Dear Bob,
Read entire document. I think this is pretty true. I don't think most astute Christian prophecy students ARE caught up in the "conspiracy for conspiracy's sake" thing. When I say conspiracy, I think of Satan's control. I don't believe that there really is this Grand Conspiracy being perpetrated since the beginning of time by the Illuminati, the Masons, the CFR, the Trilateral Commission, etc. BUT, I do believe that Satan has been working in the hearts (or at least minds) of many in these groups since the beginning of time. Most have no idea why they do and believe what they do. It is simply man's sinful nature at work, and Satan does not need a lot of help in this area. He is bringing about his will in this world. That is why the argument by people like Rush Limbaugh and the author in this article is somewhat flawed, when they simply attack the "Conspiracy Theory" as totally unbelievable. They are right that no one could keep a true "conspiracy" going and under wraps for this long. They miss the point, however. It is NOT a man-created conspiracy. It is an angelic one. I agree we should be doing "the Father's work" and not become "useless" by simply getting caught up in the conspiracy and fear of what we see. Focus on what is right. That said, I see nothing wrong in preparing for what we know is coming to enable ourselves to better reach out a helping hand to those that have no idea of what is really going on around them. If the Rapture does not precede the entire Tribulation, then what a better way to reach others with the "Truth" during those terrible times than to first meet their physical needs -- which 99.9% of the population will not have met because they did not know to prepare for it. That is why we post what we do here. If someone can see what is happening, and see that the Bible is exact in predicting these patterns, then perhaps they will find eternal security by examining what the Bible has to say about that issue. Then they, too, can prepare to meet the needs of others as the few astute prophecy students hopefully have. Best to you, Bob.
acts17-11.com
Christians & Conspiracy Theories
A CALL TO REPENTANCE
2 Corinthians 10:5 (Wey) For we overthrow arrogant 'reckonings,' and every stronghold that towers high in defiance of the knowledge
of God, and we carry off every thought as if into slavery--into subjection to Christ.
1) Conspiracy Theory - Intro and Overview
Conspiracy Theory is more than just the belief in an occasional conspiracy. Simply put, it is a belief system that asserts that world
events are being controlled in secret by a group of ultra-powerful puppeteers behind the scenes. While nothing much can be done
about this overall conspiracy, at least we can have the satisfaction of being smart enough to have figured it all out.
If viewed as fiction, Conspiracy Theory is compelling and fascinating. If it were just a nightmarish novel meant to be unnerving and
just a bit beyond plausible, like Asimov's Foundation, that would be one thing. But Conspiracy Theory projects its fiction onto
real-life people, families, groups, and organizations. It purports to be true... and here lies the rub.
IF THE ROOT IS UNHOLY...
Conspiracy Theories are as old as politics. Hitler was a master at weaving conspiracy tales. Nero concocted one to shift the blame
to Christians for the burning of Rome. Those who rejected the resurrection of Messiah came up with a Conspiracy Theory to explain
the empty tomb and His many appearances. And so on.
The modern day mythology of conspiracy was brought into popular view by Democratic candidate Lyndon LaRouche and his
followers in the late 1970s. (You may remember the guys in the airports, right next to the Moonies.) The LaRouchites would pass
out "Executive Intelligence Reports" (EIRs) that purported to inform us plebeians what was "really going on" and why we should thus
support Lyndon.
Ironically, the hobbyhorse of a Democrat has now made the shift from airport "kook" fundraising to mainstream commentators and
talk show hosts on radio, both conservative and Christian.
REGURGITATED PROPAGANDA OR WISDOM?
The basic plotlines of Conspiracy Theory have a striking resemblance to anti-Semitic propaganda manufactured in Germany
pre-WW2, with only the slight obfuscation of substituting "international bankers" for "Jews." Indeed, many in the Militia and Patriot
movements have no illusions about this and have an open anti-Semitic message.
Lyndon LaRouche brought these ideas into widespread exposure by sanitizing them of their obvious anti-Semitic ravings, and also
wove them together into a compelling whole. (Before this, John Birch Society members often promoted them.)
Somehow, these tales inflame the fears and paranoia of people to the extent that, even when the Jewish target is "removed," a
residue remains in the human imagination that is happy to attach itself to a more vague target. For it must be admitted that some
people get a perverse enjoyment from wallowing in such "snits" of paranoia, bogus "insight," fear, discontentment, etc. that
propaganda like this evokes. The genius of LaRouche is that now we do not have to be openly anti-Semitic to enjoy these effects.
STRANGE BEDFELLOWS
With the common bond of being "upset" and discontent in general, the modern co-belligerents of Conspiracy Theory are an odd
group indeed. Nowhere is the absurdity of this more stark and ironic than among Jewish Christians who espouse it.
The sources of Conspiracy Theory notions are suspicious--to be generous. But regardless of a dubious historical pedigree, is
Conspiracy Theory true or merely a paranoid delusion coupled with an active imagination? Or is it just the human tradition of "ghost
stories" taken to a new level of story-telling believability?
These questions must be asked by modern-day Christians since Conspiracy Theory concepts and assumptions are intertwined with
modern pop-eschatology "end times" teaching. This (unfortunately) being the case--and Conspiracy Theory assertions are clearly
extra-biblical--we must "test all things" (1Thessalonians 5:21) by doing a thorough "fruit inspection" of these ideas. For we are told
to judge a tree by its fruit (Matthew 7:16-20).
Unless we are ready to suggest that paranoia, delusion, slander, and hatred are new "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23), we need
to go into this with the instinctive spiritual premonition that Conspiracy Theory is likely to fail the test and with the view to let the
Holy Spirit lead us to repentance.
2) Working in the Dark
The problem of testing the "theory" at the level of information is stark. Conspiracy Theory is by its very nature impossible to
disprove. The revisionist history of Conspiracy Theory is based on "special knowledge" that plays by different rules than normal
history, since it is dealing with "secret" history.
It is easy to spin these tales, but how can they be tested for being true? If you attempt to do this and find the notions bogus, are
you one of "them?" As the joke goes, "Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean the world isn't really out to get me!"
So the "theorists" spin yarns, and nary a soul will contest them. After all, who is well-connected enough politically and economically
to say for sure that no long-running international conspiracy exists? Get it? The deck is loaded.
The Conspiratist can go on and on without the need for any real research, except to imagine how it might be in a dark fantasy that
will appeal to the paranoia and disenchantment of the intended audience and, in general, fit in with the overall Theory.
But those who do not "buy it" have to try to prove that a nonexistent group didn't have a supposed meeting at such-and-such a
place, etc.; or worse still that this or that real group or person has been wholly misunderstood and misquoted. This second case is
especially nasty, as many of the real groups and people, whom we would be defending and quoting correctly, have open (i.e., not
conspiratorial) agendas we disagree with! It is a perfect trap: to counter the Conspirators' misrepresentation, exaggeration, and
fantasy we will end up defending, giving time, attention, emphasis, clarification, press, etc., to ideas we loath!
It is not work to cheer the soul, so few have tried.
So the "theory" evolves and grows and goes on--largely unchecked. It is not possible to comprehensively disprove ALL cases, and
only an impossibly long-suffering soul would spend time clarifying the SPECIFIC bad ideas that have been made worse by
overstatement, exaggeration, alarmism, and fantasy.
The crowning beauty--or horror--of Conspiracy Theory is that conspiracy is by its very nature secret and thus cannot be proven or
disproved.
Of course, the conspiracy buffs claim special "insider" knowledge. Should they be believed?
3) The Theory Meets Reality
To start with, let us acknowledge straight off that there are people and groups of people out there who have plots, plans, and ideas
that are secret, bad, even dangerous. The nature of these real conspiracies will be addressed briefly in counterpoint to Conspiracy
THEORIES.
That people in power and wealth tend to promote people who agree with them or have some other common bond is no conspiracy,
but simple human nature. A president, for example, is EXPECTED to appoint judges who are like-minded to him. Leaders in general
form a liking for particular schools, sources of talent, consultants, etc. based on past history of success. If you are building a
house, would you not favor a church member or good friend as a contractor, all else being equal, especially if you had received good
service from them in the past? This may look like collusion to outsiders, but is simple pragmatic management to those involved. For
Conspiracy Theory adherents to suggest that such normal activities comprise a "conspiracy" is stretching credulity to the extreme.
We all know what a real conspiracy is, do we not?
Real conspiracies work best when small and short lived. They take incredible energy and planning and are vulnerable to the light of
scrutiny. Every person brought in and every day that passes adds to the risk of an ongoing conspiracy.
Occasionally people really do conspire: our American founding fathers declared independence from England some 200 years ago.
But the "conspiracy" in that case was just the means used, not the cause. It was needed momentarily, then dropped as a
technique. The real and lasting causes were well known, even by the British. The American Revolution could have been reasonably
predicted by traditional sociology and political science. The conspiracy aspect was a temporary sideshow.
Those who aspire to do anything (good or bad) often collude in secret before launching out. Consensus building in private, forming
alliances away from public view, and strategic meetings in secret are certainly a "way of the world."
But this is mere conventional thinking, not Conspiracy Theory. Conspiratists believe not merely that an occasional conspiracy
exists, but that this is the dominant theme of history, that an "unseen hand" is guiding the world inexorably to the whim of certain
supra-rich and/or powerful individuals.
THE CLOUDED CRYSTAL BALL
Conspiracy Theory assertions have a nasty habit of colliding head-on with reality. Its predictive power is poor, dismally so, since it
rarely deals with real motives and forces in the world. Real people, including leaders, most often do things out of greed, altruism,
self interest, passion, fear, ideals, and the like.
To point out all the failed predictions of Conspiracy Theory would surely fill the internet, since every Conspiratist has his own unique
spin on the Theory. As a challenge to the reader--from what you know of it--has Conspiracy Theory ever been right? I cannot think of
a single case: an election, Russia taking us over, predictions of economic collapse, gold values going up, the ECU as world
currency, the UN becoming more than a venting place and whipping boy, etc. Can you?
Conspiratists seem much better at fanciful reinterpretations of history than predicting what will happen next. But this does not stop
them from trying. For the Conspiratist takes great pride in being "in the know."
Of course, when Conspiracy Theory fails to accurately predict world events, this often increases the inability to persuade those who
believe in it. "Ah," they say, "It is all a grand plot to lull us further into to thinking THEY aren't really planning the opposite..." and so
on. Conspiracy Theory is perversely flexible.
Should Christians be involved in the promulgation of esoteric theories as likely wrong as not and with such a dismal history of
accuracy?
4) The Return of the Illuminati
With wild claims of inside information on international clandestine dealings, the conspiracy buffs end up in an ironic hypocrisy. They
believe in an ongoing "Illuminati." The Illuminati were (are?) a group that claimed special knowledge, secret knowledge that set them
above the common man. Does such a group exist in today's world? Are there those among us who see themselves as possessing
secret knowledge not available to the common man? Ironically, the Conspiracy Theorists themselves are the best candidates to be
found. They have "figured it out," and if you do not "see it," then you are just one of the dupes manipulated by the ghost Conspiracy
that only the "enlightened ones" know about.
Have you noticed that the most vocal promoters of Conspiracy Theory seem to be uniquely unqualified? It seems, as a rule, they are
custodians, bus drivers, clerks, etc.; but here they are on the radio or publishing a leaflet or book as an expert on insider business
and political dealings at an international level! This is not to denigrate any profession, but merely to point out that there seems to be
a common thread among the most enthusiastic supporters and proponents of Conspiracy Theory--they lack experience and access
to the international political and business world, and seem to have careers that allow lots of time to fantasize about how things
"really are."
To those involved in world affairs, these fanciful causal claims seem especially divorced from reality. They simply do not fit the facts.
Of course, anyone making such a statement is likely to be accused of being a conspirator as well, so for most it seems more
prudent to avoid the issue as a human embarrassment too shameful to directly address. The general silence and/or stares of
unbelief are taken as further circumstantial "evidence."
While we may not often like the way things are, the causal factors rarely include a conspiracy. Are not the real problems we face
usually all too open and obvious: workaday problems like greed, self-interest, fear, laziness, etc., flagrantly displayed or perhaps
thinly veiled at best?
(Continued on next post) |
