#soap # Isaiah 08 ## Title: Don’t Believe Conspiracy Theories ## Scripture: (Isaiah 8:11-12) Indeed this is what the Lord told me quite forcefully. He warned me not to act like these people: “Do not say, ‘Conspiracy,’ every time these people say the word. Don’t be afraid of what scares them; don’t be terrified. (NET) ## Observation: Conspiracy theories are like juicy gossip. It doesn’t really matter if they are true. They sound interesting. They are just as dangerous as gossip too. They erode confidence in others without any proof that the mistrust is warranted. The worst part is, occasionally, a conspiracy theory turns out to be at least mostly true. This is terrible because it makes us look twice at all other conspiracy theories as possible. God’s Word warns us to not call everything a conspiracy. This doesn’t mean that conspiracies do not happen. God is warning us not to fall prey to the never-ending circle of doubt. In the end, if something happens, God has willed it. So, it would be better to be aware but always thinking less about why God would allow something and more about WHAT God is doing. ## Application: Trust the Lord and do not become addicted to fear. ## Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for Your warning against the allure of conspiracy theories.