Why do many Christians seem so prone to believe in conspiracy theories?

 One thing that has surprised me during this COVID-19 pandemic is how quickly and easily some Christians believe in and advocate conspiracy theories. I have witnessed intelligent and seemingly mild-mannered Christian friends feverishly promoting utterly bizarre conspiracy theories. 

For example:

“COVID-19 was invented in a laboratory by Democrats to kill as many old people as possible because they know old people usually vote for Republicans. COVID-19 was included in this year’s flu vaccine because they know that most old people get the flu vaccine every year.”

At first, I thought the person was joking. It turns out that he was serious. Umm…wow… Let us think through this conspiracy theory a bit.

It is true that generally speaking, older people are more politically conservative than younger people are. Therefore, if the goal were to get rid of a bunch of politically conservative people, finding something that would mostly kill older people would be deviously effective.

However, let us look at another factor. Almost all the major COVID-19 outbreaks have been in large cities. People who live in large cities are far more likely to be politically liberal. Just look at the red vs. blue breakdown on any nationwide election map. Typically, even the older populations in heavily populated cities lean to the left, politically speaking. Therefore, if COVID-19 is predominantly killing older people who live in large cities, it will be ineffective at making the electorate more liberal. The actual statistics on who is dying would give more evidence of a Republican conspiracy theory to kill Democrats.

Let me be clear. I do not believe COVID-19 is a conspiracy by anyone to kill anyone else. The above is simply an example of a conspiracy theory I have heard. Besides, like most conspiracy theories, it falls apart once you truly dig into it.

So, why do many Christians seem so prone to believe in conspiracy theories? I have two primary observations.

(1) The Bible seems to teach that, in the end, times, there will be some form of one-world government, led by the antichrist. As a result, many Christians have their eyes fixated on anything that even remotely resembles a covert government attempt to get more power. According to conspiracy theorists, world governments placing restrictions on their citizens to slow the spread of COVID-19 appears to be somewhat of a test run to see how people respond to some of their freedoms being taken away. Therefore, the virus itself must be part of the conspiracy.

If this is why you see a conspiracy theory under virtually every stone, what is the point? If the Bible predicts that the one-world government is going to happen, no amount of you complaining about it or even fighting against it is going to prevent it from happening or even slow it down. Posting conspiracy theories on Facebook is not going to change anything. Since the vast majority of conspiracy theories are not true, you are far more likely to damage your testimony than you are to help someone spiritually. If the antichrist is about to arise, and he is behind COVID-19, then we are all going to have much bigger things to deal with than having to wear masks and not being able to go to our favorite restaurants.

(2) Since we can not fathom why they believe the things they do, some Christians tend to demonize their opponents. The thinking goes like this: Only a truly evil person would be pro-choice, and only stupid people think that socialism will ever actually work. Therefore, those who support these, and other politically liberal positions, are either evil-minded or idiotic or both. Some Christians who opposed Barack Obama’s policies believed him to be the antichrist. Some Christians who oppose Donald Trump’s policies believe he is the antichrist. Many Christians just cannot seem to accept the fact that someone can disagree with them politically and still be a decent person. So, they attribute the absolute worst possible motives and conspiracy theories to everything their political opponents say and do.

If this is the reason for the conspiracy attack, you need to remember that Christ’s kingdom is not of this world. Conservativism may be a much better political system than progressivism, but conservativism cannot save us. Some socialists believe that way because they genuinely think it is a fairer system, not because they want to enslave us and force us to work on the alien spaceship repair crew at Area-51. Stop placing your faith in politics. Stop demonizing those with whom you disagree.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, God is truth 

John 14:6

(6) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

God’s Word is truth 

John 17:17

(17) Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

We are to be people of the truth. Every word that comes out of our mouths should be the truth expressed in love 

Ephesians 4:15

(15) but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

Every time we adopt or support a conspiracy theory that is not true, we are liars.

Proverbs 19:9

(9) A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will perish.

When we promote falsehood, we are serving Satan, not God:

John 8:44

(44) You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

It does not matter how juicy the conspiracy theory is. It does not matter how believable it seems. If you do not KNOW that it is the truth, you should have nothing to do with promoting it.

 Grove Oak Church