How should Christians respond to conspiracy theories?

G’day everyone, Dave Deane here, and our question for the week is: How should Christians respond to conspiracy theories?

Essentially, a conspiracy theory is an attempt to explain a particular circumstance, event or situation by invoking a sinister motive as the underlying root cause. For example:

• Was the moon landing a fake or was it just a powerplay in the space race?
• Was 9/11 really a terrorist attack, or an inside job by the government?
• Is COVID-19 a bid for population control by a small band of elites?

Now, despite the often serious subject of conspiracies, there is something entertaining in trying to connect the dots and pieces of evidence of a circumstance, event or situation, where we have questions. In a way, the fantasy of the conspiracy can be a welcomed distraction from some other pressing dilemma in our lives.

But what is or should be a Christian response to conspiracy theories?

There are at least 3 things to say, the first two are general and the last more specific about conspiracy theories.

First, the human interest in conspiracy theories teaches us that human beings are hardwired to know the truth of something or someone. Now, this may sound strange at first – because conspiracy theories are notoriously open to criticism for being false or for propagating sheer, unfounded speculation… but here me out. What is it inside the human heart and mind that predisposes us to being little detectives? Why the interest in answering questions or solving puzzles? I think this impulse humans have to bring unity from the diversity of information tells us that humans desire to know the truth. Now that’s a careful distinction: I’m not saying that we always know the truth, I’m saying there is something in us that desires to know the truth. It’s that impulse, that desire to know that I’m talking about, because if there was no impulse or desire to know then there wouldn’t be any conspiracy theorising going on!

But that leads to a second point.

Second, as Christians, we believe that God is the one who has created all thing, including us and our desires to know the truth. Now as far back as Genesis 3 we see that this desire to know doesn’t always arrive at the truth. As the serpent said to Eve: “Did God really say…” That was the first conspiracy theory – questioning the word of God, and it had deadly consequences… because now East of Eden this ‘desire to know’ can take us to the wrong places. It’s a trivial example, but think of a child who is told by mum and dad ‘don’t touch the grill on the heater… but they have that little desire inside themselves… and so they touch it and they burn themselves…

Trying to fill in the gaps of things we don’t know can be very painful and very destructive.

And keeping these first two points in mind, we come now to a third more specific point about conspiracy theories, namely, that there are many examples and instructions in the bible about the destructive nature of conspiracy theories and foiled plots. For example:

• David’s attempt to cover up his murder of Uriah in 2 Samuel 2
• The failed plot to assassinate Paul in Acts 23

That’s why the Apostle Paul says rather plainly:

“…stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth. Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.” (1 Timothy 1:3-4).

You see, endless speculation about conspiracy theories is at best a waste of time and at worst a distraction to your own relationship with God. Just like Adam and Eve who hid in the garden when they sinned, wickedness likes to hide in the shadows of deceit and the fear of the unknown. That is not the dwelling place of God’s people.

“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

So how should Christians respond to conspiracy theories? Well – we should be a people marked by truth not conspiracy, because that is who we are. Christians belong to Christ, who is not a conspiracy but “the way the truth and the life…” (John 14:6). Obsession with conspiracy theories damages the credibility of that message to the world which so desperately needs… In Jesus’ own words: “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32).