Scripture – Proverbs 29:25: “The fear of others lays a snare, but one who trusts in the Lord is secure.” (NRSV)
You hear a lot about conspiracy theories these days, like the idea that lizard aliens control the governments across the world, or that the Walt Disney Company created the coronavirus in time for the launch of their Disney+ streaming service, or that the earth is actually flat. One of the main problems with these theories is that they are set up to be unable to disprove. For example, even though there is ample scientific evidence, dating back to ancient times, that the Earth is a sphere (not to mention the photographs taken from space), “flat earthers” instead believe that it is all part of a grand conspiracy to control or trick humanity. Thus, when they are presented with evidence, they simply dismiss it as a fabrication which is part of the greater conspiracy.
Some have even likened faith to conspiracy theories, by suggesting it too is a system of belief conceived to be unable to be proven or disproven. They claim that this is accomplished by moving the reality of God further and further into the abstract realm, so that advances in science or social development cannot “disprove” things considered to be eternal truths.
But God is not the God of distant ideals, but the Immanuel, the God who is with us, who took human form to live and love and suffer and die as one of us. Believing in a God who is manifest in the material and historical world means that we are going to be challenged about that reality in the face of tragedies, new discoveries, and changes in ways of thinking. As such, unlike a conspiracy theory, the life of faith is open to being tested, because it brings us toward trusting other people rather than assuming they are part of an elaborate falsehood. Trust in God leads to trust in humanity, which creates a real Kingdom of God which unites as much as an imaginary lizard-person Illuminati would seek to divide us. As it indicates in the Book of Proverbs, believing out of fear of others’ challenges leads into a trap, but trusting in the Lord, even if it seems like a risk, ultimately bring us security.
Prayer – Lord, help me to take risks in your name, believing in you and your salvation. Let my faith bear fruit in love and justice in the world. Amen.
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