Social Engineering

May 21st, 2025

Galatians 6:12-18

Social engineering is a modern expression for an age-old goal: the manipulation of individuals or societies, often for questionable purposes. In our digital world, social engineering is the manipulation of individuals into giving personal and confidential information for criminal purposes.

The “Judaizers” were a faction in the early church who believed Christians should observe the entire Levitical law. They were often influential among naïve new believers. They tried to manipulate the Galatian believers into adopting Jewish rituals. Their teaching led to reliance on outward observance rather than trust in Christ alone for salvation. The apostle Paul saw this choice was driven by promises of acceptance and freedom from persecution—something they proudly boasted about!

Anyone who tries to manipulate us into reliance on anything other than a genuine relationship with God, based on the sacrifice of Christ and His resurrection, leads us astray from the path of “peace and mercy.”

Author: Duane Brush