Imagine that you had complete access to the files of the CIA and the NSA. What would you look for? Maybe proof of aliens? How about those chem trails in the sky? Did the moon landing really happen? One man by the name of Edward Snowden had such access and he did look for these very things. You may recognize his name. Edward Snowden was a whistleblower who was made famous because he copied and leaked highly classified information back in 2013. So, what answers did he find when he went searching the most secretive files in our nation? There is no proof of aliens, chem trails are made up, and the moon landing really did happen. When asked why people are so drawn to believe these things, I thought Snowden’s answer was very insightful.
“Everybody wants to believe in conspiracy theories because it helps life make sense. It helps us believe that somebody is in control, that somebody is calling the shots.”
As Christians, we know that there is someone in ultimate control, God. He made the heavens and the earth, he broke the curse of sin over humanity, and he will return again as both judge and restorer of his creation. The ultimate revelation of who God is came through the person of Jesus. In Jesus the truth of God was revealed and those who put their trust in him don’t have to wonder anymore about where to find it or what it is.
Jesus plainly said:
· “I am the way the truth and the life”. (John 14:6)
· “If you hold to my teaching…you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31
· “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13)
With all this in mind, Christians are still tempted to be drawn away from Jesus and wonder if there might be something out there, some secret knowledge that they still might learn. The amazing thing is this was an almost immediate temptation from the moment the church formed.
In the early days of the church there were various groups of people who took the teachings of Jesus and tried to add to them. These groups were broadly called Gnostics which is derived from the Greek word gnōsis, “knowledge”. Gnostics operated within the church but would offer knowledge of additional things connected to power, privilege, or even the teachings of Jesus himself. Broadly what they did was prey on two carnal aspects of fallen humanity.
1. While Jesus work of redemption is fully and completely enough for our salvation, we are sinfully drawn to the idea that we still have to work to earn it. Gnosticism offered ways to earn salvation apart from Jesus
2. While Jesus made it clear that he alone is the truth, our carnal nature is drawn to offers of additional knowledge and power (remember Satan’s offer in the garden) and Gnosticism offered that.
If you were going to start up a church in the 1st or 2nd century you had to be aware of the various streams of Gnosticism because they ultimately produced a false gospel and lead people away from the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ. And you know who started a whole lotta churches during this time? The Apostle Paul. And that is why throughout his letters to the church you will find words that are meant to directly refute the teaching of Gnosticism that threatened the purity of the church. Here’s one example from Colossians 2:8-10:
“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”
Now, every generation throughout history likes to think they have made so much intellectual, spiritual, and theological progress that they certainly couldn’t be compared to generations past, much less the ancient world of the Apostle Paul’s time. But those same two carnal aspects that Gnosticism preyed on so easily in the early days of the church, are still being preyed on today.
We still have secret societies such as Freemasonry that use the language of faith and couple it with the promise of progressive knowledge and power. And they are populated by a whole lot of Christians who have believed the lie that Jesus isn’t enough.
Moving even closer to current events, we’ve seen how the promise of spiritual protection and power by President Trump ultimately resulted in thousands of Christians believing the conspiracy that the election was stolen from him. Their shouts of adoration echoed in the crisp D.C. air, “We love Trump”. The roots of this allegiance are ancient echoes of Gnostic heresy that teach that the salvation of a people depends on more than the finished work of Jesus.
Christians today are faced with the same choice the church has grappled with since it’s early days. Is Jesus enough or do we place our hope in conspiracy theories that there is someone else out there with enough power and control to save us? Is there someone other than Jesus who can protect the church? Is there someone other than Jesus who can change hearts?
The answer has always been and always will be, there is no one but Jesus.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Andrew