How should Christians respond to Conspiracy Theories?

Conspiracy theories have become increasingly popular in society at large, and amongst Christians. Why is that, and how should we as Christians respond? Part of the attraction is the desire to solve mysteries, to be at the cutting edge of research, but they can be unsatisfactory – I confess I have read quite a few of them, trying to weigh truth and falsehood. Christians are of course a people who are committed to truth, and are called to a higher level of moral conduct than the world. There is a balance to be struck between seeking to understand the world at a deeper level, and maintaining sound judgement so as to be a good witness to non-believers. But also, people increasingly want to know what is true in a Post-modern world that sometimes seems dystopian. Christians are asked to provide answers to complex questions.

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Firstly, we need to consider what a conspiracy theory is. It may be noted that conspiracies do occur, and there are laws against conspiracies in the legal system. People may be charged with conspiracy to defraud, or to rob a bank, or to commit murder for example. Conspiracies normally involve several people working together in secret to commit a crime. The Police gather evidence, and then it is presented in court by the officers and prosecution lawyers so that it may be tested. In that sense the prosecution case may be described as a conspiracy theory, until the case is proven, or rejected.

Unfortunately, what often passes as conspiracy theory today doesn’t deserve to be called theory. This is because there is insufficient evidence, or no attempt to gather evidence or engage in validation. Conspiracy hypotheses, or conspiracy hunches, or even just plain old-fashioned gossip may be a more appropriate description. Some of the conspiracy claims descend into new age beliefs, with beliefs about aliens mixed in, or that leading western leaders such as the Queen are possessed by lizards. That is a good clue to move on, and pay no further attention.

But on the other hand, increasingly today any political or social position that doesn’t agree with the official narrative of politicians and the main stream media is labelled a conspiracy theory. We may note that politicians don’t always tell the truth, and the media often seeks to establish truth through sentiment instead of through objective discussions; this along the lines of a Humean approach to ethics. Increasingly, the media doesn’t allow honest dialogue over controversial subjects, but promotes its own preferred, and rather narrow agenda. More often-than-not today, television presenters interview their own internal correspondents in a way that establishes the limits of social interaction over various issues. Perhaps they are not even aware of their bias. 

It is in this context that people seek out alternative media. But even here we find increasing censorship, and this is plain to see. Twitter and Facebook ban, or shadow-ban, people for voicing the wrong opinion. An alternative to Twitter, Parler, was closed down by Amazon Web Services because it was becoming popular by conservative voices. As well, Google searches are weighted towards official fact checkers, thus hiding alternative views, which makes weighing competing claims and evidence increasingly difficult.

So, there is a real struggle to get to grips with what is true in our society, and what we are allowed to think or say. But often it is necessary to keep an open mind between the claims of the mainstream media and the alternative media when there is insufficient evidence to form an opinion. Otherwise, we risk being deceived, and if we share such things, we may spread false gossip. We can say that some conspiracies are true, and are tested, some may be true, but are not tested, and some are obviously false. Real discernment is needed sorting the wheat from the chaff.

Christian response to conspiracies

We also need to recognise that unscrupulous people can play both sides of an argument at the same time to sow division. The devil may even appear as an angel of light for instance (see 2 Corinthians 11). Paul warns against listening to those who might lead us away from the gospel and a pure devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent.

In secular terminology, there is the concept of Hegelian dialectics. The formation of a thesis and an anti-thesis, with the devil, or people with evil intent, influencing both sides of the argument. This allows the formation of a new synthesis away from biblical Christianity. In the context here deception may arise through the official narrative of the mainstream media, and / or through the conspiracy narrative of the alternative media. We may be led to act in ways that are not Christian by allowing us to become angry through false beliefs and fears for example, whether from official sources or alternative ones.

Q

An example of conspiratorial thinking and the danger of error on both sides is possibly QANON – for several years cryptic messages were posted on the web, which seemed to support Donald Trump against the so-called Democrat ‘swamp.’ This led to groups of people, and many Christians, to search out the hidden meaning. Q seemed to have access to inside information, thus supporting his credibility. But Q failed in the end to stop Trump losing, and many Christians are deeply troubled by this – they perhaps loved Trump too much thinking he is a saviour. But it takes away from faith and true prayer. Some have suggested the Q cryptic game was a way of getting people hooked. There is another possible darker motive: that Q’s ‘Trust the Plan’ was similar to the Marxist Operation Trust from the former Soviet Union, which ran from 1921-26. It deceived patriots into thinking there was a plot to get rid of the communists, when there wasn’t – it only exposed the patriots to capture and defeat. The devil, and the ideological forces of this world, can play both sides, left and right, at the same time to ensnare God’s people.

Heavenly Wisdom 

It is in this context that we need heavenly wisdom – it is a blessing to have the Scriptures that are full of wisdom. The Word of God is our only true foundation.

In Matthew 7:24-27 we are told to put into practice the words that Jesus spoke – it is like building our house upon the rock, who is Christ. Jesus said that we shouldn’t cast our pearls before swine, or give to the dogs those things which are sacred (Matthew 7:6). If these pearls are pearls of wisdom, then it is analogous to searching for truth from amongst non-believers. We may be deceived – instead let us build our houses upon the rock by searching out truth in Christ and in his word.

We are told in this passage that we can pray and that God hears us. We can pray for deliverance from the world system. Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

But some may respond that the Bible encourage conspiratorial views. Revelation 17-18 speaks of mystery Babylon, a controlling world system ruling over the affairs of mankind. It seems conspiratorial. Both Daniel and Revelation give prophecy in terms of hidden coded information (for example the 7x70 of Daniel 9:24-27), although the code begins to unfold when centred upon the work of Christ. But even so, for those who love to search out these prophecies, we need to remember to focus upon the main theme of Scripture, which is Christ and the health of his Church, and hold future prophecy lightly when it has not yet been fully revealed.

Daniel 2 also speaks of the great statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, with head of gold, chest of silver, thighs of bronze, and legs and feet of clay and iron. This represents world powers, and yet the final power is brittle – we are told that the statue will fall, crushed under the feet of the stone kingdom that will be established – that is interpreted as the Church with Christ as head. Jesus said to Peter and the disciples that He (that is Christ) is the great rock-face, and that Hades will not prevail against the Church which is built upon the rock. In this light we as believers have spiritual authority to prophecy in the world – and to the world. To bind evil spiritual powers through prayer, and to pray for righteousness, bringing people into God’s freedom through faith in Jesus (Matthew 16:18). If we are going to trust the plan, then let us trust God’s plan, and use the authority that God has given us, not casting our pearls carelessly before the world by getting carried away with untested conspiracy theories.