“Whatsoever Is True”: Reflecting on the Growth of Conspiracy Theories Among Christians

Apple Sky said:

You mean like NASA who are making billions off the poor American tax payer.

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Radagast said:

We knew that the earth was a globe for more than 2,000 years before NASA existed.

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David Lamb said:

True, but houses can be many shapes.

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Michie said:

From the OP: Sadly, some followers of Jesus who claim to so boldly stand for truth are willing to create, spread, and post misinformation about people with whom they disagree or indulge fanatical tales about our ideological foes. Often we are the most gullible, the most willing to believe things that are not true. Perhaps this is why Paul often warned the early church against "silly myths" or fables (1 Tim. 1:4; 4:7). This is not just "going too far." Ed Stetzer, professor at Wheaton College and contributor to Christianity Today, says, "When you share such fake news and conspiracy theories, you are simply bearing false witness. That is a sin and it is time to repent."7 7 . Ed Stetzer, "Christians, Repent (Yes, Repent) of Spreading Conspiracy Theories and Fake News—It's Bearing False Witness," The Exchange, accessed September 6, 2019, https://www.christianitytoday.com/e...tians-repent-conspiracy-theory-fake-news.html.

Christians need wisdom to discern between what is true and what is false. While we should hope that "unfruitful works of darkness" are exposed, we should avoid the rabbit trail of conspiracy theories because they both distract us from pursuing what is true and good and beautiful and because untruths damage the witness of the church. And while most crazy ideas from the internet are harmless, there are many conspiracy theories that, when spread, cause real harm. They spread misinformation, stoke fears, and can even lead to violence. A conspiracy about Hillary Clinton and a supposed trafficking ring once led a heavily armed young man to show up at a Washington, DC, pizza place.

Thankfully, he was stopped before he could commit real violence. But #pizzagate was not just harmless internet chatter. Nor is the growing movement of white nationalist ideology that is fueled by dangerous conspiracy theories that see people of color as societal problems. A young man from Plano, Texas, indulged these fantasies so much that he murdered twenty-two people in an El Paso Wal-Mart in cold blood. And the rise in Holocaust denial has often led to violence against Jewish people around the world.

These are extreme cases. But even when there is no violence involved, conspiracy theories damage reputations and hurt real people. Parents of children killed in mass shootings like Sandy Hook have had people stalk their property because they listened to conspiracy peddlers who insist their kids didn't really die but the entire tragedy was part of an elaborate "false flag" operation. Can you imagine the pain of not only losing a child to violence but also having someone track you down and harass you with wild accusations?

To indulge in these kinds of ideas is not only harmful. It's corrosive to the soul, damaging for our public witness, and it hurts neighbors we are called to love. In the church, this kind of fear-mongering conspiracy causes unnecessary division.

Continued below.

"Whatsoever Is True": Reflecting on the Growth of Conspiracy Theories Among Christians - 9Marks

You probably have encountered a friend or family member convinced of a conspiracy. Why is this happening? And what should Christians do about it?

www.9marks.org

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Apple Sky said:

True but what about God's measuring line that he used to measure the earth ?

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armchairscholar said:

When we share stories that aren't true, we break the 9th commandment against bearing false witness.

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