Because of the incredible number of things being said by many people today about the current Pandemic and it being part of the end of the world, I thought it would be good to address, in this column, some of these issues from a Christian perspective.
Now the first thing I want to say is that these are my views and I recognize that not all God-fearing Christians will agree with me. That’s ok. In the Body of Christ, there is to be love and latitude in things that you cannot definitively state as being undeniable. Now, in other areas of our Christian faith that can’t be the case. For example, when it comes to our position on things like Jesus being God who came to earth and died for our sins, there is to be NO give and take.
But on topics such as those which relate to a very uncertain future, we can agree to disagree and still have fellowship. So here is why I myself am not pursuing any of these theories: it’s because, in my opinion, I think they may be a waste of my precious time.
Michael Fast, a missionary friend or mine, posted a quote on his Facebook page which said: “My bottom line with those presenting conspiracy theories to me is usually ‘So what?’ Even if every speculation is 100% true, how does it change what Jesus called me to do, who Jesus called me to be and how Jesus called me to live? It doesn’t.”
I must say I agree with Michael: “So what?” I will keep on doing what I have been doing, for the past 50 plus years as a pastor. Nothing has changed for me. I still believe in the any moment return of Christ, I still believe everyone needs to be saved and that I must be preaching the gospel to all nations, as Jesus instructed us. Instead of going after conspiracies which we have no way of knowing who’s lying and who’s not, I am going to spend my energy telling people about Jesus and His plan of salvation. This is the message I believe people really need and which many are looking for. I am going to point people to Jesus and not to conspiracy theories (even if they turn out to be true.)
This is exactly what Jesus instructed the disciples to do in Acts 1:6-8: “So when they met together, they asked Him, ‘Lord, are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority.’”
Jesus was saying essentially, “Don’t worry about dates for this.” Rather, concentrate on witnessing to others: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Finally, let me ask you this question: what have you achieved if the conspiracy theories you say do happen? If in the process, it causes people to believe, then, for sure, that’s good. If no, perhaps a waste of precious time.
But what do you achieve when you present Christ as Saviour who can totally change people’s lives and they accept Him? Everything.
So that is where I’m putting my energy.
