“…if Satan cannot keep souls bound in the ice of indifference, he will try to push them into the fire of fanaticism.” (Mind, Character, and Personality page 38) Yes, there is a conspiracy theory for each of us.
How can we be safe?
In researching for writing this article I was amazed to find a whole chapter about this topic in one of the compilations of Ellen White writings: Mind, Character, and Personality. It amazes me how God always tells us what we need if we look for it. In this chapter one paragraph is of particular help: “God calls upon His servants to study His mind and will. Then when men come with their curiously invented theories, enter not into controversy with them, but affirm what you know. “It is written” is to be your weapon. There are men who will try to spin out their fine threads of false theories. Thank God that there are those also who have been taught of Him and who know what is truth.” (Originally written in a letter in 1905.)
Let’s break this down:
- Study God’s mind and will
- Do not argue
- Affirm what you know
Some other tips
Other tips gleaned from online sources, which also support what we find in the quote above add a little more depth:
- Have a one-on-one conversation privately — not online
- Make them feel heard
- Listen, don’t preach
- Stay calm
- What are they afraid of which this belief is making them feel less fearful of?
- Change the subject
The truth will set you free (John 8:32)
It would be impossible to name every conspiracy theory and know exactly how and why it is untrue. Besides, the number of them grows daily. However, we can know the truth and know it well. The best way to keep ourselves safe is simply Bible study and prayer. We need to thoroughly know what we believe in order to spot falsehood because these lies always have some parallels to truth or they would not be effective. Studying the truth gives us an anchor in the storm of life “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.” Ephesians 4:14 ESV
Commit to knowing truth.
For more tips on Internet safety see another article: Before You Click
See more:
- please read chapter 5 of Mind, Character, and Personality. If you do not have the book you can download the EGW app or go to this site to read the book online: https://whiteestate.org/
- https://apnews.com/article/how-to-talk-to-believers-covid-19-conspiracy-theories-fc2a0c3e9d6816629da61d9bc3f317e5
- https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/open-spaces/2020-10-12/tips-for-talking-to-the-conspiracy-theorist-in-your-life
- For more information on keeping yourself safe: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/nov/29/how-to-deal-with-a-conspiracy-theorist-5g-covid-plandemic-qanon
