the phrase, "Stranger Danger." If asked what to do if a stranger approached, they typically responded correctly. I wanted to know if my children and the preschoolers I taught understood what “stranger” meant. So I asked.

"What does a stranger look like?"

The replies were telling:

• Sharp teeth

• Wild hair

• Long claws

• Dirty, ragged clothes

  
  

Convincing them that a stranger might be someone who looked nice and offered good things was tough. Their love of puppies and candy often outweighed their mistrust. Children needed constant reminders of this truth, especially after the monster took his next victim.

The Invisible Threat

It was not the neighbor's grainy description of the man who grabbed a nine-year-old from her front yard that ultimately led detectives to the killer. It was a letter sent from his first victim to her parents just before her death. Indentations of a phone number on the previous notepad page provided crucial information. This almost invisible clue stripped the mask from the monster's face and ended Larry Gene Bell's killing spree.

When I think of Larry Gene Bell, I feel waves of nausea. We celebrated when authorities finally arrested him. No longer could he hide while stalking, abducting, and killing our children. The air felt lighter. We unlocked our doors and went back to the park. The joyous sounds of children playing freely soothed the pain of those dark days.

Another Monster Lurks

Yet, I wish I could conclude with "The end." The grim truth is that another monster still lurks among us—one more insidious than all the Larry Gene Bells of the world. This ominous force slithers into the most unlikely places, waiting to lure and ensnare his prey. His most potent plan is to lull us into complacency, creating a skillfully prepared environment to win control over his victims undetected.

Rest assured, this monster exists. His name is Satan. And he desires our children.

Recognizing the True Enemy and His Schemes

We do not fight to protect our children from an enemy we do not recognize. Satan seldom leaves obvious clues. Since we can’t see his face, we must find the faint imprints he leaves. Just as Paul warned the church to stand firm against spiritual attacks, we must also be ready to defend our children "in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes." — 2 Corinthians 2:11.

Satan's strategies to undermine God's plan of salvation began in the garden when he dangled desirable fruit before Eve. His message came beautifully wrapped in a bit of truth but was saturated in crafty deceit. Without hesitation, Eve sank her teeth into the promises that this simple taste would bring good things.

Emboldened by his success and unfazed by God's declaration of his doom, Satan polished his tools of lies and deceit, grabbed a basket of fruit, and slithered out of the garden into the world we now inhabit.

The Short Window for Influence

Satan is aware that if he can sell his basket of enticing fruit to today's parents, he can successfully lure children away from God's Kingdom. However, the window of time for him to do his most productive work is small.

George Barna, executive director of the American Culture and Faith Institute, shared startling findings in his book, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions. His research concluded that:

• By age twelve, most Americans make a lasting determination about the personal significance of Christ’s death and resurrection.

• By the age of nine, children’s basic moral foundations are already formed.

• By thirteen, a person has irrevocably shaped the majority of their spiritual beliefs.

• What you believe by the age of thirteen will likely be what you will die believing.

  
  

Barna delivers ominous warnings in more recent publications:

Children Reject Basic Bible Views

“New research released by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University shows that the foundational beliefs held by 8- to-12-year-olds are causing them to abandon biblical Christianity in record numbers.”

Key Insights for Raising the Next Generation of ‘Spiritual Champions’

 "The research suggests that most parents, even born-again parents, do not think the spiritual component of their child's life is a big issue—at least not as critical as doing well in school, sports, or relationships."

Satan's Motivation is Clear

Just as Pharaoh ordered the deaths of Hebrew babies for fear they would become warriors against his kingdom, Satan knows our children could grow to be warriors for God. Left unattended, he can trample down the soft, fertile soil of a child's heart, leaving no trace of his footprints.

The Temptation of Stones or Bread

Consider the account of Satan tempting Jesus. His promises to satisfy earthly desires align well with our wishes to provide our children with physical and emotional well-being.

"The devil said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.' " — Luke 4:3. It’s ironic that Satan would offer bread to the One who is the Bread of Life in his attempts to sway Jesus from His mission. Perhaps this was fresh on Jesus’ mind when he later asked, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?" — Matthew 7:9.

We crave good things for our children. If we contemplate the rock long enough, we might imagine the aroma of fresh bread, feel its warmth, and anticipate the joy its flavor will bring. With just a nibble, we declare it good for our children. Yet we trade real bread for stones.

We wish for our children to be happy. Wise parents strive to equip them to be good citizens. However, the time we invest in pointing them to Christ and teaching them to love and worship Him is our most valuable investment in their futures.

Satan's Ultimate Goal

Satan applauds our efforts to help our children grow into adults with good jobs, homes, and happy marriages. His goal is not for them to become lonely and miserable; rather, it is to keep the Bread of Life out of their reach. Parents who mistake stones for bread risk raising children who host grand dinner parties and cheer for their favorite football teams, yet ultimately fall prey to an unseen enemy.

Hope in God's Promises

The studies conducted by George Barna are meant to alert us, not discourage us. None of us can claim that our parenting techniques secure salvation for our children. It's the Holy Spirit who touches the hearts of unbelievers and draws them to Himself. As someone wisely put it, "We provide the kindling. The Holy Spirit ignites the fire."

Continue to pray for your children, regardless of their spiritual state. Yes, a powerful enemy offers earthly treasures that may mislead them. But remember, there is also a loving Savior who brings the lost home.

Praise God for the promises found in Romans 16:19-20:

"I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

Amen!