Recently we posted a video explaining that we don't believe a Covid-19 vaccination
will be the Mark of the Beast because we understand that this prophecy has a lot more to do
with the elimination of cash.
We also mentioned that we are not specifically against a Covid-19 vaccine
if it has nothing to do with buying and selling
and assuming there are no significant risks associated with taking it.
This led to us receiving a number of quite extreme negative responses.
One professing Christian stated that if we promote vaccines
then money must be our god...and she asked how much Bill Gates had paid us off to say this!
This is the kind of irrational conclusion people can draw when they get tripped off
with various conspiracy theories.
Many people who make contact (or end up working) with our community
have a history of going down various "rabbit holes" related to anti-system conspiracy theories.
This may be because the message of Jesus Christ is ultimately "anti-system".
He said we can't serve God and mammon at the same time (Matthew 6:24).
He also calls us to come out of the Babylon system, especially in these times (Revelation 18:4).
Part of our message is prophetic
and we are not frightened of exploring some of the more challenging predictions in the Bible
like the rise of the Antichrist, the Great Tribulation, and the Mark of the Beast.
Many conspiracy-theorists have an interest in topics like these
although they are usually less interested in being significantly and fundamentally changed by them.
More often they are drawn to the more sensational aspects of these predictions
like trying to uncover who the Antichrist is, when the world is going to end
how the world is being controlled by secret organisations... and so on.
It can be tempting for people to go to extremes with conspiracy theories
either wanting to invest a lot of time in them, or wanting to completely avoid them altogether.
Of these two positions the latter approach is probably safer
especially for people with a history of becoming fearful, prideful, hateful, delusional
or confused by conspiracy theories.
However, there is a "middle way" we can adopt that may be more balanced overall
and which addresses the need that can sometimes arise to deal with a conspiracy theory.
For example, someone may write in asking us for our opinion about a particular theory
or someone close to us may stumble on a conspiracy theory and need help maintaining balance.
This video has been produced to help people adopt this more balanced approach to conspiracy theories.
So in this video, I'll be sharing ten tips to keep in mind when researching
discussing and possibly sharing about certain conspiracy theories with others.
Tip #1: Question your own bias
and how this may have led you to accept an argument that supports your own position.
Tip #2: Look at opposing views and arguments in order to get a more balanced, objective view on things.
Tip #3: Avoid committing to a position 100% until and unless you are certain of it.
Even in cases where we feel confident about a position, it is very helpful to keep a door open to being wrong.
This is where sincerity is so crucial:
being willing to recognise when we are wrong and making the necessary adjustments.
Tip #4: Look for hard facts and evidence
rather than getting swayed by personalities, sensationalism or emotionalism.
As the saying goes, "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence".
We need to be careful because there can be a natural tendency to believe someone on camera
who sounds believable and is skilled at appealing to an audience...
but are they presenting evidence for their claims?
Tip #5: Don't hastily jump to conclusions.
For example, just because the system is corrupt
that doesn't mean to say that someone speaking against the system is telling the truth
or is not corrupt themselves.
Tip #6: Recognise how people are usually motivated by some form of self-interest...
usually money or reputation...including the conspiracy theorists themselves.
For example, 'Infowars' creator, Alex Jones
regularly using his show to sell his "survival" gear and other products
or Judy Mikovits pitching her new book about vaccines.
Humans are fallible and falsehoods can often be mixed in with truth
so we need to learn how to separate one from the other.
Tip #7: Don't get distracted by lesser issues
and ones that take us away from the real conspiracy, which is to stop people hearing Jesus' teachings
and the real solutions contained in them.
We need to weigh everything up against the Cornerstone, Jesus Christ
and base our beliefs on his teachings and what other true prophets of God
have shared throughout the ages that line up with what he said.
Tip #8: Think through the dangers of getting sucked into conspiracies
and how what we say and do can impact others.
We can get offset mentally, emotionally and spiritually and then influence others negatively
(especially individuals who may be prone to getting carried away in this area).
Tip #9: Keep the bigger picture in mind and use discernment.
The devil is like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour
and has a habit of coming to deceive people as an angel of light.
We need to question where a theory or idea is coming from, where it is leading to
and what it is really going to change by us proving it or indeed disproving it.
Will knowing the details of a theory help us to be better Christians?
If someone asks for our opinion on a particular theory, then engaging with it - at least to some degree
may be helpful in order to bring some balance, critical thinking and insight to the issue.
However, we need to constantly examine our spirit and motivation for wanting to explore these kinds of things.
Disengaging from a particular question or subject could also be more helpful
especially if we feel that someone is getting distracted away from the teachings of Jesus
or if we ourselves are getting distracted.
Tip #10: Keep united with your brothers and sisters in Christ.
We shouldn't be too proud to seek the advice and support of other believers
and to pray for wisdom in the process of engaging with conspiracy theories.
People are more likely to get tripped off or carried away by themselves
so submitting our thoughts and ideas to counsel and accountability
will increase the likelihood of us staying on the rails.
The Holy Spirit is where two or more are gathered in Christ, and, as the proverb says
"In the multitude of counselors there is wisdom".
We recognise an overall spiritual "conspiracy" against the teachings of Jesus
which is leading to the formation of a one-world government
(or and 'Antichrist system') predicted in the Bible.
In anticipating and communicating about this, we need to balance understanding how this is happening
(e.g. the push for a cashless society and greater identification and surveillance on the back of Covid-19)
with not jumping to rash, extreme or illogical conclusions.
We are more likely to achieve this balance if we don't blindly base our understanding of reality
on what we hear either from mainstream media
or alternative channels espousing various conspiracy theories
and by applying the other tips I've shared in this video.
Revelation 12 mentions a "flood" that comes out of the mouth of the dragon in the End Times
which is likely to include a flood of lies.
This could include system propaganda, but it could also include propaganda against the system itself.
It's helpful to bear in mind that system proponents will use false or extreme conspiracy theories
to discredit genuine conspiracies, like the Mark of the Beast prophecy.
Similarly, genuine believers will be lumped in with all the "kooks" through guilt by association
in an effort to discredit the true message found in the teachings of Jesus.
This is even more reason to tread wisely, cautiously and unitedly
in our engagement with alternative views and theories.
Thank you for listening.
