The Christian And Conspiracy Theories

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ.

If you send me what you think is greatest conspiracy is against humankind.

I can tell you easily. Religion book. I can get you to sin once the conspiracy behind sin.

Sin is more pleasurable than God.

So we want to send religion all we do is drink and replace God with something else. So there's always a conspiracy afoot.

It's always there. So I'll give anybody that if you say, look at the world is a conspiracy afoot.

Yes, there always has been always will be to present joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana.

Let's join Pastor Bill govern ourselves again. He shows us how God's word meets our work of all Americans believe that the official story of Lee Harvey Oswald's assassination of Pres. Kennedy's thoughts that you can see numerous TV specials always purporting some other conspiracy one third of all Americans believe that the United States was either responsible for or had knowledge of the 9/11 attacks, and did nothing to stop 76% of all Russians don't believe the United States of America ever landed on the moon is not just Russians. We had a carpet cleaner who came to our house on occasion and on more than one occasion he wanted to let me know. But this thing was all done in Hollywood and at United States was never on the surface of the moon to go back a few years, perhaps in modern times. There's never been a conspiracy quite like the illuminati, boy. You hear all about the illuminati and the conspiracies that surrounded illuminati actually began in the 18 century the 1700s and it started with a professor named Michael butter. He was a professor to begin in Germany and he and a group of men got together and what they decided was they want to do a promote enlightenment thinking to the world around them. Their goal was to transform society. They would want a violent revolution anything like that want to educate people and they thought if we over the long period of time.

Plan enough idealistic thoughts in people's heads cultural change out the strange part is that society only lasted a few years.

I met a burned-out because the governments were pretty conservative that I didn't want any part of it, but the conspiracy theory say the illuminati never disappeared at all. In fact there are so many but if you go back to the beginning of illuminati will save the group of the illuminati actually pulled off the French Revolution. They were the ones behind the scenes that caused the great French Revolution. They also said that in the 1900s and early 1900s.

They produced a fake manuscript. The conspiracy theorist. It was called publication of the protocols of the Elders of Zion and it was a group of Jews who got together and plotted a plan so that they could take the whole world over that.

By the way, was something Adolf Hitler was very familiar with.

After World War II, they said. Illuminati realized communism would change the face of the world and those who really have power so all of the McCarthy anti-Communist movement in the United States was from illuminati today in the article I read illuminati is still active and in this article which said that Jay-Z and Beyoncé are part of it. We love conspiracies conspiracy by definition is a theory that explains an event or a set of circumstances. As a result of a secret plot by usually powerful conspirators. It is a theory in an unproven idea that can seem plausible for this pandemic has produced innumerable conspiracies. They are everywhere. You'll find conspiracies all over the world and I am not surprised by that. And I have no interest in that but what I do have an interest in is that conspiracy theorist are alive in the church of Jesus Christ. I am amazed to talk to Christians who want to do conspiracy theories they want to promote conspiracy theories.

In one sense, I can understand but in another.

I can't explain this right off the bat.

There is a conspiracy prevailing and enduring. I want to open your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 6 verse 10 finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Jesus put on the full armor of God so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Then he says I'm explain what I mean by that, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Conspiracy there's always been a conspiracy. Ever since Satan fell. There's been a conspiracy he sees is impossible. I will let you know that that's always been here, one parallel passage you like to go to second Corinthians 2 pages to your left.

Second Corinthians 10 verse three again Paul now warning the church of Corinth and here Paul says this, but we live in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses we are destroying what speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God. We are taking every thought captive to obedience of Christ. There's a war there's a battle in these two passages is an interesting thing because he makes it clear there is a battle going on the flesh and blood of the battle were never to be our enemies. At the very worst they could be simply a victim of our enemy. There is always a conspiracy afoot. Jesus said this. If you're not for me.

What you're against me, not just the fact.

So if an idea. I thought anything is not for Christ, then it's against Christ and was the source source is the enemy. You see it's always been like that human beings are so susceptible to conspiracy that if you think about it. One point of view before all, how did the serpent get Eve to sin, it promoted to conspiracy and she bought it is so easy for us to buy into a conspiracy.

What he say to your God is conspiring against you. God knows that if you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will be like him. God is lying to you because he is a conspiracy against you and what you say okay yeah that that seems possible, doesn't it. Here we are seeing is always a conspiracy afoot. If you said to me what you think is greatest conspiracy is against humankind.

I can tell you easily. Religion look I can get you to sin. What's the conspiracy behind sin.

Sin is more pleasurable than God.

So we want to sin but religion all man. All we do is a pill trick and replace God with something else.

So there's always a conspiracy afoot. It's always there.

So I give anybody that if you seek what we look at the world you think there's a conspiracy afoot. Yes there always has been always will be.

The price comes back it's just that simple. Were so vulnerable to this, Jeremiah 1717 the heart of a man is desperately wicked and it is what deceitful above all things, which means what we believe almost anything and what we love the believing conspiracies.

We love that hike Alaska's conspiracy going on, we deceive ourselves into this whole idea conspiracies produce something almost always there's a future for your how tell you the story and as a future. But be afraid it's going to happen. God speaks to this. I had seen the passage before go with me to Isaiah chapter 8 and verse 12 the Lord speaking.

He says if you are not the say it is a conspiracy much clearer than that you are not the say it is a conspiracy. He said in regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, and the word is cashier and I looked it up and it means conspiracy.

The people talking about, there's a conspiracy now in our case the conspiracy is the Assyrians are conspiring against us in a minute come to attack us to wipe a psycho make us like it's going to be awful if this could be terrible. He says and you are not the fear what they fear or be in dread of it there afraid she would really feed to conspiracy fear. This whole idea of fear, to what's really going on here how bad it could be now are the Assyrians. The problem that the Jews are having no, that's not the problem.

You see that's not the problem. By the way is a pandemic. The problem you're having.

If your full fear no there problem in your problem is the same as your relationship with God that your problem not the conspiracy notice when he says that it is the Lord of host whom you should regard as holy. He said, and he shall be your fear and he shall be your dread with your friend the Assyrians for one of the Assyrians going to do us only what a sovereign God allows. They will do anything member Jesus talking to Peter. He said Satan desires to sift you like wheat while it's pretty frightening, and it is a don't worry about it. I pray for you, so shall I be afraid of them know I mean the Scripture says you resistant and flee from you. Why, because of God know it's a terrible conspiracy. But what could happen to me come back of this gap at the simple question answer just as bad as God allows it to be. How long is going to last just as long as God allows of the last my fear problem is not what the circumstances might fear problem is my relationship with God over and over again, God tells his children throughout the Bible. Don't fear don't fear don't fear and the reason is in our minds we always have some kind of conspiracy that makes us afraid and we think that's really a problem but that's not at all what he says. He said that's not the way this works. They are terrified of the cruelty of the Assyrians and how they not be what is our future peace, hope, joy, God told us here's your future. So what are you afraid of it's one thing that we end up finding ourselves, believing in this. But there's another thing that happens it alarms me is we propagate these things.

Notice what God said. It's not for you to say it's a conspiracy you want that clearly want to make a bumper sticker out of a refrigerator magnet got to start. You say it's a conspiracy, and that when we do. Hey have you heard some insider information here. I'll go with me to Ephesians chapter 4 verse 29 Paul says let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth. Is that clear enough then he says, but only such a word as is good for edification.

According to the need of the moment so that you will give grace to those who hear your speech should always be building someone up is that what conspiracy speech sounds like you that's how you build people up to tell them a conspiracy or onto a single that's the way you should speak. That's the way it works. Look at verse 15 of the same chapter speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects of the him who is the head, even Christ. Verse 25. Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you to his neighbor. All members of one another.

So were only to speak the truth in love. What is big no unwholesome word or worthless word only words edify now. What's the problem when you spread conspiracy is a true this be honest I don't know. I mean, could you hit it every once a while have something truth it's conversing. Probably I don't know is a loving know what's conspiracy to conspiracies designed to make people fearful of the future. So I tell them conspiracies while if it's not necessarily true, then what is it were spreading me out of Proverbs chapter 10. This is verse 18 and Proverbs, Solomon writes this, he said he who conceals hatred has lying lips, and he who spreads slander is a fool if I'm skipping you somebody in the sense of the conspiracy and is not true then what am I doing to that individual or group slandering. He said you spread slander your full what would you spread slander. See, we have to be careful with this, go with me to the Proverbs 20 verse 19 he who goes about as a slander reveals secrets therefore do not associate with a gossip and only says it slander. But what is it because he who goes about as a slander reveals secrets what's the whole key to conspiracy when no secret know what's really going. I know I know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy this is what's really happening.

Q goes about as a slander reveals secrets therefore do not associate with a gossip New Testament. First Peter 21. Put aside all slander. You see, if it's not true that a slander and its gossip. This is difficult in our culture because you and I know this, there are entire networks on television and their entire people who make their having to conspiracies everything that's ever politically happen every assassination is ever taken place. Don't even get a go on aliens you get going on aliens and it's just amazing how much stuff we want to talk about. I understand that the world is compelled by this by the fallen nature, but the church of Jesus Christ should not be like this. That's not the way were supposed to talk in a situation like this. Look at Proverbs 14 verse 15 an interesting statement the night he believes everything but a sensible man considers the steps someone gives you conspiracy me just tell you this wouldn't be interesting if you just said everyone ever told her that okay prove it. You can't prove it.

I just know the Pruitt you say is a conspiracy, then Pruitt notice he says the naïve believe everything is referring to a negative way. Paul wrote to Timothy in second Timothy 223 and said refused foolish and in ignorant speculations refusals. There are so many things that we should be talking to our culture about that are troll girl from God, and we end up finding ourselves talking about conspiracies just like the culture does this pandemic anything when it's produced a me to produce white lies, big lies, fake news propaganda and conspiracies everywhere. We should never be doing this when I go back to second Corinthians 10 five are just a moment here and zero in on something in that verse, we are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ is that your goal I want to take not just my actions. I want to take every thought captive to Christ.

So with anybody tells me anything. The question I have to ask is this is edify. This assignment comes in the Lord's ears or something else.

What's worse is that we can't stop ebbing comes in your ears but you can certainly stop it from becoming part of your thoughts and ending up in your mouth. We should be doing this we should listen that way it should be something different for us whenever you allow untrue speculations in your head.

They eventually find their way to your speech and you start propagating and I don't know if Christians are ever really think about this during something like this and I know some don't.

Because even when I talk to them. They want to talk about conspiracies. How should we think receipt. He said every thought captive to Christ. How should we think go with me to Philippians chapter 4 verse eight finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence in anything worthy of praise dwell on these things is my thought life. First thing I have to say in my thought life is whatever is true, that when the entire by conspiracy theory. You have no idea. This likely falls. It could be true but the point of it is it's not necessarily true.

In fact, the odds are that most the time it's not even close to true.

But the point is, he said, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely. Does that sound like a typical conspiracy theory Galante the most wonderful thing just wonderful. I just want to tell you how great this is.

You know what's really going on.

Everything is just working great behind the scenes that some conspiracy theory is for the warriors will be times are terrible. This is really difficult. I got a total diagnosis, but I want to have bodices. That's why I say what the New Testament says the worst thing that could happen to you. Can Avenue why because that's troll and will I need when I have a stage IV pancreatic cancer diagnosis. I mean that the worst thing inevitably can happen to me if when you are absent in the body are present with the Lord. That's troll and that's the kind of talk. We should have never many of us, we just get ourselves right back involved in the whole conspiracy theory idea. He said don't do that we should think in a very very different way to Johnson who wrote an article in conspiracy theory said this, there is a soft Gnosticism that goes on with conspiracy theories.

We just want to know because we think that knowledge is power in and of itself, but Scripture would say doing what God is commanded is actually where the powers she wants the appeal. Conspiracy theories Gnosticism was an appeal to my pride. I know something you don't know you know stuff he knows what to area 51.

He knows you see is a pride and that people spread conspiracy theories up basically have a soft Gnosticism that this tells me I'm an inside you don't really know what I know and you feel proud about it enters power in my knowledge, but as he drew Johnson says is no power in my knowledge, the power is only doing what God actually said to do the appeal to pride is why we propagate them, but it's not necessary at all. What we should be about their conspiracy theories everywhere in the world. Every culture but were not of the world thought about that when God's children were not of the world affect this world, according to the word of God is in the hands of the prince of this world so whose world is Lucifer's. He's the father of the conspiracy theories. It's always made his living and gets us to believe. Thirdly, we should not propagate any conspiracy theory we should be about that our speech should be different than that we should never fear what the world fears is a lot of fear in the world right now. That's natural for them but for you and I were the one group of people that should appease with a group of people to should be afraid because of Jesus Christ and what is done for us, because God is sovereign and loving all things work together for good. There so many reasons.

What are we afraid of our speech should be filled with truth and love. It should always be wholesome and edifying test yourself that way.

Sometimes when you start talking about some things that we end up slandering people were gossiping about him and we don't need any truth. When given a test of truth, we just want to slandering gossip is really sad thing is upset in the past. One of the things Christians are clever enough to do is go spread some slender gossip to you and say I'm just making a prayer request.

We just gonna pray about this but you know what she's doing. We should talk is not a word of our speech to be edifying, wholesome, speech filled with love and truth and we are to take every single thought captive to Jesus Christ. Look, I understand conspiracy theories are interesting. That's leather theories in the conspiracies but they're dangerous for us.

They take our eye off the ball. You see, they fill our mind eventually our mouth with things are of the Lord all Joe Carter. He said many modern conspiracies being spread by Christians were actually concocted by occultist New Age pagans or some other group dedicated to an antichrist or anti-Christian agenda. Ultimately, though, all slanderous conspiracy theories originate from Satan. If we are a people filled with the spirit of truth. We should not be a people spreading messages in the father spirit. I know 11 Pastor Bill Gebhart on the radio ministry of fellowship. If you ever missed one of our broadcasting or maybe you just like the message one more time. Remember that you can Google great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the fellowship and the word online event website you will find on today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio programs as well have Fellowship in the Word.

We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible.

We ask all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting a monthly fourth is the one-time gift support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word.

4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, LA 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is is a sermon, the pastor will deliver during a Sunday morning service at Fellowship Bible church visit our website FVC Nola.org that SBC 10 oh LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds pastor Bill sermon you can browse through our sermon archives defined sermon series you're looking for or you can search by title. Once you find the message you're looking for. You can listen online or if you prefer, you can download the sermon and listening room.

And remember, you can do all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website is FVC Nola.org for pastor Bill Gebhart injuries and heart you for listening to fellowship in order