By now, we are all getting a little tired of “sheltering in place.” The novelty of working from home is either wearing off or becoming so normal that returning to the workplace will take some adjustment. It is difficult to make plans because of so much uncertainty. This can easily lead to immobility. Without a clear path forward, we are open to confusion, distrust, and even conjecture.
If uncertainty creates a void, someone will take advantage of it to fill it with their agenda. A prime example on the international level is China’s move to further their dominance of the South China Sea under the smokescreen of the pandemic. Not missing an opportunity, those with an agenda use uncertainty to push forward using peoples’ fears and worries as fertile ground. This is observable in the political arena, and there are those who use the current crisis to push conspiracy theories. Many of those theories have an agenda.
The point we need to remind ourselves of is that uncertainty is a fact of life in a world that has no anchor. The diminishing role of moral foundations only means that experimentation and observation will be used to determine what people come to believe. Moral relativity will not diminish the confusion created by uncertainty.
God’s people have an anchor. God has provided a trunk of the tree to hold on to – no matter what is going on around us. We need to focus on the scriptures that remove uncertainty and show us what to hold on to.
We are to test and prove what is true and right, then hold fast to that (1 Thessalonians 5:21). We should treat conspiracy theories for what they are – theories. They are unproven ideas that may or may not have some basis in fact. Mostly it is impossible to know the truth of the theory being offered. “… stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught …” (2 Thessalonians 2:15).
The Apostle Paul warned Timothy to “Guard what was committed to your trust, avoid the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge” (1 Timothy 6:20). What did Paul commit to Timothy’s trust? “… the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust” (1 Timothy 1:11).
Again, we are directed that, “… we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (Hebrews 2:1). Twice in Hebrews chapter 3, we are told to hold fast the beginning of our confidence, steadfast to the end. There is no uncertainty in the truth God has revealed to us. It is not a theory; it is a hard fact.
Finally, let us be responsive to the admonition to, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). I suspect that Satan is attempting to use this time of uncertainty to distract members on tangents of speculative causes for the present crisis. Conspiracy theories are tantalizing and unsettling. None of us know the truth of what is going on behind the scenes. You cannot believe all that you hear and read. There are evil forces out there deliberately planting seeds of confusion. Don’t be naive, but don’t be a part of their scheme.
Time spent in the jungle of conspiracy theories only serves to diminish time spent in strengthening our trust and reliance on God. Know what the scriptures say and believe in their certainty.
It is time to stay close to the trunk of the tree.
Brian Orchard
