Deconstructing Deception: Why Conspiracy Theories Are a Threat to Critical Thinking

This week, I’m writing about Christian discernment and the issues I’ve witnessed with conspiracy theories. A popular podcaster, Candace Owens, is well known among Christian women. She worked for The Daily Wire from 2021 to March 2024- a conservative news and opinion media company that produces news, commentary, and entertainment content.

I started watching Candace in 2021 and initially enjoyed her content, excited to see a black female conservative with such a strong voice. However, over time I became concerned when I noticed she did not demonstrate Christian character. She always seemed angry to me, and I decided to limit watching her content.

More recently, Candace has delved into various conspiracy theories, such as the one claiming Brigitte Macron (Emmanuel Macron’s wife) was born male, and speculation surrounding the death of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. My reason for writing about Candace Owens is not to speak badly about her, but rather to address a concerning trend of Christian women continuing to watch her content and getting sucked into her lies. Her content is very captivating and difficult to discern.

Recently, Alisa Childers released a new podcast episode on discernment and the crisis of critical thinking. She discusses the Christian duty to guard our lives, our thoughts, and what we accept as the truth. “Truth is objective and true for everyone.” I found Alisa’s podcast episode very helpful, so I linked it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0doH-g6BAE&t=10s

I think COVID-19 made more people believe in conspiracy theories because things that were initially thought to be conspiracies turned out to be true. This created a deep mistrust, leading many people to rightfully distrust the news media. However, we still must test our claims against scripture. With most lies and conspiracy theories, there are bits of truth that make them even more confusing to discern. They are also exciting and mysterious when life can be mundane, and the truth sometimes boring.

Here is a list of reasons why I think Christians should be cautious when it comes to conspiracy theories:

1. Issue of Truthfulness and Bearing False Witness

The Bible places a high value on truth. Conspiracy theories often circulate false information, which the Bible explicitly condemns.

• Lying and Falsehood: God is repeatedly described as a God of truth who cannot lie (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2), and believers are called to truthfulness. Lying lips are an “abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 12:22).
• False Witness: The Ninth Commandment is: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). Spreading false accusations about individuals or groups, which many conspiracy theories do, is a serious violation of this command.
• Reckless Spreading: Scripture warns against spreading false reports: “You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness” (Exodus 23:1). A believer is called to verify information before repeating it, as “The naive person believes every word, but the shrewd one ponders each step” (Proverbs 14:15).

2. Issue of Fear, Anxiety, and Trust in God

Conspiracy theories often thrive by generating fear and dread about hidden, powerful, and sinister forces controlling the world. The Bible explicitly addresses this:

• Fear of the Wrong Thing: The prophet Isaiah warns against believing the fearful worldview of those around you: “Do not call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and do not live in dread of what frightens them. Make the Lord of hosts your holy fear; let him be your dread” (Isaiah 8:12 _13, paraphrased). The only proper fear for a Christian is the fear of God, which casts out all other fears.
• Focus on God’s Sovereignty: A belief in God’s ultimate sovereignty that nothing is hidden from Him and His ultimate plan (Psalm 33:10–11) should alleviate the anxiety that often accompanies these theories. The focus should be on trusting God, not worrying about secret human schemes.

3. Issue of Distraction and Misdirected Focus

Adopting a mindset obsessed with uncovering secret plots can distract believers from their core biblical mandate.

• Focus on the Gospel and Love: Jesus summarized the law as loving God and loving your neighbor (Matthew 22: 37–40). Focusing excessive energy and resources on speculative, worldly plots distracts from the clear command to make disciples, serve others, and live a life of love (1 Timothy 1:4).
• Avoiding Speculation: The Apostle Paul warned against devoting oneself to “myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith” (1 Timothy 1:4). Conspiracy theories can be seen as modern-day “myths” that promote speculation over practical faith and good works.
• Creating Division: When widely believed, these theories can cause “controversies, quarrels, and dissensions” (1 Timothy 6:4; 2 Timothy 2:23) within the church body.

4. Issue of Discernment and Testing Spirits

The Bible calls believers to be discerning.

• Testing for Doctrinal Truth: Believers are instructed to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). This is a call for spiritual discernment concerning false teaching about Christ and the gospel.
• The Deceiver: The Bible clearly identifies the ultimate “conspirator” as Satan, who is called a “liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Christians are warned to be aware of his schemes (Ephesians 6:11), which are primarily aimed at spiritual deception and preventing people from accepting the truth of the Gospel. Our battle is fundamentally a spiritual one, not a political one (Ephesians 6:12).

The issues with conspiracy theories primarily center on truthfulness, discernment, fear, and focus. While the Bible acknowledges the reality of genuine plots and conspiracies by wicked people and Satan, it provides guidance that undermines the impact of unverified or sensational theories. So, let’s be wise and use discernment when listening to podcasters or anyone who claims to speak the truth.