I am not a conspiracy theory buff. I am, in general, a skeptic. Rather than embracing the latest whispered conspiracy, I prefer to look at a variety of sources, find what is verifiable, and leave the rest on the "maybe" pile.
Having distanced myself from "anti-vaxxer" conspiracy theories and "fixed election" conspiracy theories and the like, I have to admit to one conspiracy theory I do believe in. I am quite sure that there is a vast scheme at work in our world that affects every single person on the planet. I believe there is a cabal that is in the business of disrupting life in all sorts of ways with the ultimate aim of destruction. Jesus referred to it as "the father of lies" and "your father, the devil" (John 8:44). Paul referred to it as "the god of this world" (2 Cor 4:4) and "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph 2:1-3). Peter warned that this enemy aims to devour (1 Peter 5:8). John claimed that those who do what is sinful contribute to this conspiracy (1 John 3:8). The primary weapon is deceit (Gen 3:1-6; 2 Cor 11:3). The primary damage is to the truth (Rom 1:18-19) and, in the end, our hearts and minds.
Now, I don't think I'm being clever here. You know what I'm talking about. Nor am I being cute. I believe there is an actual conspiracy that has existed since the Garden of Eden that is aimed ultimately at God but uses humans as its weapon. Satan and his forces have been lying and harming the beings God created in His image practically from the beginning. So invasive is this conspiracy that we've come to accept it as normal rather than conspiratorial. It is blatantly obvious and devastatingly destructive, but we're deceived (Jer 17:9) and blinded (2 Cor 4:4) and don't even notice. So all manner of immorality is embraced as normal and all manner of abusive evil is considered "business as usual" and when some abuses are addressed, they are simply replaced with new abuses so that we think we're moving forward but we're just spreading the hate. And that, at its core, is the bottom-line force behind this conspiracy. Hate. Where God is love (1 John 4:8), His enemies operate on hate. That's the scheme.
Keith Green wrote a song titled No One Believes in Me Anymore. It's referred to as "Satan's boast." He explains that Satan is perfectly happy with how easy his job is when no one believes in him anymore. Like us today. Like the world at large, to whom he is their god. Like self-professed Christians who don't believe in Satan. Like other self-professed Christians who do say they believe in him but operate oblivious to his schemes as if they don't. We know that all power is in Christ's hands (Matt 28:18), so we know the outcome, but blinding ourselves to this very real, very dangerous, very destructive conspiracy and even assisting its aims and operations does no one any good.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9)
5 comments:
Two things:
A conspiracy is simply the agenda of one or more who conspire to do something, is it not? For others to hear of the conspiracy, fail to see or accept evidence of it, does not mean it is false or unworthy of attention (to one degree or another...I'm just dealing with the definition here, not any given conspiracy). "Conspiracy theory" or "conspiracy theorist" is a pejorative when used to dismiss and disparage what a person or group finds concerning. Used in this way, it only reinforces the concern that a malevolent conspiracy is afoot.
I've long felt that the Evil One has no desire to be exposed, and his exposure absolutely proves God's existence, which would draw more people away and toward God.
"Fundamentalist." "Conspiracy theory." I keep coming up with terms, harmless in themselves, that are popularly hated these days, don't I?
Well, even the word "propaganda" has a dark connotation these days...certainly pre-dating those of the two expressions mentioned in your last...but it has a rather benign definition. While intended to convey info used to persuade, it is more generally considered less than factual info, at best, for that purpose.
It really is a problem how words can be commandeered for such purposes, intentionally or not. Seems to happen more and more these days.
"Propaganda," another fine example of the double standard of terminology today. The Left complains about the "fundamentalists" while they stick to their own fundamentals and they complain about "conspiracy theorists" which, they're sure, are part of a conspiracy, and they bemoan the "propaganda" of the right which they fight with their own propaganda. They are exclusive inclusivists, intolerantly tolerant, and judgmental non-judgmentalists.
That about says it all!
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