Many people in society today have allowed their minds to be infected by conspiracy theories. The Wikipedia Encyclopedia defines a conspiracy theory as, “attempts to explain the ultimate cause of an event (usually a political, social, or historical event) as a secret, and often deceptive, plot by a covert alliance of powerful people or organizations rather than as an overt activity or as natural occurrence.” Even numerous Christians entertain such theories as factual and accurate explanations of events and movements of our times. Yet, when a person falls prey to such views he is not following the leadership of the Spirit of God but his prejudicial carnal nature that seeks to justify a negative opinion that he holds against another individual or group. Among Christians, conspiracy theories are often used to justify condemnation of ministers of the gospel, movements and practices within the body of Christ and of political leaders.
Now, at this point it is important to stop for a moment and consider what the Bible says about how we are to relate to our fellow believers. What is our responsibility when it comes to judging others? The word of God admonishes us
Do not complain about each other-James 5:9
Do not slander or speak evil about each other-James 4:11
Do not judge each other:
…Don’t speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge. James 4:11
“Don’t judge, And you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, And you won’t be condemned.” Luke 6:37
Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things. Romans 2:1
Who are you who judge another’s servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand…But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ…So then each one of us will give account of himself to God. Therefore let’s not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother’s way, or an occasion for falling. Romans 14:4, 10, 12-13
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God. 1 Corinthians 4:5
Paul says to ‘judge nothing before the time’. You see, it in order to make a correct judgment of what a person or a church or a ministry is doing one has to have all the facts. But we humans are limited in our knowledge of events, circumstance and motives. It is therefore not possible for us to judge rightly whether what one particular Christian individual or group is doing is based on self interest or deception or through the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Those who judge and condemn what other Christians are doing often have a lot of speculation and accusations but little verification.
Now of course we can judge whether an individual or group follows orthodox Christian teachings as set down in the fundamentals of Christian faith: belief in the trinity, the virgin birth and divinity of Jesus, the literal and bodily return of Jesus, salvation by grace through faith in Jesus, and the Bible as the inspired word of God. And when necessary we must judge and discipline those who have committed sin according to the principles given by Jesus in Matthew 18:16, 17. But when it comes to differences in practices and methods, whether in worship or in ministry or differences in priorities or, even if some do not use the King James Bible, Christians are not given commands to judge, condemn and speak negatively about other Christians. Rather, Jesus commanded us to demonstrate God’s love to each other and to go make disciples and the apostles taught us to pray for each other, to encourage each other and build one another up and to spur each other to practice love and doing good (John 13:34, 35; Matthew 28:19, James 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:24). Jesus did give us a standard by how to judge those who were false teachers and prophets in Matthew 7:15-20:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit. A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.”
So if some minister, or church or group uses practices, methods and materials different than yours and they and their followers demonstrate the fruit of Christlikeness in their lives and bring praise and glory to God, then why would somebody condemned it? Some people would condemn it because it was different; because it was not the way they would do it and that hurts their pride. Such people say to themselves, “Only our way is right, there can be no other way”. But such people overlook the Holy Spirit and do not recognize that he is at work in the lives of believers all over the world.
Now your effectiveness as a Christian is going to be diminished if you are one of these judgmental and vocally disapproving Christians because you are not practicing love. You are not going to be in a position to fulfill the destiny God has for you. 1 John 2:11 tells us that, “But he who hates [despise or detest] his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” That’s right; you are not going to be a very good guide if you take it upon your self to judge and condemn your fellow believers. You are not practicing love but hatred.
I can remember an occasion several years ago that demonstrates just such an attitude. There was a women pastor who came from the States to preach at a church I was attending in the Central American country of Belize. One of her main themes was that we were living in the last days and that the church had fallen away. She talked in general terms and did not give any specific examples about what she claimed was wrong with the church. One day I took the opportunity to confront her about how what she was saying did not conform to reality, that the church was more active and advancing the gospel than anything time in history. I reminded her that Christ was the head of the church and that Christ had not fallen away. What was revealed in the conversation that followed was that she and her group had some disagreements with the ministry of another pastor in from her area. They were vehemently against him. They did not consider him a fellow believer and felt no responsibility to love him or pray for him. Such an attitude is contrary to what Christ taught.
The religious people of Jesus day, the Pharisees, gave into this tendency to judge. Formalism and legalism had crept into their teachings over the years and made the expression of their faith fixed and formal. Religious observance was reduced to mere duties and rituals. It did little to bring the adherers closer to God or to change their attitudes and motivations. Thus, when John the Baptist called people to repentance, the Pharisees did not accept him and their response to Jesus and his ministry was to link him with Beelzebub. This same pattern is repeated today with religious people who may know a lot about God, but do not really know God label their fellow believers as proponents of ‘doctrines of demons’ instead of recognizing that there are things they can learn from those who are advancing the kingdom of God.
So this brings us back to what I was saying earlier, that among Christians, conspiracy theories are often used to justify the condemnation of ministers of the gospel, movements and practices within the body of Christ and of political leaders. It is an excuse used to vilify and defame those Jesus has told us love and work with in unity of purpose.
Now these conspiracy theories are based on fear; fear about circumstances and schemes that bring losses, manipulation and oppression. But fear has no place in directing the life of a Christian. There was an American man I encountered in Belize who was so certain that the marshal law was soon going to be declared in the States and that basic freedoms would be abolished. He was so sure about this that he wanted to bet me $100 that it would take place with in one year. Well, what he predicted did not happen. But he was acting out of fear rather than following the word of God and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The approach he should have adopted was the one that God revealed to Isaiah:
For The LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying, Don’t you say, “A conspiracy!” concerning all whereof this people shall say, “A conspiracy!” neither fear their fear, nor be in dread of it. The LORD of hosts, him shall you sanctify; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. Isaiah 8:11-13
Thus, we must ignore what ever the rumor mill is putting out. Our guidance comes from the word of God and the Holy Spirit.
Those promoting conspiracies often say that some one or some group is hiding the truth from you; they are holding out; they are keeping something back. Now, where have we heard that before? I remember some where I read someone saying what had been spoken was not truthful. Oh, I remember; it was what Satan spoke through the serpent to Eve in Genesis 3:
Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which The LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Yes, has God said, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?’”… The serpent said to the woman, “You won’t surely die, for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:1, 4-5.
What was Satan saying? God is not looking out for your best interest; he is keeping something from you; he is not being truthful with you. So Satan planted the seeds of doubt and God’s people stopped trusting God and disobeyed him. And Satan continues to do the same today. Do not be his next victim. Do not let your plans and decisions be based on fear. Recognize that God’s plans and purposes will prevail:
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against The LORD. Proverbs 21:30
There are many plans in a man’s heart, But The LORD’s counsel will prevail. Proverbs 19:21
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me; declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure; Isaiah 46:9-10
So my fellow Christians, do not let fear of conspiracy theories of men or misguided judgments of those with limited insight sidetrack you from the purpose God has for your life. Be diligent in your study of God’s word and be open to the leading of his Spirit so that can discover the path God has for you.