Some people prefer a fear-based message because it gives them a sense of purpose. It also sells books and gets hits on blogs and social media. In some ways, fear, conspiracy, and constant intrigue give people a reason to believe that something important exists beyond their daily struggle as they navigate through uncertain times.

If the classic War of the Worlds radio broadcast of 1938 were performed today, I am certain many who have been primed to believe a variety of conspiracy theories, government deep state agendas and hordes of invading zombies would be a susceptible and attentive audience. In 1938, our nation was nervous in a pre-war environment of uncertainty. Orson Welles was brilliant in his fictional radio broadcast, so brilliant that many people who listened were sure a Martian invasion was actually taking place. Pockets of panicked citizens huddled around family radios and began to exchange nervous glances as the broadcast continued entertaining the possibility of The End. 

When I was a cop, I trained rookies that reaction to a threat was always slower in response than the attack made by a threat. A bad guy only had one mental process to consider – pull the trigger. A cop would have to analyze the threat and plan a reaction. That one added thought process gave the bad guy an upper hand. 

The same is true regarding our faith. When we live in a reactionary mode to all the negative possibilities swirling around our lives, the negative issues will be able to gain the upper hand even though we are supposed to be the ones living from a place of victory. Our minds become occupied with reaction to the threats of darkness, real or imagined. 

Are some conspiracy theories true? Maybe. Could there be a hidden agenda working within the institutions of our culture? Possibly. Hell has always been at work throughout human history. None of this is new to humanity. When I look at Jesus, I don’t see Him reacting to negative stimuli or the latest conspiratorial threat. He only responded to the Father. This kept His prophetic voice from being hi-jacked and making sounds similar to the fear-based culture that lived in a state of constant suspicion. Protect your voice. It has announcements to make that are assigned to bring freedom, not fear.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).