Why a Conspiracy-Theory Mindset is Anti-Christian

Why do many Christians find conspiracy theories so compelling? Such theories are a complete distraction from the genuine pursuit of God and growth in grace.

Thomas Overmiller
Pastor | StudyGodsWord.com
Blog | ShepherdThoughts.com

When I was in fourth grade, during a week of “revival” meetings, the evangelist preached that aliens are demons and that the government has proof of their existence but is hiding it because it would prove that the Bible is true. He had several examples, and some film and audio clips. His proof text was Ezekiel 1:4-14. That’s only a taste of the weirdness he preached about aliens that week.

For the longest time, I doubted my recollections of that week. I mean, the things he said were so bizarre that surely I was remembering incorrectly, I thought. Well, about two years ago, I asked my oldest sister, who was in high school at the time of that “revival” meeting, if she remembered evangelist so-and-so.

Before I got the man’s name out of my mouth, my sister’s eyes got big and she exclaimed, “Yes!” That’s the crazy preacher who said that aliens are demons!”

My memory was vindicated. Although, I kind of wish it hadn’t been.

I don’t have any inclination to believe a bunch of wild, unfounded conspiracy theories, so why does every single person I know insist that I do? If only I could get all of them to cease monitoring me every moment of the day, twenty four hours a day…..

…..doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you!

Seriously, I have to suggest there are reasons “we” tend to fall for things, and we might do well to ask why.

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.

So … Satan is not conspiring/working to oppose God? Wouldn’t that work involve using people and organizing people in that opposition? I am not a conspiracy person, but wouldn’t fulfillment of prophecy involve some degree of planning and yes “conspiracy”?

Wally Morris

Charity Baptist Church

Huntington, IN

amomentofcharity.blogspot.com

I remember the church members who steadfastly believed President Obama was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, and had a sinister plot to make himself a dictator and impose Sharia law in America. Many of these people now worship at the alter of President Trump. I believe there is a strong correlation between conspiracy theories and Christians who confuse “Christianity” with American civil nationalism.

Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.

That is not the fanciful imagination of just a fringe evangelist. I’ve heard that preached as bible truth from several pulpits.

I “disliked” your comment because I dislike that it’s true. How sadly absurd that preachers are using their time in the pulpit to promulgate such nonsense.

Should it surprise us if we see signs of what appears to be a global conspiracy? I don’t think so. We know that the Anti-Christ will appear and it only makes sense that the world is being groomed to accept him. Looking for structures with membership lists is in my opinion silly. There is a movement involving people with shared values who feel they are building and moving toward something good but God describes it as evil, rebellious and enslaving.

I’m not fixated on it but these are just signs that someday Jesus will return and all these people will bow!

Should it surprise us if we see signs of what appears to be a global conspiracy? I don’t think so. We know that the Anti-Christ will appear and it only makes sense that the world is being groomed to accept him. Looking for structures with membership lists is in my opinion silly. There is a movement involving people with shared values who feel they are building and moving toward something good but God describes it as evil, rebellious and enslaving.

I’m not fixated on it but these are just signs that someday Jesus will return and all these people will bow!

I remember that, too. As a young pup in Christ, I was asked about what I thought about it, and right or wrong, my response was that if the Bible didn’t address it, neither would I. Wasn’t that big of a deal. As a somewhat older pup in Christ, a friend suggested I join the John Birch Society, which claims an international conspiracy (Bilderbergers/Masons/etc..), and I declined because I can’t for the life of me figure out why someone would purposefully do something that would screw up the whole world, including the supply of goods and services they needed to live.

Avoiding needless conspiracy theories has a lot to do with Hanlon’s Razor; never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.

Should it surprise us if we see signs of what appears to be a global conspiracy? I don’t think so. We know that the Anti-Christ will appear and it only makes sense that the world is being groomed to accept him. Looking for structures with membership lists is in my opinion silly. There is a movement involving people with shared values who feel they are building and moving toward something good but God describes it as evil, rebellious and enslaving.

I’m not fixated on it but these are just signs that someday Jesus will return and all these people will bow!

We were having an open discussion in my Church History class and a student asked the instructor about conspiracy theories and the various groups involved. The instructor paused, smiled, and said something like, “I am aware of theses groups but I sleep very well at night knowing that neither they nor Satan himself can draw a breath without permission from Almighty God!”

Sound theology does things like that.

"Some things are of that nature as to make one's fancy chuckle, while his heart doth ache." John Bunyan

The church where I heard the alien=demons evangelist had a few John Birch Society members in it.

One of my high school teachers used to say, “You can find a boogeyman behind every tree if you look hard enough.”