Conspiracy Theories and Christians

Conspiracy Theories and Christians

I’ve read some good and thoughtful articles on conspiracy theories and how they perpetuate “fiction or lies” and if you’re a Christian and you share these things you’re promoting these conspiracy theories and their “Lies” and that is not being a good Christian because Christians are suppose to be about the “truth”. I think that’s fair. 

I’ve had to change my mind on some things. Take down some posts. Here’s my struggle with most of these articles is they call out right-leaning evangelical Christian as the ones who mostly promote these conspiracies and all the while forget about left-leaning Christians promoting conspiracy theories. They come across as if they are the sentinels of “truth” and “facts” and “unity” but all the while blind to their own inconsistencies. 

It seems like they are running around wanting to take the speck out of other people eyes but ignoring the plank in their own. Here is an example of what I mean. 

Here’s a definition one of these article put forth of a conspiracy theory: “For the sake of my argument, by conspiracy theory I mean, “a well-organized effort initiated by an elite group of powerful men and women secretly working toward a singular goal or vision that often involves collaboration between government agencies and the media.”

When I read this my first thought was the Trump/Russia Conspiracy Theory. Left-leaning Christian posted articles, shared posts and went to war over the “truth” and “facts” of the Trump campaign and Russias Putin were working together to steal the election and undermine the constitution and the United States of America. I think all the elements of the definition of the conspiracy theory are in this theory. Even though this has been well disproven left-leaning Christian won’t give it up. 

Then I was thinking how these left-leaning Christians say it’s about representing Christ well by sticking to the “truth” and “facts” when it really seemed to me it’s about “my” definition of what is “true” and “factual” and if you disagree your are not a good Christian. 

I remember seeing people I know as professing Christians say that when Trump shut down flights coming in from China at the end of January that it was because of xenophobia. This idea was promoted by public officials and the media at the same time. Is this the “truth” and “facts” and “unity” they were trying to promote? When the “truth” and “facts” were it was because of covid-19.

I get there are anti-Trump and pro-Trump Christians. The question I ask myself is Does Jesus want His followers to be divided from one another over secular political ideologies? For me the answer to that question is no. I even take it a step farther and would say don’t cling to a particular secular political ideology or label like left or right, liberal or conservative. They divide more then “unite”

I didn’t support or reject Obama and I don’t support or reject Trump or Republicans or Democrats. But I do pray for my civic leaders. This is what Jesus wants from those who follow him. If it’s about “truth” and “facts” fine just be consistent and make sure the plank is removed from your own eye. Plus don’t give the devil a foothold in the body of Christ by dividing over horizontal issue.