0724 CHRISTIANS AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES

JULY 24 = TITUS 3

CHRISTIANS AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES

Conspiracy theories are everywhere. Elections. Visitors from other planets. Aliens from other countries. Governments. Schools. Churches. Genders, race and wealth.

I don’t know if you have noticed it, but a conspiracy theory can only come about by slander. It starts with distrust and ends with talking about others without the benefit of them being able to defend themselves. And through social media, and with the help of our always-present AI robots, we fill our inboxes with like-minded people and opinions that underscore our biases.

Paul is writing to Titus, who grew up on the island of Crete, which was originally a penal colony, and had become a center for mythology about the Greek gods. Cretans had a reputation that Paul quotes: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” Then Paul says, “this saying is true.” It is this culture to which the Gospel had come, and this culture in which the church was struggling to find a place.

Can you relate? Is our culture becoming anti-Christ, anti-church, or anti-traditional morals? What do we do in such a culture? 

Paul gives this advice:

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” 

In the first place, don’t rebel against the government, no matter how godless and corrupt it may be. Follow the rules, obey the laws, and be ready to do what is good.

Then comes the hidden instruction to “slander no one.” To slander usually means to tell the truth, but it is a hurtful negative report against that person. Paul is saying if anyone is going to choose NOT to be part of the slanderous conspiracy theories about the government and other leaders, let it be the followers of Christ. Slander no one. NO ONE. Instead, be peaceable and considerate, and always be gentle toward everyone.

Then Paul goes on to say why we can and should be charitable toward even our cultural foes.

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.” 

Paul is saying that we were part of that foolish culture in our past, no matter which side of the conspiracy we happened to be on. We knew all about hate and envy. But we were changed, and now life is different.

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” 

So, let us show ourselves to be washed and reborn, renewed and citizens of a culture with hope of eternal life. This world is not our home. Then, with Paul we can say,

“…avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.”

My flesh is drawn to a good controversy. God’s Spirit tells me that such things are unprofitable and useless. Amen.