Beware of Conspiracies! Why? Because conspiratorial thinking is associated with those who are gullible and often ignorant. Conspiracies are the mechanism of demagogues and manipulators of all kinds.

As Christian thinkers, we ought to develop a healthy skepticism and intellectual caution about conspiracy. We should always ask: Where does the information come from? Who produced it? For what purpose? Who profits if we embrace it? Is the scheme accepted by the majority of trained thinkers on the subject? Why do they accept or object to the outlook? How should we think and respond with biblical wisdom?

Keep in mind what Yahweh told Isaiah during a period of intense crisis: “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread” (8:12–13). Conspiracy theories, on the other hand, teach us to fear incorrectly. They teach us to think falsely. They divide and destroy.

Remember that Jesus told us to be discerning. He said: “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matt 10:16). It is critical that we distinguish who is trying to manipulate whom and why. Otherwise, we are culpable for embracing “fake news” and making unwise decisions. We should not forget that conspiracies are inherently deceptive.

Paul told us that we should “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” (Eph 4:14). They author of Hebrew urged us to “go on to maturity” (6:1).

“Wisdom and maturity,” however, are very difficult to achieve if we obtain most of our information about reality from social media. This challenge is particularly important in our day, for—if we are honest and humble—Christians are often ignorant and naive. Our biblical and theological understanding is underdeveloped. Our knowledge of church history or even contemporary news is often weak. We do not read very much. We certainly do not read anything that requires intellectual effort. Instead, we prefer the lazy way: watching television, gossiping with our friends, and soaking up whatever social media provides us. Our gullibility is really dangerous during time of crisis and hardship.

So, let us not be foolish and gullible. Let us cultivate a healthy skepticism about information on the internet. Seek out respected thinkers and listen to them. Read carefully. Above all, let us not embrace the wrong conspiracies: “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy.”

The importance of insight, knowing the truth about reality and oneself, is universal, present in very culture, worldview, and religion. Leyland Ryken describes “archetypal plot motifs” that occur in all literature, myth, and legend. One of these is “the movement from ignorance to epiphany” (insight).

Why does “the movement from ignorance to epiphany” appear in very culture, worldview, and religion? Why is insight about reality so important? Why should we know the truth about God, the world, and ourselves? Why?

Because God created the world as a school. Every aspect of creation, the natural world, ourselves, and our relations are revelatory. All facts speak to us. Everything, every encounter, and everyone is an invitation to think and learn.

God, the great teacher, created human beings as his pupils — in his image. We are homo discens, the being who learns. Humans were designed for intellectual curiosity and insight.

Knowing, understanding, wisdom, and insight, are crucial features of the world as God created it.

The movement from ignorance to insight is a central feature of the Bible. Consider this passage; “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom 12:2)

Our goal as followers of Jesus Christ is to know God and to make him known. This involves a process of diligent study, moving from ignorance and illusion to epiphany and insight. We can express this intellectual transformation in this way: “Now that you know who you are in Christ, consider how you ought to think!” We should enroll in God’s school.

Once again, transformation is the result of insight. This happens due to a radical change in what and how we think, brought about by repentance from being “conformed to this world” intellectually and being “transformed” in our minds by the Spirit of God.

Olga Kondyuk works at the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary. Her husband, Denys, is completing his doctorate at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, and teaches in the  Department of Missiology at the seminary.

In this video excerpt (16 minutes well spent, with translation), Olga demonstrates the critical importance of polemical theology:  “Theology is of paramount importance at this time to help distinguish between good and evil.” She critiques three slogans of Russain propaganda that attempts to justify the invasion.

Olga is an example of a thinker attempting to love God with her mind in the midst of terrible chaos and loss.

Watch the whole workshop with six Ukrainian, Christian women sharing their perspectives about the conflict. Translation provided as needed.