How Should Christians Engage with Conspiracy Theories?

This is core Christianity, where answering your questions about the Christian life Monday through Friday.

Your hosts are author and seminary professor Dr. Michael Horton and Pastor atrial Sanchez call right now with your question. At 1833. The core that's 1-833-843-2673 and now here's atrial Sanchez loan welcome to another episode of the with Prof. Michael Horton, I'm Pastor atrial Sanchez were delighted to be together answering your questions about the faith you, the reason we do this is not so that we can simply grow in our theological knowledge and understanding as we get puffed up and arrogant. We want to understand God's word rightly so that we can apply it to our lives, and it really does the word of God. Mike, would you say transforms us� Into people who love God, love our neighbors, not just information but transformation.

I love it. Transformation got an email from Ben who wants to know how we can be transformed into a man of God's question is, I really love you guys to show and have been learning a lot and would love you to answer this question. How can I become a great man of God. What should I really focus on in my walk with God, yeah, thanks man. Wow. I mean we all asked this question, don't we think the first thing to say is to sound counterintuitive. Bennis don't try to be a great man of God.

Don't make that your aim, your goal. Make your aim and your goal.

Jesus Christ fix your eyes on him. The author and perfecter of your faith. It's really by knowing who God is in Jesus Christ. What he's done to save us that we actually begin to love him and want to serve him by serving others and so the more we focus on on God the father the son and the Holy Spirit.

Specially God as we know him in Jesus Christ the son, who became flesh for us and for our salvation. The more we know his heart. What he's done for us.

The more we know what is up ahead that he's planned for us, the greater our gratitude and praise and thanksgiving I would say focus on Christ be a diligent here were of both his law and his gospel the of the word of God is made up of both commands and promises be a diligent listener go regularly to church be part of the family of God that is singing the truth of God's word together praying the truth of God's word together responding to God growing together. Sanctification is always a team sport. There is no individual pilgrim making his way to the celestial city were all making our pilgrimage together. The question isn't really how you can become a great man of God been as much as how God has become great for you and the more you're filled with out the gospel, the more you'll find yourself wanting to love God and your neighbor. That's 100% Benny I was talking to a dear brother who was diagnosed with cancer. Some years ago and it was actually really encouraging. II thought I was and encourage him. He ended up encouraging me is a note as I've been wrestling with this diagnosis. Over the last couple of years. The Lord is been teaching me all sorts of things been chipping away at the sin in my life is a you know we always talk about and I'll never forget his words we always talk about how we want to become great in Jesus how we can grow in Jesus. But I'm finding this older brother said the more I get older, the more I think about my life. I only get smaller and smaller and God becomes greater and greater. I think what you said there Mike this is so true.

It's not that we become great is that God demonstrates his greatness. More and more in our weariness and yeah it's through our weakness and so that's one of the beautiful things about how the Lord works in our lives then hopefully that's encouraging for you to call now from Edward.

I like them both in Israel. My name is Edward I'm calling from Fremont, California. I have been a church that preaches contrary to do prosperity gospel. So if I become very successful and wealthy in my life do I give credit and bank called all the well that I have accumulated.

Or do I just see I am a very lucky guy.

Given that God does not provide Christians with plenty of money and material things called provide political only with what we meet. Thank you.

That's my question. I listen to Google Christianity every afternoon driving home from walk. That's fantastic. Thank you sound like you're in a good church semi. I think it's important that we address the problems in the prosperity gospel with them and it really is in the gospel. I think we could take calls were another Galatians is this is another gospel. It really is in a gospel at all because it's not the good news that we find in Scripture but you raise another important question Edward and that's well if we do have money if were blessed with material things is that the Lord is that his gifts to us and and I think that we can say yes it is and in the passage, I would point you to his first Timothy chapter 6, beginning in verse 17. Listen to what Paul told Timothy as for the rich in this present age. Charge them not to be hiding or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good to be rich in good works to be generous and ready to share. Thus, storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future so that they may take hold of what is truly life is so Edward. Paul makes it absolutely clear, even the rich in this present world, so they were lucky it's not that I just stumbled upon this know God, as James says, and in James chapter 1, the father is the one from whom every good and perfect gift comes in that. That's including material blessings, so I we can praise the Lord. If brother Lord bless you in your work or and in no through some other means. Were you able to get money and material things is not necessarily a bad thing. We have to get away from the idea that money in and of itself is inherently evil or something exactly no yeah I think that the categories here are miracle and Providence. The prosperity gospel says expect a miracle on the Bible doesn't promise miracles raining from heaven, but it does promise. God's providence. There is nothing that happens to you or me Edward that is outside of God's providence and he works all things together for the good of those who love him, who are the called according to his purpose. Now that might mean well, that might mean poverty, God knows what you need because working all things together for your good, doesn't mean you know that you'll have a Maserati working all things together for your good means your salvation.

And sometimes God needs to price stuff out of our hands so that we can take hold of Christ. I think of what Paul says in Philippians chapter 4 verse beginning at verse 11. I'm not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content, regardless of my circumstances. I know how to live humbly and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to, any and every situation to being filled and being hungry to having plenty and having need you know the Christian life is basically saying no, I'm ready for what ever God's providence sends me because I know even in suffering even in want in lack. God is going to do something here that I can't even conceive of him.

He's going to do something that is going to serve my ultimate salvation and his glory snapped to the key is contentment. Edward is if the Lord blesses you with money with with a job that provides above and beyond maybe what you even need take Paul's words to heart. First Timothy 16 oh beacon tennis pulses in Philippians but also do good and share with with those who are anymore Christianity there you go and praise the Lord. Give thanks to God for his kindness and his provision in your life.

Absolutely upward at the Lord is taking care of you.

Whether you're rich or poor, and those who are wealthy or who have more means you have more responsibility. Also to look out for the brothers and sisters.

That's right you're listening to court, Christianity, and were answering your questions about the faith. If you have a question about the Bible reach out to us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 1833 the core or email us at questions at court, Christianity.com want let you know that a special offer that we have for you today yeah drill you we have this series we talked about before. That is just flying off the shelves people really are eating this up. It's the Bible study on the gospel of John. You can get it on our website. It's a 10 week study that's a great way to learn about the life and ministry of Jesus, who is Jesus what he come to do, and you can do this with a group or by yourself or with your family. We been getting so much great feedback from folks for using the study right now is available as a PDF download or you can request a physical copy and there's leaders guide also. So head on over to court, Christianity.com/offers to get your copy of our new Bible study on the gospel of John the can also give us a call at 833-843-2673 to get a hold of that resource Facebook message you got from Stanley. The Bible speaks about the unrighteous, sexually immoral and drunkards not inheriting the kingdom of God is this talking about not receiving rewards in heaven, or is this passage saying that these people will not even make it into heaven is an important question I've never had a professor in college and New Testament professor at a Christian college who taught that those verses referred to not getting heavenly rewards would you say Mike yet know inherit the kingdom seems pretty clear. It seemed pretty clear it's not about inheriting the rewards. It's not inheriting the kingdom you think this is the language from the Old Testament of Israelites inheriting their land as an inheritance.

Each tribe had its inheritance.

Basically when the time had come, they got their trust fund. This specific plot of Israel. That's the background of inheritance language in the New Testament so we we won't inherit the kingdom.

We won't be in the promised land. This is how Paul puts it in Galatians 5, beginning at verse 19. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature.

The results are very clear, sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties and other sins like these let me tell you again as I've told you before that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Now living that life is, people who have given themselves over to these practices you look at that list. He say I mean I think all of us can say oh well, that one yeah I've done that, done that. We've all done. Something in that list. We all do some things in that list, but we don't do it as a practice.

It's not something that we believe in what we don't say no I a.m. and idolater connecting better at it. You're not getting better at you'll say I'm an adult idolater I'm an adult for or I'm a homosexual. Even Christians who struggle with these sins, these temptations do not give over to them they don't say this is who I am. If you make this your lifestyle pulses, then you're not going to ever enter and inherit the kingdom of heaven took notice that he says when you follow does the desires of your sinful nature. The results are very clear.

In other words a bad tree produces bad fruit and in the end is cut down, so, so, I hear you're Christian but then you lose your salvation you are in the kingdom of God.

But then you're cast out of the kingdom of God know he saying the results are very clear when you follow your sinful nature. When this is your your practice. You haven't repented you don't repent, you don't trust in Jesus, but we been grafted onto the vine. Jesus is the vine where the branches and believers repent were always confessing our sins because were always still sinners, but were regenerated and repentant sinners, we still have a sinful nature pulses right here in Galatians 519. But we don't follow our sinful nature. That's the key. No dog follows its master. We hate sin and fight it because it isn't our master anymore. Amen thank you Stanley for that question. Let's get a phone call from John. Dr. Gordon Hester drawn John from Phoenix and I wondering what should we do someone in the church believes in conspiracy theories like bladder or 9/11 inside job kind of things.

What should those people who were in the church and talking about those things which should reduce who put those people would be church discipline that wording charge, but anyway, just wondering if you listen John Paul encouraged Timothy in second Timothy chapter 2 verse three have nothing to do with foolish ignorant controversies you know that they breed quarrels symptoms.

I think that these kinds of things can be a huge distraction for people infected almost always they are huge distraction. I seen it happen rather than invest hours on end, watching YouTube videos about a flat earth or chemtrail's love and serve your neighbor spend that time studying the gospel got to meet you know that time. No way.

I don't know that this is something that the church should discipline over but oftentimes it's the symptom of spiritual immaturity and even laziness again. Paul said in Ephesians 414 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Prior to this. Paul had just explained how God is given to us the ministry of the word to establish and mature us in the faith that if the person who's engrossed in this stuff begins to create a schism in the church or their neglecting their duties, not caring for themselves or for their family, then yes, I think this can lead to further repercussions in the life of the church and maybe even things like church discipline, but I did have a say and if you listen right now caught up with some of these conspiracy theories devote yourself to the stuff as Paul said, that edifies have nothing to do with foolish controversies and it seems like Mike more and more, especially because mean anybody can get out there and create a podcast or or have a blog and spread information just seems like her so much stuff out there, it's easy to get caught up in these controversies to get lost in them. Frankly, and live in our own silos.

You know it's as if we all live in silos where were just talking to people listening to people who say what we already believe.

That's right. And these conspiracy theories are like cults you get inside that silo and it's an echo chamber.

You're just kind of immersed in it. No church discipline is not just all this is serious. We got a deal with us.

You were all under church discipline.

Every time I go to church and and I am admonished by God's word to greater faithfulness. I'm corrected. That's the loving discipline of the good Shepherd yeah I would say in that sense, this brother would would need exhortation exhortation and admonishment.

Maybe not from the pastor necessarily but then, maybe not even from the elders, but for feel start as Jesus says in Matthew 18. Start by just going yourself and taking this brother to lunch or something saying wow you know, can you give as much time to the word of God and prayer that you give to this, then maybe you don't bear the fruit of the spirit, love, joy, peace, self-control, patience, kindness by loving your neighbor yeah what if you all this time were given to that and often times it seems like these conspiracy theories if they breed the exact opposite fear, anxiety, distrusting all a lot of this is not the fruit of the spirit. This is unhelpful and so John hope that gives you some guidance as you think through this and if there's a way around you who is wrestling with this. Maybe I'm nothing like the vice. There's really get taken out to lunch and can have a conversation with them, encourage them is a Facebook message from Margaret how do you understand John 815 you judge according to the flesh, I judge no one in Jesus judge people all the time. Sure, Margaret. Let's look at the wider context so John eight beginning at verse 13 all the way to verse 18 so the Pharisees said to him you are bearing witness about yourself, your testimony is not true. Jesus answered, even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true for I know where I came from and where I'm going, but you do not know where I come from or where I'm going you judge according to the flesh, I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge my judgments. True, for it is not. I alone who judge but I am the father who sent me in your law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself and the father who sent me bears witness about me, who wow time at a statement of his equality with God the father bears witness of me. Yeah Jesus isn't making a blanket statement here Margaret when he says I judge no one. Right now he's teaching and admonishing, not judging see that they been questioning his claim to be the light of the world.

Previously your testifying to yourself on this claim.

The Pharisees said where the witnesses are we just take your word for it. So Jesus is responding to this very specific pushback from the religious leaders. The Pharisees were challenging them are judging merely by appearances you judge according to the flesh. Jesus says, but they systematically reject Jesus claims in the miraculous signs that back up those claims he is God. So, he adds, I judge no one yet even if or when in the future.

I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not. I alone who judge but I am the father who sent me. In fact, a similar encounter with the Pharisees in chapter 5, there you have Jesus explaining for the father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the son, that all may honor the son just as they honor the father. Whoever does not honor the son does not honor the Father who sent me, so he is, indeed, the judge of the all the earth, and he will judge all the earth, but is not Judgment Day. Yet here in Jesus ministry and still today it's not the day of judgment. As the day of salvation and even Pharisees can be saved as indeed many words we read in the book of acts to the point Jesus is making here is that there judging by appearances. Jesus looks like any other man, and in fact it is like any other man except that he's righteous, and indeed God incarnate, so they're not judging according to the Holy Spirit, but according to the flesh, which is why Jesus told the Pharisee Nicodemus. In chapter 8 that one must be born again from above, born from above to enter the kingdom of God's wrong. Therefore, to pluck the phrase I judge no one out of context as a pretext for war, avoiding any kind of judgment, but we make judgments all the time and are in fact called by Jesus to discern truth from error right from wrong sin from righteousness, but he's talking about the final judgment here which is committed to his hands not to hours judge no one. During this period means do, don't call fire down on your enemies don't basically anathematized people whom the Lord hasn't anathematized yet. Don't you know call people reprobates you don't know whether there going to believe tomorrow. Stop trying to exercise that judgment that belongs to Jesus. He's not saying don't be discerning, eliciting a core Christianity. If you have a question about the Bible reach out to us at 1-833-843-2673.

That's 1833. The core memory can also find us on Facebook. We even have a YouTube channel where you can watch some short clips of the program can share with your friends and family took us a call or email us at questions at core, Christianity.com and Instagram message from Joel who asked in Ephesians 4 Paul makes the point that Christ is the head of his body, the church, what does Paul mean by this. We read Ephesians 414 through 16 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes, rather speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head into Christ from the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped when each part is working properly makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love, we sometimes will refer to the church as the body of Christ right this is just biblical language scriptural language in first Corinthians chapter 12 for example, Paul teases this out some each of us individually are members of that body. A hand, foot, and I and together we make up the whole Jesus himself is the head of the body, and here's what that means there is an organic union that Jesus has with his church that is meant to highlight the unity and I think the holiness even of the church, Jesus loves his church so much because he has joined her to himself and he takes special care of her because of this Paul knew this better than anyone else. How did he come to faith a Saul of Tarsus persecuting the church waging war against her. He's on his way to Damascus to imprison Christians and Jesus appears to him and would Jesus say to the apostle Paul in acts chapter 9 Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me that's really one of I think the most beautiful verses in the Bible because it highlights that organic unity that Jesus has with his church that he can say that your persecuting the church your persecuting me and as the head of the church. He guides her. I'm a pastor of a local church. But I'm not the head of the church among the head of my church.

Jesus is the head of the church, and so on. The other things of this communicates not just that there's this organic unity between Christ and the church, but also the keys.

The leader is not the Pope is not even your pastor in whatever local church are part of Jesus himself. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us@corechristianity.com and click on offers in the menu for or call us at 1-833-843-2673 that's a 33 core when you contact us.

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