It comes down to our view of God.
Is there a Christian way of responding to conspiracy theories? There is, according to Nicholas DiFonzo and Jeffrey S. Black (“Trustful Waiting and Enemy Loving Responses to Uncertainty and Vulnerability”). Writing in the Winter 2024 issue of Christian Scholar’s Review, DiFonzo and Black show that our response to all uncertainty and vulnerability—which prompt and sustain conspiracy theories—traces back to our view of God. If we know God as good, we can receive all threats with by waiting in faith on our sovereign God and loving our neighbors, including our enemies. If we see God as bad, we will fret, become anxious and even angry, and likely pass along the supposed threat to others.
The authors make a convincing case that all people have a view of God and that all of life—including responding to conspiracy rumors—is theological. All people are theologians, and “one’s theology touches upon all of life, including anything about how we make sense of or manage threats. Everyone has a theology (whether or not they realize it) that is evidenced de facto by life choices and habitual thoughts and emotions; in short, by what they worship.”
Believers must take care not to set aside faith in God to walk lockstep with the wrong-believing world in considering God bad and powerless. Instead, we must allow our faith to sustain us even here, and to enable us to rise above all threats—supposed or real—and continue in the joy and peace of our salvation.
This is a carefully researched article focusing on caring for the souls of believers. It contains valuable insights and helpful suggestions for pastors and others who are entrusted with watching over the souls of God’s people.