Conspiracy theories, whether Christian or otherwise, have been a topic of discussion for centuries. They often involve predictions of the end of the world, speculations about world leaders as the antichrist, and political events that fulfill biblical prophecies. This article explores the nature and fruit of conspiracy theories and how Christians should respond to them biblically. Many relegate the notion of conspiracy theories to “fringe audiences”, but it is important to recognize that professing Christians who believe these theories are on the dangerous thorny ground described in Matthew 13:22.
The psychological and cultural factors that motivate people to believe in conspiracy theories can be explored. Theology can contribute to or counter the spread of conspiracy theories, and there are possible links between faith without sight, the folly of the wise, and the mystery of the world. Historical and theological factors make Christians prone to believe in conspiracy theories, such as QAnon, and they also examine the dangers and challenges of such beliefs.
There is no single reason why Christians, in particular, may be drawn to conspiracy theories. However, Dr. Michael Boyce, vice-president academic and dean at Booth University College, sees a number of reasons. By viewing conspiracy rumormongering through the lens of Christian psychology, we can better understand and address the issues exemplified by the QAnon phenomenon.
In times of uncertainty, conspiracy theories often flourish, and Christians should respond with critical thinking and a biblical view of knowledge. A disturbing number of professing Christians are entranced by macabre QAnon conspiracies, anti-vaccination hysteria, and unverifiable claims of stolen elections.
📹 How Should We Respond to Christian Conspiracy Theories?
📹 How should Christians respond to conspiracy theories? – Albert Mohler | Ask Anything Live
How should a Christian respond to a brother or sister who believes in “conspiracy theories” (i.e. New World Order, Illuminati, etc.)?
Those who gravitate to conspiracies engage in them because they love “drama.” I believe this because they almost never show as much interest in the Bible as they do in the latest conspiracy. Sadly many Christians involved in these things are becoming angry, ruining their Christian witness. Pride for special knowledge, to seem all-knowing is almost like Eve being deceived because she was attracted to knowing all that God knew. The people I know involved in these theories speak far more of these theories than they do of God if they ever speak of the Bible. They are addicted and consumed with the theories.
Piper is right. I know people who are Christians and love the Lord who are all about conspiracies. It really does distract the Christian mind away from the things that really matter like fighting lust, loving your spouse well, trusting the Lord and just the fruits of the spirit in general. I was caught up in conspiracies years ago and didn’t take my battle with lust seriously because I thought I was focused on the greater threat when all along it was my sin I needed to worry about and not the world’s or conspiracies theories. I almost lost my marriage but God had grace. The secret things are the Lord’s. We need to focus on what is plainly revealed to us: Loving the Lord with all our being, loving our neighbors as ourselves and spreading the Gospel. This is the best and only way to fight satan and his lies.
I think some of us are wearing the belt of truth & you Christians who cannot see through the lies and deceptions have no idea how even you are falling for some of these traps & lies. The truth some of these “conspiracies ” are true and some have strengthened my faith and trust in God more then and sermon I ever heard.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for making it possible for me to live for righteousness through the blood of Jesus. Lord I praise You that through my faith in You, I am cleansed of my sin and am freed from the law of sin and death. Thank You that I’m free now to live for You by the Holy Spirit. I desire to take this stand for You today. Please strengthen me to honor this stand and not falter. I thank You for the blessings that will come to me as a result of my faithfulness. I praise You and worship You now and forever, Amen
I used to be a conspiracy theorist. But then I realized that community was just gossiping and mocking those who disagree with them. There was one who called this youtuber a satanist just because he was wearing a tie with a pattern. This other one was saying the drums is a satanic thing because of something that has to do with the brain. Point being, I left because they keep misjudging others and calling them illuminati or something like that. Is there something wrong going on with the government? I’m agnostic about it. But that is no longer focus.
I say it here, it is already written what will happen. God has given us a revelation NOT IN OUR MIND but in the BIBLE. This revelation is solid and already explaind everything we need to know. These conspiracy theories infuel your body with fear and fear is not from God. Nor is it writen in scripture that we should be fearful of these times, in fact we should rejoice. So many get so carried away by their thoughts and feelings instead of the truth that is clearly written in the Holy word. So many get so resentful in these days and so closed minded instead of relying on scripture and i am so tired of it. I am already tired and sick of it that it invaded the world but i am more sick and tired and frustrated that it invaded our Christian community and it has driven people literally nuts.
I’m a medical profession. I don’t have a medical problem with this V. However I think that any God centered Christian who has read scripture has reason to pause. Keep in mind Edward Snowden said that many mainstream accepted ideas started out as a conspiracy theory. We need to pray and ask for the Lord’s discernment. Right now I do not feel free to get this V (even though I have all my others). I do not think this is the Mark. I think it is the start of the framework of the Mark. I think it is clear this V is about more than just our health. I think and Michael Yeaton (VP at Pfzer) has said that this V is about an ID system for every person in the world. That ID system that can later be used for whatever they want. John Piper himself here in this article says the mark will: give privileges and avoid persecution. However what other V: Are we taking about travel passports Did Israel say you could not buy or sell with out it Have people been fired for refusing Has our government been pushing despite that it’s experimental, causing blot clots, etc. Do I have to be careful how I talk about it for fear of being censored. That’s ^^^^ privileges and persecution. It’s going to get worse in the next coming months. We need to talk about this bc the more people that get the V against their better judgment, I believe the faster they can put in phase 2 of whatever plan we’re on. I think it has to do with the great reset. That’s not a conspiracy theory, you can look up their actual advertisements on YouTube.
Never in my walk with God has Jesus sacrifice on Calvary been so alive in me, my longing and desire for His will to be done, for souls to be saved is driving me to, longingly, my knees in prayer. I’m so thankful that He bought me and cleansed me with His blood! I see no contradiction between this passion for Him and the awareness of what time we are living in and the great deception that is in the world: satan is a liar and he is working against God’s plans all the way to keep the truth hidden. This has nothing to do with “conspiracy theories ” – its marely been awake and not been deceived as God tells us to. Antichrist is preparing his final setting as described in the Bible. To NOT recognize this is a disservice to yourself I believe. Love God, rejoice in His word and in His presence also in prayer – the truth will automatically reveal the lie! Cause that’s what His word does : it divides also! Thank you for the word. In Him, Victoria
I bet there is trauma at the root if that fixation. It’s sad, but I struggle with what he’s describing. I’ve never thought of it as related to conspiracy theories, but I think it’s probably something psychology calls “hypervigilance”. The trauma probably needs to be healed before the person will be able to let the wrong focus go. It comes from being in what was experienced as a extremely dangerous situation the person never processed.
You only mention people who are overly concerned with these things. Most, yes most, are just as interested in the “main truths” of Christianity as they are with keeping awake and perusal for the the return of their Saviour. Nine minutes of this article were just ranting against Christians who are doing as they are told. The answer to the question is simple and comes at 8:30. 2 Chapters in Matthew, 2 in Luke and 1 in Mark (around 7% of the gospels) is given to signs of the end, as well as the whole book of Revelation, parts of Paul’s epistles, much of the prophets and some of the psalms, all given to signs of the end. Furthermore Jesus said: Matt 24:33 “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” Luke 21: 28 “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Mark 13:37 “And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Watch for what Pastor John? Are you perusal? By not keeping watch you end up like the SDA church, which has an eschatology so obviously outdated that though they spend time and effort talking about it, it will do them no good.
Pst John, please revisit these addresses in Scripture. The Sun Moves: stood still once in recorded history. Went back once also… ¹³ And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day Joshua 10 ⁷ And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken; ⁸ Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down Isaiah 38
Are you surprised that people who believe that there is an invisible sky-wizard who made and runs the universe, but takes care of them personally would believe in conspiracy theories? You trained them from birth to believe that they have special knowledge and to view the world through magical thinking.
This was a very sound, considered and respectful response, and it made me aware that there are people who lose focus on what’s important. I personally am very aware about how much time I spend looking at the world and I try to limit it. I’ve tried in the past to just ignore the world completely, but the world always ends up finding a way to come to you. Something that I’d say to a Christian who is dismissive, and doesn’t have the tact and love shown here, is to read the second Psalm. Are heathens still taking counsel together? Is there such thing as a neutral action in life and politics? Is Jesus Christ Truth and does his Lordship extend to all aspects of life and thought? God bless you all.
So I don’t have to worry about these YouTube and tik tok articles of people saying the lord told them something big is coming like bombs over America, ufos and the Coming of Christ because I been seeing a lot of them and it has me so freaked out like I don’t even wanna step out the house any more it’s real depressing.
Heavenly Father, I praise Your name for the grace that has come to me through the Lord Jesus Christ. I rejoice in the victory which You have provided for me to live above sin and failure. I come before You in confession and to plead Your mercy over my own sins, the sins of other believers, and the sins of our nation. Our nation stands before You deserving Your wrath and judgment. I confess the sins of lukewarmness, apathy, and worldliness on the part of believers. I acknowledge before You the wickedness of our society and its deserving of judgment. I stand in to confess the awful affront to You which is represented in the drug epidemic, the drunkenness, the moral rottenness in the entertainment field, the crime increases of our land, and the lack of moral character in national leader ship. I ask for forgiveness and mercy for the religious sins of liberalism and the too-often harsh, bitter criticism and contentious spirit of fundamentalism. I agree with You over the awful rise of interest in the occult in the open worship of Satan by wicked, deceive people. May You judge not this nation with wrath and fury as upon Sodom, but judge it with a mighty outpouring of conviction of sin. May sinners groan under the burden of their guilt until the people cry out as did those of Pentecost, “What shall we do?” I praise Your holy name that there is sufficient measure of grace through the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ to answer this cry. I plead the blood of the cross and the power of the resurrection against the wretched sins and rebellion of the hearts of men against God.
And now day’s we have prophetes and prophets who say GOD told them every time there’s any nature disaster or political drama and it’s just sad that most of there ministry on YouTube is built on that and ofcourse a bit of bible verses here and there to support what they saw in there dreams or visions, it’s just confusing but sadly many Christians get caught up in that.
Wow, I’m very disappointed in Piper’s opinion- many faithful Christians have very important and authentic questions about the current happenings (ie masking our God-given faces & not breathing the way that God created us to despite conflicting reports on the necessity of masks, and shots that contain very questionable and new ingredients that artificially create proteins in our bodies, which have caused adverse reactions and deaths to healthy people already). When we can’t shop in stores without the mask, and with talks of government mandated shots, shouldn’t we be looking to scripture to discern these ungodly actions? My love of God and our Savior Jesus Christ has led me to read more scripture than ever, and the more I read and pray, the more I am staying away from the mass media narratives that propagate and instill fear, another one of the rotten fruits. We are to be set apart from the world, not on the wide path that the whole world is on for a reason; which means we should test all things we are being told to blindly accept… we will know them by their fruits. There’s so many rotten fruits with the current happenings, and every faithful Christian should read scripture, and Revelation, themselves to pray and discern, rather than listen to the “wisdom of men” who don’t want you questioning the “worldly wisdom”. My faith is in God, not man. Jesus Christ is my savior, not a mask or a shot filled with unnatural and abominable ingredients that mess with my God-given DNA. Are these the “mark”, or precursors to the mark as the masses are slowly indoctrinated to bow to science?
When it comes to that sign of rejecting the Lordship of Jesus (whether it’s a name or number or device or document or any other thing), is it possible to prefer “serving” an antichrist way without believing it’s a worshipful choice? In other words, is it possible with this mark — like so many worldly churchgoers do — to choose to reject Christ while believing one is following Christ?
Pastor John always with wisdom and a lot of explanations for everything that explains the Bible. Snd I’ve learning so much! And that’s so true and the most important here is to focus in JESUS CHRIST. That’s the primordial here. And yes, to live focusing in every “conspiracy theory” here is certainly not wise and shouldn’t be the focus. However, it is normal, specially on these days, when GOD put such technology here, and HE has purpose for everything, that way we all can see all the events that are happening all around the world and the ones that will still take place in the very time appointed by HIM. That way, we are able to also recognize the events that HE had described 2000 years ago about the end of times. Which, without this technology we have now, it would be very difficult for the world to see it so much, with such power as what we have now, and possibly even more later. As that been said, our focus as True Christians is and should always be The things of GOD Almighty and JESUS CHRIST… Obeying and growing in relationship in the Three in One. However, we also should be watchful to the times we are in. Because, indeed maybe, if we are not in such times JESUS has described in the Bible, regarding the end of times, once no one knows the day or the hour, BUT we also can be on that time. And if so, yes, JESUS also said that we need to be watchful… the ones who has ears hear, HE also said that HE has told us these things in advance for us to watch and not be deceived by many who will come in HIS Name.
“Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them. Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble. He will keep you safe. Isaiah 8:12-13,14 We should not fear. “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Many conspiracy theories feed fear and prey on ignorance and gullibility. God has called us to something better.
Wow! The whole of Revelations is one big conspiracy which is playing out in the world this very moment. We are warned of many conspiracies in the bible in fact it says a warning, 2 Corinthians 11:13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. Matthew 24 23 At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe it. 24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible. Jeremiah 11:9 Again the Lord said to me, “A conspiracy exists among the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. It was a conspiracy that killed Jesus, Matthew 12:14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. I think we need to be very weary of conspiracies in a world ruled by Satan. 2 Corinthians 11:14 – And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
My response is with joy that here is someone who can think for themselves, and not just what television tells them. The Bible says that the whole world lies in evil….. “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” – 1 John 5:19 So ofcourse there is conspiracies! The term “conspiracy theories” is pushed to make a fool out of anyone who dares to think outside of the media-framed box.
This article: “Every christian needs to be ready to offer real evidence for why we believe what we believe. And that evidence can’t be, well, I just know these things. I read it somewhere.” “…All humanity is, fallen humanity, is in a conspiracy to rob god of his glory. To subvert the truth in unrighteousness… that’s the ultimate conspiracy.” Me: And what evidence do you have to this ultimate conspiracy? This article: “…I read it somewhere” Me: uh-huh…. I think I have found the connection between christian’s and conspiracy theories.
I have noticed that conspiracy theories are very fear based and thrive off sensationalism. They also often connect too many dots that are unrelated or can be easily explained with logical thinking. A lack of evidence is seen as proof and whoever is behind it is some mysterious ” They”. But who is “They”? Nor do most conspiracy theories make any sense when you think about how the world works. The world is made up of many individuals, groups, political views, and nations that look after their own interest and have different views and agendas on everything. Even the rich and the multinational campiness are all competing with each other and depend on the market and the consumer. How can a world wide conspiracy exist in a world that is divided in many ways?
For example; there is a meeting with the doors closed. When someone comes by the door, he/she heard something. Then, that person is telling what he/she heard and then it becomes a story while in fact the person that heard something never really was in that meeting, so that person can never know what happened. But now is it a conspiracy, while nobody knows really what happened
We would expect a lack of critical thinking skills in the culture at large but how sad that it permeates the Church. Christians, you must do the hard work of studying not just the Bible but philosophy and theology. These are not man-made avenues to truth but rather reflect the way God has made the universe.