I have been thinking for a long time about this topic and it deserves a much more thorough treatment, but until then, this “brief” will have to do.
That pastors, in general, do not openly and overtly monitor (or admit they monitor) so-called conspiracy theories is, quite frankly, a failure of theological education, which today (1) assumes the best of humanity (quite contrary to human experience and equally at odds with the Augustinian / Lutheran / Reformed suspicion of human nature under the burden of original sin, total depravity, and the bondage of the will); (2) gives too little thought to theodicy and eschatology; (3) too often results in a low-grade arrogance that attempts to shun any appearance of gullibility or credulity (and in the process actually acquires the very things it tries to avoid; i.e., by shutting down analytical and critical faculties); (4) treats non-lectionary texts—such as, “Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing, and “Enter through the narrow gate”, and, “Test the spirits to see whether they are of God”—as second-class revelation; (5) misunderstands humility in such a way as to always be lectured to, never reconciled, on matters of social justice, and to ever be fruitlessly bolstering one’s social credit score, proving one’s magnanimity, and conforming to worldly expectations, all of this, in the lower (sub-Christian or pre-Christian) sphere of humanitarian ethics, gussied up as “neighbor love.” This is not a cynical diagnosis. The situation is one of misplaced confidence, misplaced competence, misplaced fear.
But with faith toward and trust in Christ alone, with fear of God alone, we are to be wary of all threats to Christ’s flock, not concerning ourselves with what other people make of us, not concerning ourselves with the appearance of gullibility. I do not say we should “subscribe to” or “espouse” all conspiracy theories, but we should monitor them until they prove either credible or not credible. Why? Because we know, though not every threat or conspiracy theory is real, there are nevertheless a great many threats, many “antichrists” that have already gone out into the world. So that we do not become the proverbial boy who cried, “Wolf!,” we need the spiritual gift of discernment to sort out truth from falsehood, but that is a gift of the Spirit that we should exercise, not something we should subcontract to so-called fact-checkers, who often prove to be fallible, biased, and even overtly false, and transparently duplicitous. No, we should be quite sure of the threat before raising the alarm, but when we have done so, having not squandered trustworthiness by issuing a series of false alarms, the alarm itself simply signals the threat is real and the potential loss very great; it does not mean that we necessarily understand the threat in every detail, only that it is a threat and that people—without fear—should shift into a state of heightened vigilance.
But here is where the social pressure to conform must be resisted and overthrown; here is where one must abandon all concern for public perception, i.e., that one will be taken for a fool or deemed crazy or come off as rude, frightening, offputting, a “conspiracy theorist,” a “domestic terrorist,” etc. This “fear of man” is, please note, part of the “broad way that leads to destruction,” and it is paved with thoughts like:
“I am too well educated and enlighted and sophisticated to believe in such theories.”
“I am too magnanimous, charitable, non-judgmental, to think that any person could get up to the evil things these conspiracy theorists are suggesting.”
“The devil is just a premodern myth used to explain inexplicable suffering and evil things that happen in the world, but we have no need of texts that truck in such language and imagery.”
“The Bible’s apocalyptic texts are quaint, but too mysterious to understand, and they certainly do not shed any light on these conpiracy theories, neither should we ever expect that they might reveal actual events that signal the return of Jesus Christ at the end of history.”
Ah, but the faithful and wise (Matt 24:45) pastor will take all Christian scripture seriously and therefore have the complete foundation and reference for wise and discerning parabolic comparisons between the written revelation and worldly events; will “test everything” (1Thess 5:21) and be able to discern when the label “conspiracy theory/theorist” is simply being used—as is most often the case—to lull the drowsy back to sleep, to discredit those who are truly vigilant, and to cover up wickedness and let it resume its destructive and corrupting work. And, in fact, as one who, without embarrassment but eagerness, watches for the Lord, he rests—with vigilance, mind you—rests in the knowledge that he is no mere theorist, but a thyrorist, a doorkeeper (θυρωρὸς) in the house of the Lord (Psa 84:10), who is simply following orders (Mark 13:34) by watching for the return of his Master.
