Written by Daniel Szczesniak, July 2025 The Sword and Trumpet, Pg 19, originally published by ACBC at biblicalcounseling.com
Sorry readers, but I’ve been looking for writings in these veins for years to no avail! Where are today’s practical living spiritual/scriptural interpreters on such ignored hot topics? If you are aware of other such attempts, please, please inform me… merlin
THERE’S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT ATTRACT US.
The deep state, Russiagate, birther, Epstein, QAnon, and the New World Order are terms that have entered the public consciousness over the past few years. The grassy knoll, flat earth, chemtrails, and the moon landing have been popular subjects for years. There are endless debates about vaccines, voter fraud, the pandemic, and no doubt there will be many still to come about the recent Pennsylvania assassination attempt.
Such theories capture our imagination while attempting to explain the inexplicable. In doing so, they provide structure to the chaos of the world around us. As Christians, we love to seek out truth, and we believe that God is ordering history according to his will. So, what is the problem?
The Problem with Conspiracy Theories
The issue isn’t conspiracy. We know that powerful people do evil things, and we know that they often try to conceal dealings or spin the narrative. Proverbs 17:23 tells us, “A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back to pervert the ways of justice.” This explains why so many conspiracies have a ring of truth to them. According to the Bible, wicked people do exchange bribes and favors to twist the law or work the system to their favor.
No, the real issue is stewardship. It’s a matter of what we do with the truths with which we’ve entrusted. Paul put it this way: “Charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is faith” (1 Timothy1:3-4)
Instead of faithfully living out the Christian life, the conspiracy theorist engages in speculation and does it to such a degree that it can only be described as deviation. At the root of this deviation to speculation is a different doctrine. It’s a different doctrine because it doesn’t center on Christ (1 Timothy 1:11). To help a counselee caught in a love of speculation, you must help expose this wayward devotion as sin and point them to the truth of the Gospel.
Understanding and Counseling the Conspiracy Theorist
Let’s take a look at four areas the conspiracy theorist might find attractive, comparing each to the greater truths God gives us in His Word.
- Secret Knowledge vs. Biblical Truth
Grocery checkout lines are known for displaying two types of products: Candy and gossip magazines. Twice the book of Proverbs identifies these as the same basic urge: “The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels, they go down into the inner parts of the body” (18:8, 26:22).
Like chocolate or the juicy news of who is cheating on whom, conspiracy theories provide an indulgent thrill of pleasure. It may be masked as a search for truth, a love for learning, being prepared for the future, or staying up to date on current affairs. But at its root, the allure of secret knowledge is a love of pleasure.
Jesus said, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God” (Mark 4:11). Show your counselee that the greatest and most satisfying secrets are revealed in Christ, and everything they need for life and godliness comes through knowing Him (2 Peter 1:3).
TO BE CONTINUED: