It’s ok to be a conspiracy-minded, alternative fact-believing Christian

My mind has been churning on what to make of the observations I’ve made watching the interpersonal dynamics of a wide range of Christian social media personalities and their followers and detractors over the past several months.  My reflection has resulted in the conclusion stated in the title of this blog post.  Maybe this is obvious to my Christian friends, and I’m just slow to reach the same conclusion.  Or maybe it’s a dangerous assertion.  I’m not really sure, but read on, if interested, and feel free to leave a comment at the end.

There’s a lot of tension in the online Christian communities - battles even, as people take sides, and alternately defend and attack specific positions.  There are adherents of self-proclaimed prophets defending the same against “attacks” from other Christians who accuse them of being false prophets.  There are Christians calling out all sorts of heresies of other Christian personalities and leaders, in an attempt to steer people aware from what they consider to be bad theology.  There’s a lot of language dividing Christians into “us” and “them” and very strong commitments to a range of Biblical and non-Biblical ideas.  Of course, much of this involves issues like COVID-19 vaccinations, the COVID-19 pandemic (or plandemic, depending on one’s perspective), the 2020 presidential election, American Christian nationalism, end times, the mark of the beast, and one world government.

People who know me well, know that my approach to seeking truth is based on a calm, reasoned, empirical search for valid information, and that I’m not guided by my emotions.  People who know me well also know that I am willing to entertain just about any idea or assertion - even if only for a moment - in an attempt to be thorough and understand the broad range of opinions, ideas, and conclusions that are out there on any particular topic.  After all, one doesn’t come to a good understanding of any issue or topic, by approaching it from a single direction.  Consequently, I have traveled to some truly fascinating, and at the risk of being labeled judgmental, crazy places over the past year.  It just amazes me the creativity of the human mind, and more than that, the level of motivation and commitment some people have to establish platforms to share and disseminate what they passionately assert is the truth.

Now let me interject for a moment, that I do understand that there are some very savvy people out there who have a clear understanding of the economics of supply and demand, and their interest is less being a messenger of truth and more being a recipient of revenue generated by subscribers, likes, and clicks.  The fragmentation of information sources and news media made possible by the internet has opened tremendous opportunities to entrepreneurs and customers alike.  No longer are we limited to the offerings of the tabloid rack at the grocery store!  The world of crazy ideas has endless opportunities on the internet!  It does make me wonder how the National Enquirer, National Examiner, and The Globe are faring these days.

I’ve changed my mind about defending truth

I’ve always been a strong advocate for chasing after truth, and aligning oneself with ideas and positions which are more likely to be closer to the truth than less so.  Consequently, I get alarmed when people, especially non-experts, make quick judgements on complex issues, as if they’ve somehow gained THE truth and final word on a matter.  Valid information is important to me, and it seems more often than not, people proclaim conclusions and settle into positions well before the best validated information is brought to light.  Consequently, I push against bad information, un-validated information, questionable information sources, and premature conclusions.  I push against faulty reasoning and cognitive biases - huge issues facing humanity and the Christian community.  

I see a range of Christians on social media attempting to “hold the line” and advocate for sound Christian doctrine, and reasoned arguments, and Biblical exposition, in the face of a proliferation of non-orthodox ideas being declared every day by aspiring independent Christian entrepreneurs (evangelists?).  While I resonate with those who want to “hold the line”, I am concerned that there’s an atmosphere of criticism which can be interpreted as arrogance to the onlooker.  We also have to keep in mind that many questioning non-Christians are engaging with this material.  What do these battles between Christian “sides” look like to people outside of Christianity, and especially to those who are questioning and open to learning more about God and Jesus?  Do they see God’s love?  Or do they see conflict and discord?

Still - I get it.  When I encounter a blog post, or YouTube video where a Christian, even if sincere and well-intentioned, is promoting something other than the true gospel message of Jesus Christ, I do get alarmed, realizing that listeners are being persuaded by bad ideas, and concepts which are not aligned with Christian practice.  It does make me want to respond, and defend Christian orthodoxy, in the hopes that listeners would be persuaded to stay on the straight and narrow, rather than become distracted by non-essential matters.  After all, we’re supposed to be running a particular sort of race, right?

But more recently, I think I’ve changed my mind.  It’s a result of watching several “tribal” groups who are actively engaging with one (or more) Christian “guides” on social media.  It also involves a modern day application of a portion of scripture in 1st Corinthians chapter 9.

Does it matter if a Christian holds false beliefs, if that person is pursuing a relationship with God?

I mean, we all hold false beliefs, right?  We don’t like to think that we do, but we do nonetheless.  Sure, we like to think we would discard a false belief if we discover it is false, but more likely than not, we preserve what we believe to be the truth, because that is human nature.  So all Christians maintain false beliefs, because all people have false beliefs.

So does it matter if a Christian “guide” (whether it be a self-proclaimed prophet, a local church pastor, an up-and-coming YouTuber, etc) creates a brand (and subsequently, a tribe) around a particular false belief, so long as the gospel of Jesus Christ is being proclaimed?

It’s clear that like-minded people naturally gravitate towards one another and form groups held together on their shared beliefs and purposes.  So if a Christian “guide” develops a large following because what they share in common is their false belief that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Mr. Trump, is that a problem if they are routinely encouraging their followers to seek God, and pray, and read their Bibles?  If another Christian “guide” has a large following resulting from their false claims pertaining to COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccines, but is daily encouraging viewers to seek God and be filled with the Holy Spirit, should other Christians actively and opening oppose this “guide” due to their false COVID-19 beliefs?

The pathways to relationship with God are diverse

The stories that Christians share of how they’ve become believers are tremendously varied.  While one may claim the only path to God is Jesus, the paths leading to Jesus are as numerous as there are believers.  The journeys people take have twists and turns, and detours, and are not simple straight lines from point A to point B.  The point is people come to God in the midst of false beliefs.

For example, Young Earth Creationist organizations routinely distribute misinformation to support their cause, yet many people have begun their Christian journeys as a result of their engagement with Young Earth Creationist organizations.  There are Christians who remain a part of this tribe for their entire lives, but that doesn’t disqualify them as being Christian.

When I read the comments of people who are followers of a Christian Nationalist, or an anti-vax Christian, it’s clear that their initial connection was based on their shared belief in nationalism or being anti-vax, and then over time, they’ve been persuaded of the truth of the gospel.  In other words, they were persuaded of the gospel message by a person they trusted based on a common interest, even if it was a false belief.  People enter into relationships based on shared beliefs and experiences, shared common interests, and common identities.  Is there anything wrong with that?  If people are becoming Christian as a result of a Christian “guide” proclaiming an attractive false belief like the election was stolen, or the COVID-19 “plandemic” is a one-world government conspiracy, or the COVID-19 vaccine conditions us to receive the mark of the beast, is there anything wrong with that?  How is this any different than a person feeling like there is more than just nature, and a material universe which has a cause, rather than no cause, who ends up connected with young earth creationists, who end up the reason why they became Christian believers?

Christians are called to minister to all sorts of people

Look at what Paul the Apostle says in 1st Corinthians 9:

19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Consider prison ministries.  Christians who were formerly in prison have a great impact in prison ministries due to the shared common experience with current inmates.  Or consider the issue of abortion.  Christians who have experienced abortion are well positioned to engage pro choice advocates, more than Christians who have not.  Shared beliefs and identities are critical in relationship building, and it is most common that through trusted relationships, that the gospel message can be presented and received.

Likewise, in today’s environment, should we not rejoice that there are Christians who are willing to become like a conspiracy theorist, in order to win the conspiracy theorists?  Should we not be thankful there are Christians who are anti-vax, in order to win anti-vaxxers to Christ?  Should we not pray for those Christians who have made themselves like those who believe the election was stolen, in order that they win many of the ungodly who also believe the election was stolen, to God?  Flipping over to the other side, should we not rejoice that there are Christians who become like the LGBTQIA, so that some disbelievers among the LGBTQIA can be won to Jesus Christ?  

I don’t know about you, but there’s a wide range of people I doubt I could reach with the gospel message.  For me, I’m much more likely to develop a relationship with a person who is an empiricist, rather than a person who is a conspiracist.  This has made me realize that God has designed His people to be diverse, so that as many as possible can be in relationship with Him.  So why oppose one another?  Isn’t this what Christian unity should be about - the common objective of proclaiming the gospel?  Isn’t this really what Paul is talking about in Romans chapter 12?

4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

So I’ve changed my mind.  I’m glad there are false prophets out there proclaiming their false truths AND the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I rejoice that there are anti-vax Christians out there distributing misinformation about vaccines AND sharing the message of Jesus Christ.  I certainly am not going to do that, and that means other Christians need to fill this arena of Christian evangelism.  I’m thankful there a Christians who can enter into a relationship with American nationalists and conspiracy theorists who hold firm that the presidential election was stolen.  I’m definitely not wired that way, and would likely only make them mad at me for not agreeing with them.  

If you haven’t taken the time to listen to those Christians who are encouraging conspiracy-minded and alternative fact-believing Christians, I can tell you that not all are bombastic self-serving charlatans only operating to make a financial profit.  I’ve discovered several very sincere, kind Christian individuals who exhort relatively small numbers of followers (thousands to tens of thousands) to stay focused on Jesus, the Bible and the Holy Spirit, while still sustaining false belief and misinformation about secondary issues.  These include Dutch Sheets, Chris Yoon, Wander Alger, Grace Overflowing, and Seeking the Glory of God.  They are clearly ministering to people who feel like the world is falling apart around them, and that the masses are sheep heading to their doom, and see that so many Christians have been tricked by Satan to accept the COVID-19 vaccine, and sit passively by while evil forces take over America, the country God fore-ordained to be a Christian nation.  Isn’t it a good thing that they have someone to look to who can “lead” them and point them to God, and remind them of their need for the Holy Spirit and to pray?  Exactly how would it help to take a rational and logical information-based approach to help those who anchor their viewpoints to gut feelings and emotions, and what they feel is the Holy Spirit leading them to the positions they embrace?  That’s not helpful at all.  Instead, God has called those who are similarly emotionally and spiritually wired, and who love Him, to take the gospel message to like minded conspiratorial thinkers.

Now I can see that some may object, referring to Bible passages exhorting Christians to be of sound mind and put aside falsehoods and speak truthfully.  I’m not talking here about Christian maturity, but the entry point for new Christians.  Certainly we don’t want to espouse poor thinking and falsehoods within our local church communities, and that’s the responsibility of local church leadership to ensure attenders are growing into spiritual maturity, but we can look at what is happening out there on the interface of society and Christian social media and rejoice that God is using Christians in the midst of their false beliefs embrace of misinformation on secondary matters, to bring new Christians into the Kingdom!  What’s more important than that?