What Does the Bible Say About Conspiracy Theories?

Is the earth truly round, or maybe it's a big conspiracy by NASA and every other space agency in 9 different countries hiding for some reason that the earth is flat? Did man really walk on the moon, or maybe that's also a NASA conspiracy and the moon landing was staged?

Was 9/11 was a terrorist attack, or maybe it was a government conspiracy and the collapse of the World Trade Center was the result of controlled demolitions? Maybe area 51 is hiding aliens. Maybe Sandy Hook didn't happen. Maybe flouride is a communist plot. Maybe JFK was killed by the CIA. LBJ. The KGB. Maybe HAARP! Chemtrails! The Illuminati!

What should we believe is true and what is conspiracy? Well, in Isaiah chapter 8, God was about to send the Assyrians to conquer Israel for their rebellious ways. Everyone would be sent into confusion: Who's in league with whom? What side should we join? Should we fight or flee?

To those who were faithful, God said, "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" (Isaiah 8:11-12).

Peter would later reference these words when he said, "Suffer for righteousness' sake, and you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:14-15).

Do not obssess over manmade conspiracies. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7), when we understand the text.

Does the Bible Say the Earth is Flat?

Does the Bible say the earth is flat? No. (Do we really have to cover this topic?) Scoffers twist the Bible into saying the earth is flat. Now a growing number of professing Christians are doing it, too.

Flat earthers use 1 Samuel 2:8 and Psalm 75:3 which mention the pillars of the earth, and how God has "set the world upon them." But this is poetic, meaning that God has created all things and established them.

Flat earthers use Job 28:24 and Psalm 48:10 which refer to the ends of the earth. But this is symbolic for a great distance or all people. Acts 13:47 says the Lord has commanded us to "bring [the message of] salvation "to the ends of the earth."

Flat earthers use Isaiah 11:12 and Revelation 7:1 which speak of the four corners of the earth. Still symbolism, referring to something happening in all directions: north, south, east, and west.

The Bible doesn't explicitly say the earth is flat or round, although it does allude to its spherical shape. Job 26:7 says that God hangs the earth on nothing, and Isaiah 40:22 says He sits above the circle of the earth. If you think the Bible says the earth is flat, you put that in the text. You did not pull that from the text. Flat earth cosmology is derived from paganism, not Christianity.

Whatever you believe about the shape of the earth, it doesn't have any bearing on your salvation. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). Nonetheless, the Bible says avoid irreverent, silly myths. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies, when we understand the text.