Conspiracies, Anxieties and the Reformed faith.

Jan 19

Jan 19 Conspiracies, Anxieties and the Reformed faith.

“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10

Over this past year there has grown the phenomena of QAnon. Some of its followers are professing Christians and there is a helpful article about it from a Christian perspective here. This is causing anxiety among those who have loved ones involved, or who are even weighing up if they should consider getting involved themselves. In addition to this article (see above link) here are a few Reformed touchstones (although not unique to us) that I think bring perspective and peace on to this sort of thing.

1. Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone).

This is the idea that in Scripture we have all that we need to know God, the way of salvation and how to live a Godly life (e.g. 1 Timothy 3:12-17). This includes a large portion of wisdom literature to help us weigh choices that we are faced with.

It is true that Scripture doesn’t tell us everything. For example, how a vaccine works. Yet this limit to Scripture can actually help us. If it is beyond the remit of Scripture then it is beyond the remit of our faith, which leads to…

2. Not binding the conscience. (WCF 20.2)

Normally we are speaking here about food, special days, how certain things are done. Helpful definitions and Scriptures can be found here. At the very least it means that a particular take on how to interpret what is going on behind the scenes of what we see on the news can’t be demanded by us from one another. We have liberty on these issues precisely because Scripture is silent on them.

3. Solus Christus (Christ alone)

A basic tenant of evangelicalism is that Christ alone saves. To affirm that, the negative needs to be stated: “salvation is found in no one else” Acts 4:12. A conspiracy that has any other saviour, be it Q, Trump, Biden or anyone else … well, do I have to carry on?

It is true that in history someone or something has brought us through great difficulty. Think of Churchill or a vaccine, and we may see God’s hand in it. But, Christ alone ultimately saves. He is the one we proclaim and trust.

4. Sola Fide (by faith alone)

By this, specifically, we mean in Christ alone. A common QAnon phrase is, “follow the plan”. Christian, by faith, follow THE plan - God’s plan in Christ. We may feel it wise to vote for the policies of x or y, to invest in this or that. But only one has the right and the ability to demand our trust in all matters.

5. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone)

We may want to praise someone, for example, a public servant who’s done a good job. To use a trivial example, only ask a Southampton fan about their current coach, Ralph Hasenhüttl, if you have lots of spare time. But we need to be careful not to credit praise and glory that is for God alone. This isn’t addressed to QAnon or modern conspiracies, but across the political spectrum. When someone starts singing someone else’s name, be a little nervous.

6. Unity

A favourite phrase in QAnon is: WW1WGA, Where We Go One We Go All. Indicating, we’re in it together. This is something unique to QAnon not seen in other conspiracies, it unites people. Of course, a number of things unite us. Sports, music, interests, political interest. But, nothing should unite us as Christ does. The Church is united to Christ and so all Christians have a deep spiritual bond, even with those we have never met. No other allegiance should replace this. Note: not all QAnon followers claim to be Christian. No movement can claim that spiritual unity. Any organisation and movement that threatens Christian unity needs close examination.

7. God’s sovereignty & the end

I’ve noticed some correlation with conspiracies (not necessarily QAnon) and Dispensationalism. I’m far less anxious. God is sovereign over history and will call everything to a close at time of his own choosing. The end of Romans 8 affirms that all things, including terrible things, God uses to the good of those who love him. That good is defined as “conforming us to the likeness of his Son”. Along with that comfort is that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. When Paul writes of Jesus’ return in 1 Thessalonians 4-5 he tells us to “encourage each other with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18) not get each other all anxious.

Constantly we’re told not to fear, cast our anxieties etc. because God has got this. We don’t need to see something (real or not) hidden away that the Lord hasn’t revealed in the clear daylight of his Word.

Related to that is our view of the end (tune in to Zoomutopia 5 on this!). People are concerned about such things as vaccines chipping us, Covid passports and the rest. Much as barcodes in the 1980s. This, we’re told, is the mark of the beast of Revelation 14. I very much doubt it. Again, it comes to Sola Christos - we need to put our faith in Christ, alone. We don’t need to worry about accidental markings once we’re marked as his. In context, I think Revelation 14 is talking about Christians having to deny Christ to get on in life, e.g. to be part of a guild or to function as a Roman citizen. Today one may be faced with the same challenge, to be promoted or get to university you need to be a member of the communist party or mosque, for which you must deny Christ. I don’t think it’s something you do by accident/ignorance.

8. Don’t miss the real conspiracy!

The Bible warns about one whopping conspiracy and it’s hardly hidden. The devil has blinded people to the truth about God. Humanity can see his glory in creation, but is complicit with him. Today this works out in all sorts of hegemonies (things said enough that they are assumed to be true) about sexuality and “just how things are” that Scripture challenges. Basically, there are two ways of seeing the world: God’s way and the Devil’s (which has variant strains).

There have been for sure many conspiracies. Some get uncovered. Some, like the Great Reset, are talked about openly (although there is a conspiracy that our current crisis has been produced to bring this about). I also see how some media reporting feeds conspiracies (think how Trumps gaffs are reported, reporter rolling eyes, but middle east peace treaties missed off). However, a meta-conspiracy dependent on lots of people and institutions is unlikely to hold.

This could be a way in to a Christian brother or sister persuaded by a meta-conspiracies: don’t worry about them, worry about the ancient one.

In all these, we come back to the one who says, “listen to me, cast your anxieties on me, come to me, do not let your hearts be troubled.”