Chemtrails, Aliens, the Illumaniti, conspiracy theories, and Idolatry.
Conspiracy theories seem to be entering into the conversations of Christians more and more. It’s not the conspiracy theories themselves that are the problem; the problem is the fear that comes from them. It is the attitude that says “be afraid, be very afraid” that seems to permeate our culture, politics, and even the church lately. This fear makes us distrustful of the people around us especially those in authority. But, worse still, is that our fear is idolatrous, because in fear based conspiracy theories we give power to things that at best have no power and at worst are purely made up. Psalm 135: 15 reminds us that idols have mouths but cannot speak, they are simply fake things that we give power to. This is what we do with conspiracies.
Just like an Idol, conspiracies cause us to lose focus on God. If we look at the story of Peter walking out to Jesus on the water, we see that Peter is fine, so long as he keeps his eyes on Jesus, but the minute he realizes everything that he is surrounded by scary things, and he starts thinking that that stuff matters, that it can somehow affect him, even in the presence of Jesus Christ, then, then he starts to fall. But the reality is that, the waves and the wind did not make him fall, it was his own fear and his own lack of faith.
So what do we do? The world starts getting scary around us, and we react. We react by building walls against the people we are afraid of. We react by building bunkers and setting up security and locks and fences. We react by going inward and staying put, and we suddenly become a slave to fear. And fear is a vicious master. Fear is a liar that makes us act in ways that are %100 contrary to the Word of God.
Fear says that we should look on everyone who disagrees with us as our enemies and that we should mock, push aside, and force out all our enemies, while the Word of God tells us of Christ who died for us even while we were still his enemies and commands us to do the same, to love our enemies.
Fear says that that we should hide away, while the Word of God says that we should go out.
Fear reminds us of our differences while the word of God says we are all sinners in need of salvation, and that we, all believers, are the ones to take the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ to all nations.
Fear says that the forces of this world have the power to stop us from boldly proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ, that instead we should remain silent about grace and salvation, focusing our attention rather on politics and power, while the Word of God calls us to keep our eyes on the things of Christ.
This fear driven by conspiracy theories can cause us to be openly disobedient to Jesus. Jesus calls us to make disciples of all nations, but many conspiracy theories cause us to do the opposite, to refuse to go out among people of other nations, as if Jesus promise in Matthew 28 of his presence when we do so means nothing. We have a call in 1 Corinthians 1 that there should be no divisions among us, yet some conspiracy theories cause us to believe that Churches should be divided that believers who disagree with us on non-essentials are our enemies.
Moreover, this fear can cause us to put our focus on things that God never told us to do. In reading Revelation we find a very specific narrative that has a very specific end. The revelation given to John was not a choose your own adventure book, it was a prophecy. God will be victorious, there will be a new heaven and a new earth, and the outcome is not dependent on our actions. Jesus will come again whether or not we vote for the right candidate or take over the seven mountains of influence. We do not have to become preppers. We cannot vote or legislate Jesus’ second coming. Jesus’ victory is not dependent on the number of people we have attending our Church. We do not have to stockpile guns or build armies, because we know the fight will be carried out by the heavenly host.
This doesn’t mean we do nothing in the face of evil. It means we do what we were commanded to do. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbour as yourself, in a world that is bent on hate. That in this way we are to shine as light in an ever darkening world. That we are to preach the Gospel and to preach repentance from sin. We are to go out and make disciples of all nations. All of this is done in an effort to Change hearts and to set people free from sin not to put them in bondage to fear and law.
2 Timothy 1 says we have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and discipline. What are we so afraid of? A question to ask the conspiracy theorists among us. Aliens, Chemtrails, New World Orders...so what? For as we read in Romans 8 “If God is for us who can be against us” or “Nothing, neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, present nor future, nor any powers...can separate us from the love of God.
Conspiracy theories seem to be entering into the conversations of Christians more and more. It’s not the conspiracy theories themselves that are the problem; the problem is the fear that comes from them. It is the attitude that says “be afraid, be very afraid” that seems to permeate our culture, politics, and even the church lately. This fear makes us distrustful of the people around us especially those in authority. But, worse still, is that our fear is idolatrous, because in fear based conspiracy theories we give power to things that at best have no power and at worst are purely made up. Psalm 135: 15 reminds us that idols have mouths but cannot speak, they are simply fake things that we give power to. This is what we do with conspiracies.
Just like an Idol, conspiracies cause us to lose focus on God. If we look at the story of Peter walking out to Jesus on the water, we see that Peter is fine, so long as he keeps his eyes on Jesus, but the minute he realizes everything that he is surrounded by scary things, and he starts thinking that that stuff matters, that it can somehow affect him, even in the presence of Jesus Christ, then, then he starts to fall. But the reality is that, the waves and the wind did not make him fall, it was his own fear and his own lack of faith.
So what do we do? The world starts getting scary around us, and we react. We react by building walls against the people we are afraid of. We react by building bunkers and setting up security and locks and fences. We react by going inward and staying put, and we suddenly become a slave to fear. And fear is a vicious master. Fear is a liar that makes us act in ways that are %100 contrary to the Word of God.
Fear says that we should look on everyone who disagrees with us as our enemies and that we should mock, push aside, and force out all our enemies, while the Word of God tells us of Christ who died for us even while we were still his enemies and commands us to do the same, to love our enemies.
Fear says that that we should hide away, while the Word of God says that we should go out.
Fear reminds us of our differences while the word of God says we are all sinners in need of salvation, and that we, all believers, are the ones to take the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ to all nations.
Fear says that the forces of this world have the power to stop us from boldly proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ, that instead we should remain silent about grace and salvation, focusing our attention rather on politics and power, while the Word of God calls us to keep our eyes on the things of Christ.
This fear driven by conspiracy theories can cause us to be openly disobedient to Jesus. Jesus calls us to make disciples of all nations, but many conspiracy theories cause us to do the opposite, to refuse to go out among people of other nations, as if Jesus promise in Matthew 28 of his presence when we do so means nothing. We have a call in 1 Corinthians 1 that there should be no divisions among us, yet some conspiracy theories cause us to believe that Churches should be divided that believers who disagree with us on non-essentials are our enemies.
Moreover, this fear can cause us to put our focus on things that God never told us to do. In reading Revelation we find a very specific narrative that has a very specific end. The revelation given to John was not a choose your own adventure book, it was a prophecy. God will be victorious, there will be a new heaven and a new earth, and the outcome is not dependent on our actions. Jesus will come again whether or not we vote for the right candidate or take over the seven mountains of influence. We do not have to become preppers. We cannot vote or legislate Jesus’ second coming. Jesus’ victory is not dependent on the number of people we have attending our Church. We do not have to stockpile guns or build armies, because we know the fight will be carried out by the heavenly host.
This doesn’t mean we do nothing in the face of evil. It means we do what we were commanded to do. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbour as yourself, in a world that is bent on hate. That in this way we are to shine as light in an ever darkening world. That we are to preach the Gospel and to preach repentance from sin. We are to go out and make disciples of all nations. All of this is done in an effort to Change hearts and to set people free from sin not to put them in bondage to fear and law.
2 Timothy 1 says we have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and discipline. What are we so afraid of? A question to ask the conspiracy theorists among us. Aliens, Chemtrails, New World Orders...so what? For as we read in Romans 8 “If God is for us who can be against us” or “Nothing, neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, present nor future, nor any powers...can separate us from the love of God.