Conspiracies are nothing new:

Text 1: Matthew 16:13-17
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

Text 2: Matthew 28:11-15

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money,13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Conspiracies are nothing new and they are, sadly, a symptom of pandemics. For example:

In the 14th Century, the Bubonic plague was blamed on the Jews, acting on behalf of the Muslim prince of Grenada, who had bribed the lepers to contaminate public fountains and wells to kill the Christians.

The 1918 flu pandemic was blamed on German Submarines and telegraph poles amongst other things.

We look back through history and discern what is FACT and what is FICTION. But today we also have ALTERNATIVE FACTS!

“Alternative facts” was a phrase used by U.S. Counsellor to the President, Kellyanne Conway, during a Meet the Press interview on January 22, 2017, in which she defended White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s false statement about the attendance numbers of Donald Trump’s inauguration as President of the United States.

• Only Peter was right about who Jesus was.
• The rumours that Jesus’ body was stolen were WRONG.

During this pandemic, there are a considerable number of people who are believing, and spreading, “alternative facts” about a whole lot of things…
• Bill Gates is out to plant a 5G chip in people using the vaccine.
• The swab test for COVID-19 plants a chip in the roof of the nasal cavity.
• The vaccines are experimental.
• The metal wire in some face masks is really a 5G antenna.
• Directives to wear face masks are illegal, and the fines are also unlawful.
• Businesses refusing cash are part of the push towards a cashless society and one-world government.
• Forbidding churches to meet is a sign of targeted suppression of the church.
• The coronavirus is manmade and was released as part of a global plan to bring in a one-world government.

We all know people who have bought into some of these “alternative facts” and is has created stress, fractured relationships and friendships, and has impacted on our mental health. People I’m speaking with are telling me they feel inundated and harassed.

So, how can we best navigate through these challenging times?

1. Find common ground

I.e. focus on the things you agree on

2. Have a firm but loving conversation

Gal. 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Fact-checking is not a solution. Remember, those who embrace conspiracies don’t trust the media.

3. Get THE truth from reliable sources

Check everything with trusted medical professionals
~ Immunologists, cardiologists, GPs, or specialists.

4. Be realistic

It is extremely unlikely that you can convince that you can convince someone of their error.

“The people who burned witches at the stake never for one moment thought of their act as violence; rather they thought of it as an act of divinely mandated righteousness. The same can be said of most of the violence humans have ever committed.”
~ Gil Bailie, Violence Unveiled: Humanity at the Crossroads

5. Pray

Surround those who embrace conspiracies with prayer. Instead of arguing PRAY.

6. Guard your mental health
Philippians 4:8-9, “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Christians need to give hope to people without hope, and truth to people who hunger for knowledge. Let’s fix “our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

A verse to end with…

Isaiah 8:11-12, “This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people:
12 “Do not call conspiracy
everything this people calls a conspiracy;
*do not fear what they fear,*
and do not dread it.”

Recommended Reading

Jesus & John Wayne by Kristin Du Mez

Violence Unveiled: Humanity at the Crossroads by Gil Bailie